The restoration of fruit and vegetables growing on land affected by military operations in southern Ukraine

Abstract

Background. Military operations in southern Ukraine have caused severe degradation of agricultural soil, leading to reduced fertility, disrupted structure, contamination and increased salinity. These changes threaten the sustainability of fruit and vegetable production and regional food security. Existing studies emphasize the need for integrated restoration approaches; however, there remains a lack of experimentally validated, comprehensive methodologies that combine biological, agrotechnical and ameliorative measures. This study aimed to assess soil degradation processes and compare the effectiveness of three restoration strategies – minimal intervention, biological remediation and comprehensive restoration – under real farming conditions in the Kherson, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia regions. Results and conclusions. An initial soil analysis revealed significant fertility decline: humus decreased to 2.1 % (vs. 3.4 % in control), nitrogen to 0.12 %, phosphorus to 58 mg/kg and potassium to 82 mg/kg, alongside increased compaction and reduced water permeability. Among the approaches tested, minimal intervention showed limited improvement (humus went up to 2.3 %; recovery effect ≈ 12 %). Biological remediation produced a moderate gain (humus up to 2.8 %; effect ≈ 55 %), demonstrating the role of organic inputs and microbial activity. The most effective approach was comprehensive restoration, combining biological, chemical and physical measures, which increased humus to 3.2 % and achieved an 84 % recovery effect. This approach also significantly improved nutrient balance, reduced salinity and restored soil structure. The findings confirm that isolated mineral fertilization is insufficient for degraded soil, whereas integrated technologies ensure faster and more stable recovery. The study highlights the importance of site-specific, multi-component restoration strategies as a foundation for post-war agricultural rehabilitation and long-term soil productivity in affected regions.