Phyto-ameliorants for saline and solonetzic soils of the Black Sea Region

Abstract

Soils subject to salinization occupy 18.2% of agricultural land in Russia (including Crimea). There is no information about the area of saline lands in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Russia for the period 20222024. In Kherson, 46.16% arable land was saline, and 20% in Zaporizhizhia. The phyto-remediation effect of green fertilizers includes their ability to accumulate humus and purify soil from harmful substances, including salinity. Green fertilizers are key resources for restoring soil fertility and adding organic matter to the soil. Different types of green fertilizer have different cultivation requirements depending on climate, soil type, and research goals. Their effectiveness lies in their ability to improve the structure of soil, increase the level of organic matter and enrich it with essential nutrients. Prolonged use of such fertilizers leads to positive changes in soil characteristics: the supply of nutrients increases, acidity decreases, calcium and other alkaline components increase, and parameters such as absorption capacity, buffering, moisture content and porosity increase. The classification of green fertilizers depends on their function in crop rotation, processing methods and use as nutrients. Green fertilizers can be classified according to their role in agriculture and their impact on soil conditions. For the saline soils in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, the following phytomeliorants have been proposed: mustard, amaranth, barley, and sweet clover.