Ukrainian Agrarians Fight for Fertility: Latest Methods and Climate Initiatives for Sustainable Agriculture (continued)
Ukraine continues to ensure the food security of the world, actively working on land demining and their restoration after hostilities. Farmers are switching to environmental protection methods, in particular, minimal tillage, use of cover crops and biological preparations, which helps preserve fertility and reduce carbon emissions.
Last time we told, such as BTU Soil Health, TAS Agro and Zahidniy Bug implement modern technologies, including Strip-till, Mini-till and Verty-till, to improve soil structure and conserve moisture. Programs to reduce the use of chemicals, increase the carbon content in the soil, and use biological preparations are also actively developing. This contributes to the sustainable development of the agricultural sector, adaptation to European standards and increased productivity even on less fertile lands.
Progress of the MHP in environmental protection methods
Also, one of the leading Ukrainian agricultural holdings is actively working to restore soil fertility MHP (Myronivsk bread product). In particular, by increasing the area where organic fertilizers are used and reducing the use of organic fertilizers by a quarter.
The company operates two biogas complexes, which efficiently process organic waste – chicken droppings – into electricity, heat and organic fertilizers. These technologies are unique in their scale and efficiency, which arouses interest even in developed European countries, in particular, in Germany. They reduce the environmental burden, produce clean energy and create environmentally safe fertilizers.
Complexes work according to the principle of anaerobic fermentation, when organic mass decomposes without oxygen, releasing biogas. The latter is used to generate energy, and the residual product becomes high-quality fertilizers. These installations successfully combine environmental and economic goals in production.
For the past two years, MHP has been working on the management of waste obtained in the form of digestate from biogas plants, in particular, developing new organo-mineral fertilizers.
Serhii Melnychuk, adviser to the chairman of the board of the MHP on scientific issues, academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, emphasizes on the growing problem of shortage of organic materials in the future. He notes that new technologies lead to the production of a mass of products that are difficult to dispose of because their components do not interact with natural biogeochemical cycles. Examples include electronic components, solar panels, and batteries, the materials of which do not degrade naturally. As a result, organic components are gradually displaced from our lives, which can lead to serious environmental consequences.;
After the war ended, according to Melnychuk, the main problem will not be demining, but the restoration of the organic component of soils. He emphasizes that biota and organics destroyed during explosions are not easy to recover, unlike heavy metals.
The expert notes that in order to achieve carbon neutrality in the coming years, the agricultural holding will implement innovative technologies and practices aimed at preserving and restoring soil fertility, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and using organic waste effectively.
Photobioreactors are used to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide produced during methane synthesis. In these installations, algae absorb ammonium compounds of nitrogen, turning them into agents that are more accessible to soil microflora. If this waste, according to European standards, cannot be used for animal feed, it is sent back to the bioreactor to re-create methane. This helps reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which has a positive impact on the environment and increases the efficiency of processes.
Achievements of the “Kernel” company in terms of soil improvement
Another player in the agricultural industry is the company “Kernel” also actively implements innovations to improve the health and increase the fertility of the soil. They have a strong Data Science direction and research center. Among other things, developed model for counting grains in corn cobs and seeds in sunflower baskets. This allows agronomists to track in special applications the dynamics of crop productivity in individual fields over the past decade.
Marta Trofimova, head of sustainable development at Kernel, emphasizes the importance of active participation of the Ukrainian agricultural sector in international industry events. Including in order to debunk the stereotype that has developed in relation to Ukrainian farmers, who allegedly shun precision farming, correct calculations of adding fertilizers to the soil, and the use of AI to predict future harvests.
The presentation of innovative developments of Ukrainian agribusinesses at international events allows us to change stereotypes about agricultural production in Ukraine. Thus, the “Kernel” company demonstrated its digital solutions – the farm management of the Digital Agribusiness system and the Scouting application for assessing sunflower yield.
Such events provide an opportunity to share experiences and provide practical advice for considering the position of agribusiness in future programs and policies, particularly in the context of European integration.
The active participation of the Ukrainian agricultural sector in international climate platforms is a response to the propaganda actions of other countries, in particular Russia, which uses such forums to promote its interests. For example, Russia was awarded “Fossil of the Day” at COP29 for its actions that contradict global climate efforts.
Achievements of the BTU group of companies in the restoration of soil fertility
As the plant physiologist of the BTU company group noted, to reduce the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere, it is necessary to implement complex approaches, in particular, to convert inorganic carbon into organic compounds and accumulate them in various ecosystems. It is worth using photosynthesis – the process during which green plants, cyanobacteria and other organisms convert carbon dioxide and water into organic substances with the help of light energy, releasing oxygen at the same time.
Other methods include electronic catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide into organic compounds methanol and formaldehyde, which is achieved during special catalytic processes.
Such technologies make it possible to reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, turning it into useful organic compounds that can be used in various industries, including the energy and chemical industries.
Organic carbon in the soil is stored in the form of organic matter, which is conventionally divided into three fractions: labile, stable and inert carbon, which differ in the time of their stay in the soil. Thus, compounds that have been in the soil for up to 3 years are considered labile carbon, stable for 10-15 years, and inert for centuries or even millennia.
It is labile carbon that is a source of nutrition for soil microorganisms. However, these reserves in the soil are depleted quite quickly. Several years pass – they no longer remain, the microbiological activity of the soil decreases, stable carbon, which should have remained in the soil for hundreds of thousands of years, begins to break down. In the fields, the yield level of crops is sharply reduced.
The task of farmers is to store labile carbon to support the microbiological activity of the soil. To preserve stable carbon, it must be protected from microorganisms, enzymes, and oxygen. This is achieved by sorption on mineral soil particles and the formation of microaggregates. Microorganisms are important not only for the decomposition of plant residues, but also for the formation of microaggregates that protect carbon and facilitate the movement of organic matter into the deeper layers of the soil.
The agricultural company uses Biotrex to assess the condition of the soil. This index measures the activity and diversity of microorganisms in the soil. If the indicator is low, it is necessary to change methods of soil treatment, reduce the use of fertilizers or pesticides.
Studies show that the addition of tank preparations increases the diversity of microorganisms, which contributes to the decomposition of organic residues. It helps improve soil fertility. It is obvious that the balanced use of biological preparations increases biodiversity and optimizes the soil structure.
Tetyana Viktorova
