Resource-Saving Measures to Improve Soil Fertility and Increase Plant Productivity through the Use of Straw

Abstract

Highly productive soils in Ukraine have been losing their main quality indicators in the last decade. This is due to the violation of basic agricultural laws, particularly in the selection of agricultural crops in crop rotation, climate change, and other negative manifestations. Successful farming in the South Steppe zone of Ukraine significantly depends on moisture conditions, specifically the amount of precipitation during plant vegetation and initial moisture reserves during sowing. The first limiting factor for crop yields in arid regions is moisture. Depleted and compacted soils are unable to accumulate and retain it. Under such conditions, it is necessary to develop new approaches and implement the previously developed technological measures that would contribute to increasing the productivity of agricultural crops while preserving soil fertility. This involves enriching soils with organic matter, which structures them as well as increases their water absorption and retention capacity. In the absence of manure in the fields, it is advisable to use post-harvest residues of all crops and straw. These are the most resource-efficient and environmentally friendly measures. It has been determined that incorporating straw into the soil can increase the yield and quality of agricultural crops, as demonstrated in the cultivation of sorghum.