There are considerable differences between the EU-15 countries and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in the application rate of phosphorus (P) fertilizer and manure as well as in the climate and erosion patterns, but the eutrophication of surface waters is a common problem. The availability of information on the contribution of the CEE countries to European surveys on eutrophication is not adequate, because the amount of data available from these countries is small. There is thus a need to compile more comprehensive data sets for better assessment. Recent changes in agricultural practices, and their impact on the trophic status of surface waters in CEE countries, have been evaluated using a few selected pressure and state indicators (phosphorus balance, phosphorus status and erosion of agricultural land, P loss risk index, chlorophyll a, total and orthophosphate content of water) by compiling and analysing data from the literature. In the CEE countries, small annual P balances ()7 to +6 kg P ha )1 ) and declining levels of soil available P (proportion of soils adequately supplied with P dropped to between 10 and 50% of total area) may lead to low yields and economic difficulties. Only 11% of the variation in total phosphorus (TP) in rivers studied could be attributed to the calculated P loss risk index, and thus to the impact of differences in the agricultural diffuse source P load. The generation of more consistent data sets should be pursued for the whole of Europe in order to derive more powerful indicators. A refined P index could be one of the best indicators of eutrophication. Recent changes in the trophic level of surface waters could be attributed to a large extent to the change in point source P loads, i.e. to the diminishing amount of P load from municipal and industrial wastewater. The short-term improvement of water quality in the CEE countries will require further improvements in wastewater treatment, but long-term improvement will only be achieved by reducing diffuse P losses from agriculture, possibly involving changes in the land use pattern and in farming practices.
The method for predicting the levels of the easily hydrolysable nitrogen content in soils of various types of Polesie, Forest-steppe and Steppe climatic zones of Ukraine for the assessment of soil quality due to the background conditions, the influence of technological load (for the application of organo-mineral, organic and mineral fertilizer systems), and risk or influence of technogenic pollution by heavy metals (HM) is grounded. In the elaborated methodical approach is obtained a regression equation by the determination of new correlations of soil energy intensity indices (the calorific value of humus, soil energy reserves in a layer up to 20 cm) in conjunction with the humus state and the use of mathematical and statistical analysis for determining the value of easily hydrolysable nitrogen with the ability to predict the quality of soils of various genesis, with the further extension of the method algorithm for different soil types, climatic zones due to technogenic HM pollution and technological load. The technical result of the elaborated method: by improving the determination of the levels of the easily hydrolysable nitrogen content in soils of different genesis for the evaluation of their quality by identifying the most correlated, diagnostically applicable integral basic indicators of soil properties, which allow the informativeness to make managerial decisions and to predict the quality of soils of different genesis in the content of easily hydrolysable nitrogen, as a biogenic element, due to the background conditions and anthropogenic loads with increased accuracy, speed and informativeness. Elaborated method can find application in the ecological standardization of the content of biogenic macroelements, the normalization of loads (technogenic, technological) on the soil system, agroecology for solving the problems of organic agriculture, bioenergy and energy of soil formation; diagnostics, evaluation, forecasting of the soils nitrogen systems state; the quality of humus and macroelement status of soils on indicators of ecological and energy status; effective ecological management of soils due to the background conditions, as well as for various anthropogenic influences and in scientific research for the investigating of biogeochemistry and biogenic macroelements of soil cover. Separate provisions of the elaborated method became an integral part of the proposals on adaptation to the Nitrate Council Directive 91/676 / EEC of 12.12.1991 on the protection of water from pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources, as amended by Regulation (EC) № 1882/2003 Cross Nitrogen Balances Handbook. Prospective directions of research in the field of diagnostics, assessment, forecasting of the state of soils nitrogen systems and the normalization of the elemental composition quality, in particular, the content of nutrient nitrogen are determined. In order to overcome the biogenic pollution (excessive accumulation of nitrogen compounds) in the environment (plants, waters), the normalization of nitrogen content in soils of different genesis should include: a) determination of the maximum permissible levels of mobile mineral forms of nitrate nitrogen by the elaboration of environmental requirements for nitrates contamination with plant products; b) normalization of the content of labile easily hydrolysable nitrogen and / or a dose of nitrogen fertilizers in conditions of sufficient and excessive moistening, considering the rapid processes of transformation of nitrogen compounds in soils; c) normalization of the soil nitrogen mineral compounds content in conditions of insufficient moistening and slowing down the processes of circulation of nitrogen compounds of soils. Distinctive features and advantages of the proposed elaboration in comparison with known methods and approaches are: 1) the express obtain of the accurate projected levels of easily hydrolysable nitrogen as a nutrient in the soil with the improving the accuracy of soil diagnosis by the use of the basic integrated indicators; 2) providing opportunity for greater efficiency of forecasting data on the functioning of the nitrogen systems of different genesis soils, quality, environmental and energy state of soils due to the background conditions and anthropogenic loads while minimizing the cost of material resources; 3) empowerment of the user in determination of the easily hydrolysable nitrogen content in the soil without extensive chemical analysis by the choice of regression equations, based on the use of baseline soil properties of a particular type and subtype according to the available information; 4) versatility of the method by the suitability of detected dependencies of the proposed method for all soil types and subtypes, climatic zones and contaminants.
The method for prediction of productive functions of soils, according to their macronutrient status, is grounded on the example of the total concentrations of nitrogen as biogenic macronutrient in different soil types of Polesie, Forest-Steppe and Steppe climatic zones of Ukraine including soils contaminated by heavy metals and fertilized (organic-mineral, organic and mineral system of fertilizer) soils. In the elaborated methodical approach the productive function (fertility) of different genesis soils forecasts by establishing new relationships of total nitrogen content with a humus calorific value, the energy reserves of the soil in layer up to 20 cm, the application of mathematical-statistical analysis. For example, according to the total nitrogen content as a biogenic macronutrient in accordance with the fixed gradations, with a further extension of the method algorithm for different soil types of climatic zones by the influence of technogenic pollution and technological load. The technical result of the elaborated method is to improve the known method of soil fertility prediction, considering their macronutrient status, by the selective choice of the most correlation associated, diagnostics capable of integral indicators of the energy and nitrogen status of the soil, which enhances the informativeness, accuracy and quick speed forecasting of production and ecological functions of different genesis soils with the identification of differences in ecological condition of soils for prediction and regulation of their quality. The elaborated methodological approach may find application in the assessment and ecological standardization of soil quality by chemical elements content, regulation of loads (technogenic, technological) on a soil system, in agroecology by investigating the question of soil fertility monitoring, lands certification of different purpose and use; organic farming, bioenergy and energy of soil formation; diagnosis, evaluation, determination of quality of humus and the state of the chemical elements; in environmental management of soils both for background conditions and different anthropogenic impacts and in research practice – investigating the biogeochemistry and nutrient macronutrients of the soil cover. Distinctive features and advantages of the proposed elaboration in comparison with known methods and approaches are: 1) express obtain of the accurate by predicted levels of total nitrogen content as a nutrient in the soil with the improving of the soil diagnosis accuracy by establishing some interconnected diagnostically suitable indicators of soils humus substances and nitrogen systems functioning, the direction of the mobilization and immobilization of nutrients (C, N) processes, the humification-mineralization and energy intensity of soils, including the negative impacts of anthropogenic pressures and degradation processes; 2) providing the opportunity for increasing effectiveness of predicting data on the functioning of the nitrogen systems of different genesis soils, environmental and energy state of soil and level of their potential fertility due to the background conditions, the application of different fertilization systems, and risk the availability of heavy metals pollution while minimizing the consumption of material resources; 3) expansion of the user’s ability to determine the total nitrogen content in the soil without long-term chemical analytical research due to the choice of regression equations obtained on the basis of the use of baseline soil properties of a certain type and subtype, according to available information; 4) versatility due to suitability of installed dependencies of the proposed method for all soil types and subtypes, climatic zones and contaminants.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.