LAND USE OPTIMIZATION IN UKRAINE AT THE STAGE OF LAND MARKET FORMATION

In the context of the reform of the sale of agricultural land, the priority is to optimize land use, which is to find a balance of land that would meet their environmental, economic and social compliance with the functions of the agricultural sector. Two main approaches to the optimization process are considered. The first is by intensifying agriculture with significant energy costs, land depletion and the inevitable increase in environmental pressures. And the second is the gradual formation of a balanced agrosphere with alternative agriculture and environmentally friendly livestock. The structure of land plots in terms of regions of Ukraine, which in the conditions of the land market does not promote balanced land use, is analyzed. Acquired arable land will not be transferred to other categories of land at auctions, even if it is significantly degraded. When forming the pricing policy in the land sector, it is important to compare the value of arable land in Ukraine and European countries. This comparative analysis shows the underestimated value of arable land in Ukraine (the lowest figure in Europe is less than 1 thousand euros / ha) at the initial stage of sale. It is estimated that the six-year lease of arable land at this stage of land reform is more appropriate than their sale. The fact of plowing part of pastures under these conditions and increasing the share of arable land in river valleys, drained lands, etc. is alarming. According to the results of the calculations, Table 1 shows the value of arable land, pastures, hayfields by administrative regions. The comparative characteristic of agricultural lands on the available highly productive lands is carried out. The highest share of such lands in Ternopil, Poltava and Cherkasy oblasts was found out, which provides for their highest valuation. The created map diagram of the general cost assessment of agricultural lands demonstrates their land resource potential and reflects the spatial differentiation of this indicator by typological groups of regions. The authors analyzed the optimization model of land use in Ukraine, developed by a group of leading domestic scientists under the project "Sustainable Development Programs", and proposed to consider the category of productive lands as basic arable lands, the share of which in Ukraine is 44.8% of arable land. The directions of reforming land relations in Ukraine taking into account historical traditions and granting the highest status of the basic land user - the rural community are offered. At the same time to make calculations, based on the results of which to identify production types (specialization) of farms, which will be the most objective, as it takes into account local natural and economic conditions; - on the basis of specialization of peasant farms, study of types of land use in enterprises of various forms of ownership and data on natural land fertility to perform agricultural zoning of the territory; - in each allocated agricultural area, the whole array of land in use, divided into at least 3 groups: 1) lands of peasant farms, which over time should be granted the right of life ownership with the possibility of inheritance and on which the state should support non-profit, subsistence farming; 2) lands withdrawn from agricultural circulation due to the destruction of their natural fertility and those to be transferred to the nature reserve fund, and, over time, included in the national ecological network; 3) lands that have not yet lost their natural fertility and those that are in the use of agricultural enterprises of various forms of ownership. Key words: land optimization, monetary valuation of agricultural lands, land resource potential, spatial differentiation of lands, land relations.

Influence of macro and microelements on the biological value of wheat grain

This paper considers the influence of manganese and zinc sulfate, as well as Megamix-Zinc on the protein quality of grain of winter and spring wheat, when cultivating it on soils with a deficiency of certain microelements. It was found that treatment of seeds and growing plants of experimental crops with the studied preparations increased the content of the essential limiting amino acids in the grain of winter wheat - lysine by 85.7%, threonine by 116.7%, isoleucine + leucine by 20.9%, phenylalanine + tyrosine by 33.3% compared to the control variant. A rise in the amount and amino acid score of such limiting amino acids as lysine and threonine is also observed, which leads to a decline in the coefficient of difference of amino-acid scores up to 75.5% and an increase in the biological value of the total protein up to 24.5%. The total amount of amino acids in the grain of spring wheat increased when Megamix-Zinc was used in the cultivation technology, both on soils with natural fertility and with application of mineral fertilizers, which is associated with a rise in nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism. The increase in relation to the control group is 0.42 - 1.34 mg/g, depending on the variant. Under the influence of the factors used, amino acid score of individual amino acids of the spring wheat protein increases in relation to the control group up to 2.1%.

Characterization of soils cultivated with cassava under different managements

ABSTRACT Although cassava is an undemanding crop in terms of soil chemical fertility, the scarcity of nutrients affects crop productivity, and it is common to cultivate it in soils with low natural fertility, as occurs in Coastal Tablelands. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the physical and chemical attributes of soils cultivated with cassava under different managements. The study was carried out in the municipality of São Felipe, located in the landscape unit of Coastal Tablelands, Bahia state, Brazil. Fifteen properties were selected to evaluate the characteristics of soils cultivated with cassava under different types of management. Soil sampling was carried out during the months of October and November 2018, a dry period in the region. The medium-textured soil was predominant in the different areas of management of cassava cultivation. Most areas showed pH below the recommended range for cassava (5.5 to 6.5), base saturation below 50% and low phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium contents, according to the crop’s nutritional needs. The first two principal components explained 84.65% of the total variance. Thus, it was possible to verify that the diversity of management of cassava production areas results in high or very high variability of soil chemical attributes. The attributes pH, P, Al, H + Al, V, CEC and OM are the most representative in the distinction of soils of the cassava cultivation areas evaluated.

Influence of the Caiçaras on Soil Properties in the Savanna Region of Roraima, Northern Amazon

The management of caiçaras by indigenous peoples in the “Lavrado” (savannas) region of Roraima is a practice that increases soil fertility. Caiçaras are temporary corrals where farmers keep the cattle at night for a certain period, when the soil is enriched by manure addition. In periods when these areas are not used as corrals, they may be planted with different plants species. In addition, areas adjacent to caiçaras may receive manure runoff and also be used for crop production. The study evaluated the changes in soil physical and chemical characteristics resulting from manure supply and runoff in caiçara and adjacent areas and compared these to soil characteristics of nearby unmanaged areas. Soil samples from the three system components were analyzed. The nutrient content added by manure runoff in the plantation adjacent to the caiçara resulted in significant accumulations of organic Ca, Mg, K, P, C, and micronutrients in the soil, without, however, changing pH. Only the soil surface (0–5 cm) showed improvements in soil bulk density and total porosity. This soil management system proves how efficient indigenous farmers can be in integrating their livestock component with the exploitation of available resources to improve soil fertility in areas of low natural fertility, enhancing agricultural production.

Correction of Soil Acidity in an Organic System of Shadowed Coffee

Through sustainable agriculture it is possible to explore the coffee culture in consortium with native forests in more rugged reliefs, as coffee is a permanent crop in addition to the climatic conditions offered by the swamps that favor its development. Given the above, the present work proposes, based on the acidity results, to quantify the need for correctives in the soil to obtain a better nutritional use offered by agroforestry cultivation of organic coffee in the shade with favorable results to increase productivity and, consequently, the farmer's profit. The research was carried out at the Várzea da Onça farm, in the Yaguara Ecological Complex, located in the municipality of Taquaritinga do Norte, Borborema plateau, in the Agreste Pernambuco mesoregion. Altitude, it is necessary to adopt appropriate management techniques that guarantee production, soil conservation and biodiversity, proposing soil correction to guarantee the ideal nutritional conditions for coffee growth. For this purpose, soil samples were collected in the Top (T), Hillside (E) and Pedimento (P) ranges at depths of 0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm when planting shaded coffee and soil samples from Native Forest (MN) preserved and legally protected from the Brejo de Taquaritinga. Active, exchangeable and potential acidity were analyzed, as well as the sum of bases, the potential and effective cation exchange capacity, base saturation and aluminum saturation. The results obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and the means were tested at 5% by the Tukey test. A potential of the system was found with low to very low natural fertility, with a strongly acidic reaction. Thus, adequate soil management and correction techniques are necessary for the crop to absorb all the nutrients made available by the organic matter present on the surface, concluding that all slopes require liming, the slope of Hillside and Mata Nativa they also need plastering for the culture to develop properly.

The effect of mineral fertilizers and long-term aftereffect of liming on the biological properties of light gray forest soil and the yield of meadow clover 1g .p. in the conditions of the South-East of the Volga-Vyatka region

The article deals with the influence of mineral fertilizers and the long-term aftereffect of liming on the biological properties of light gray forest soil and the yield of meadow clover 1 g.p. in the conditions of the South-East of the Volga-Vyatka region. The biological properties of light gray forest soil in 2020 were more influenced by the weather conditions of the pink clover vegetation and the culture itself than by the studied aftereffects of lime material and various doses of its mineral nutrition. The biological activity of the soil was in the range of 16.3–30.4%. The intensity of soil respiration was very weak and was in the range of 1.53–3.4 mg of CO2/10g for 24 hours. The average yield of the green mass of clover 1 g.p. (in terms of absolutely dry matter) was in the range of 30.4–33.2 t/ha (NSR05 by factor B-6.3) and did not depend on the aftereffect of the studied lime doses. The use of N45P120K180 doses of mineral fertilizers increases the average yield of pink clover 1 g.p. compared with the natural fertility of light gray forest soil and the variants of using N15P40K60 doses up to 37.9 t/ ha, which is by11.9 and 8.6 t/ha respectively higher than these variants (NSR05 for factor A-5.2). An increase was also obtained from the use of N30P80K120 doses of mineral fertilizers compared to the cultivation of clover according to natural soil fertility — by7.4 t/ha (NSR05 according to factor A-5.2).I n general, for 42 years of studying the aftereffect of liming it was shown, that by 2020 liming does not affect the biological properties of light gray forest soil and the yield of 1 g.p. clove according to all the studied doses of its use in the conditions of the South-East of the Volga-Vyatka region. The soil needs repeating of reclamation works.

RESEARCH OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC PREREQUISITES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF DONETSK AND LUHANSK REGIONS INCLUDING THE ACTIVITY OF SMALL BUSINESS

The study of socio-economic dimensions of the preconditions for the development of Donetsk and Luhansk regions allowed to distinguish between positive and negative directions of development. Thus, the positive prerequisites for the development of regions include: agricultural lands of Donetsk and Luhansk regions are characterized by high natural fertility; the mineral resource base of the regions is one of the most developed in terms of types and volumes of use of mineral resources in Ukraine, among which almost 50 % contains fuel and energy raw materials; an important place in the economy of Donetsk and Luhansk regions is occupied by industry; retail trade turnover of Donetsk and Luhansk regions from 2018-2020 begins to recover. It should also be noted that the Donetsk region is active in foreign economic activity, which has a significant impact on the development of the region, and the balance of foreign trade balance of the Donetsk region in 2014-2020 is positive. The positive trend of Luhansk region is that it has a significant share of small and medium business in the volume of sold products (goods, services). Negative prerequisites for the development of Donetsk and Luhansk regions are: the presence of armed conflict in the regions; loss of a significant part of industrial potential and reduction of indicators of socio-economic development of Donetsk and Luhansk regions; in 2020 lockdown and business interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic; there are logistical problems in the transportation of goods; in 2020, the level of exports is declining, most industrial enterprises engaged in foreign economic activity have significantly reduced production for export; destruction of key transport and logistics links, complication of railway logistics, closure of airspace, as a result of increased load on roads from heavy, large, freight transport, in the Donetsk region there is a destruction of road surface. Also, the negative trends of Donetsk region include the lowest share of small and medium business in the volume of sold products (goods, services). The positive preconditions for the development of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts need support in the direction of strengthening these tendencies. Negative preconditions for the development of oblasts require significant changes and financial investments for radical changes in the direction of improving the situation. Thus, the intensification of small business in the Donetsk region and support for the further development of small business in the Luhansk region is a prerequisite for economic growth in these areas in the future.

Antioxidant and Infertility

Unexplained sub-fertility is commonly identified if couples fail to conceive after 1 yr. of everyday unprotected sexual intercourse even though investigations for ovulation, tubal patency and semen evaluation are ordinary. Many previous studies had shown that oxidative stress plays an important role in human fertility. Free radicals are neutralized by an elaborate antioxidant defense system. In a healthy body, pro-oxidants and antioxidants maintain a ratio and a shift in this ratio towards pro-oxidants gives rise to oxidative stress. There are two types of antioxidants in the human body: enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Under normal conditions, antioxidants convert ROS to H2O to prevent overproduction of ROS. All cells in the human body are capable of synthesizing glutathione specially the liver. Free radicals appear to have a physiological role in female reproductive system in many different processes such as: oocyte maturation, fertilization, luteal regression, endometrial shedding and progesterone production by the corpus luteum. Protection from ROS is afforded by scavengers present in both male and female reproductive tract fluids, as well as in seminal plasma elevated concentrations of ROS in these environments may have detrimental effects on the spermatozoa, oocytes, sperm oocyte interaction and embryos both in the Fallopian tube and the peritoneal cavity; therefore oxidative stress modulates a host of reproductive pathologies affecting natural fertility in a woman’s life.

Fertilizer Rate for Optimum Growth and Yield of Egusi Melon (ColocynthiscitrullusL.)/ Hot Pepper (Capsicum chinense, Jackquin cv. rodo) Intercrop

The use of chemical fertilizers as a supplemental source of nutrients has been on the increase but they are not applied in balanced proportion by most farmers [1]. Also, fertilizer requirements of the mixed intercropping systems have been a matter of conjecture; some studies had suggested that fertilizer requirements of the dominant component be applied [2], others recommend that the sum of the sole crop requirements, be applied [3]. Teriah [4], however, stated that both practices have proved either inadequate or wasteful. In this experiment the effects of different rates of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer application on growth and yield of hot pepper and Egusi melon in an intercropping system was examined to determine optimum rate for production. The experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, in the south western part of Nigeria. It took place from March to October 2017 during the growing season. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 5 treatments (fertilizer rates) and 3 replicates. Treatments were; 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 kg/ha of NPK 15-15-15 applications. Plot size was 3m by 3m with a 1.5m gang way round each plot to reduce inter-plot effect. Data were collected on growth parameters at 6 weeks after treatment (WAT) and continued at two-week intervals until 10 WAT. Four plants each of pepper and Egusi melon from the inner rows were randomly selected and tagged for the purpose of data collection. Data on yield were also collected at ripening. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out on each observation and the Least Significant Difference (LSD) was used for means separation (P≤0.05). The effects of fertilizer rates showed significant difference on pepper plant height, number of leaves, number of branches and leaf area. However, there was no significant difference in the effect of fertilizer rate on days to 50% flowering of pepper. Number of vines and vine length of Egusi melon were significantly different in their responses to fertilizer rates but the leaf area and days to 50% flowering of melon were similar at the various treatment levels. Meanwhile, total fruit yield of pepper, number of Egusi melon pods per hectare and the dry matter yield of Egusi melon showed significant difference. It was concluded from the study that the growth and yield of pepper and Egusi melon in intercrop increased with increase in fertilizer rate up to 400Kg/ha of NPK (15:15:15). However, higher fertilizer application rates should be explored in future studies for a better yield increase. These studies should be carried out with various compositions of inorganic and organic fertilizer application rates to ensure sustainable fertilizer application and to also preserve the natural fertility of the soil.