Energetics of humus and soil moisture of chornozem in agrocenosis: synergistic aspect

Abstract

Goal. To evaluate quantitatively the internal energy accumulated by humus and determine its relationship with the internal energy potential of the range of active moisture under different levels of hydrophilization of soil conditions and the level of manifestation of self-regulation of fertility depending on different methods of chornozem cultivation in agrocenoses of the Central Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Field, agrochemical (selection of samples and determination of total humus), statistical calculation (justification of the reliability of the obtained results and development of statistical models of relationships), agroeconomic and energy (determination of economic and energy indicators of different crop rotations). Results. The research was conducted on the Drabiv experimental field in a stationary experiment established in 1967, which included 29 different crop rotations. The determining factor in the reproduction of soil formation of chornozems in agrocenoses is the provision of a moistening regime by the tillage system, when the optimal level of the internal energy of moisture supply is reached in the soil layer, which is close to the energy reserve at the VRK, and the realization of the potential of the internal energy of humus is possible only in a balanced ratio with the internal energy of moisture supply. By increasing the ratio of the internal energy of moisture supply to the internal energy of humus, the energy of humus is realized, which influences the increase of natural and potential fertility. The narrowing of the ratio of moisture supply energy and humus energy contributes to the strengthening of mineralization due to the increase in the aridity of soil conditions, which weakens and reduces the productivity of the forest-steppe agrocenosis. Conclusions. Regardless of the method of cultivation, with excessive moistening, the provision of moisture to the agrocenosis is high, and with optimal and insufficient moistening, conditions for optimal moisture supply of the chornozem layer are created under deep loosening cultivation. Soil moisture has values close to the values of VRK, which ensures a decrease in its mobility, and moisture saturation is the most optimal for enhancing the processes of humification of organic residues and the manifestation of the processes of reproduction of natural soil formation in agrocenoses due to the modeling of the non-washable mode of moistening in agrocenoses. The process of humus formation in agrocenoses is then restored when a soil-protective minimum tillage is used to simulate a moistening regime that corresponds to the natural conditions of soil formation in chornozems.