An experiment on liming agricultural land with finely ground dolomite is being conducted in the Vitebsk region
An experiment on liming agricultural land with ground dolomite and using satellite monitoring is being conducted in the Vitebsk region.
The Vitebsk Regional Design and Survey Station for Agricultural Chemistry monitors land fertility. The enterprise's specialists help land users improve soil quality to achieve high yields.
Once every four years, the team surveys land in several districts of the region; this year, soil samples were taken in Dokshytsy, Braslav, Miory, Liozno, and Gorodok districts.
The Vitebsk Regional Design and Survey Station for Agricultural Chemistry monitors land fertility. The enterprise's specialists help land users improve soil quality to achieve high yields.
Once every four years, the team surveys land in several districts of the region; this year, soil samples were taken in Dokshytsy, Braslav, Miory, Liozno, and Gorodok districts.
Director of the enterprise Vasily LEONTIEV in the soil storage.
— We analyze each sample in the laboratory for nine indicators: humus, acidity, phosphorus, potassium, and microelements (boron, zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium). We compile agrochemical passports for fields and acidity maps for each land user, whether it's a farmer or a large agricultural enterprise. This creates a regional database on land and fertility, — said Director of the enterprise Vasily Leontiev.
Every year, soil scientists survey 350–400 thousand hectares of land, collecting 45–50 thousand soil samples for research, which amounts to about 30 tons. Soil samples with characteristics are stored for up to six months in special cassettes in the "library."
— We analyze each sample in the laboratory for nine indicators: humus, acidity, phosphorus, potassium, and microelements (boron, zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium). We compile agrochemical passports for fields and acidity maps for each land user, whether it's a farmer or a large agricultural enterprise. This creates a regional database on land and fertility, — said Director of the enterprise Vasily Leontiev.
Every year, soil scientists survey 350–400 thousand hectares of land, collecting 45–50 thousand soil samples for research, which amounts to about 30 tons. Soil samples with characteristics are stored for up to six months in special cassettes in the "library."
Head of the Feed Quality Control Department Lyudmila AFANASYeva
The information obtained from the research helps agronomists decide which plot to sow wheat, rapeseed, or corn on, and where potatoes or lupins are preferable; it suggests how to achieve a balance of micro- and macroelements in the soil, regulate acidity, and improve fertility.
— Based on the agrochemical soil survey commissioned by agronomists, we develop a fertilizer application plan, which calculates the doses and timing of application, and methods of incorporation for agricultural crops depending on soil quality and planned yield for the farm, — said Vasily Leontiev. — The regional chemicalization station has an electronic map of fields for all agricultural producers in the region.
Since acidity affects the growth and development of agricultural crops, farms liming lands to improve humus formation and increase the availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and microelements for plants.
The state supports farmers in maintaining soil fertility, for which the state program "Agrarian Business" for 2021-2025 provides for republican subsidies, including for carrying out a set of works to improve soils. In the republic, dolomite flour produced by OJSC "Dolomit" is mainly used: limestone is calcined and then ground, which consumes energy and heat carriers.
The information obtained from the research helps agronomists decide which plot to sow wheat, rapeseed, or corn on, and where potatoes or lupins are preferable; it suggests how to achieve a balance of micro- and macroelements in the soil, regulate acidity, and improve fertility.
— Based on the agrochemical soil survey commissioned by agronomists, we develop a fertilizer application plan, which calculates the doses and timing of application, and methods of incorporation for agricultural crops depending on soil quality and planned yield for the farm, — said Vasily Leontiev. — The regional chemicalization station has an electronic map of fields for all agricultural producers in the region.
Since acidity affects the growth and development of agricultural crops, farms liming lands to improve humus formation and increase the availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and microelements for plants.
The state supports farmers in maintaining soil fertility, for which the state program "Agrarian Business" for 2021-2025 provides for republican subsidies, including for carrying out a set of works to improve soils. In the republic, dolomite flour produced by OJSC "Dolomit" is mainly used: limestone is calcined and then ground, which consumes energy and heat carriers.
Laboratory assistant Svetlana SUDNICHEENKO.
Since 2019, the region has been using ground dolomite as a meliorant, which is also produced by OJSC "Dolomit". This dolomite contains the same amount of CaCO3 as its predecessor, but differs in granule size and higher moisture content (7-10 percent versus 1 percent). This means it is heavier and lies more evenly in the soil, with less loss during transportation and application. The raw dolomite is half the price because it is obtained using a simplified technology with minimal energy costs. This natural soil improver also has an extended period of action.
— We are gradually moving away from dolomite flour. Out of 26 thousand hectares subject to liming this year, ground dolomite was applied to 10 thousand hectares, which is four times more than in 2020. This is not only economically beneficial but also environmentally sound, — Vasily Borisovich is confident.
Recently, a satellite monitoring program for transport, developed at the request of the regional chemicalization station, has been used for liming in the region.
Since 2019, the region has been using ground dolomite as a meliorant, which is also produced by OJSC "Dolomit". This dolomite contains the same amount of CaCO3 as its predecessor, but differs in granule size and higher moisture content (7-10 percent versus 1 percent). This means it is heavier and lies more evenly in the soil, with less loss during transportation and application. The raw dolomite is half the price because it is obtained using a simplified technology with minimal energy costs. This natural soil improver also has an extended period of action.
— We are gradually moving away from dolomite flour. Out of 26 thousand hectares subject to liming this year, ground dolomite was applied to 10 thousand hectares, which is four times more than in 2020. This is not only economically beneficial but also environmentally sound, — Vasily Borisovich is confident.
Recently, a satellite monitoring program for transport, developed at the request of the regional chemicalization station, has been used for liming in the region.
Specialists of the cartographic sector, Inna LATYSHEVA and Evgenia BABICHEVA, are creating agrochemical soil maps.
— Now we can see on the computer which driver is applying which dose of ameliorant, how accurately they are performing the task. If something goes wrong, we can contact the machine operator and stop, correct the work, — Vasily Leontiev clarified.
Enterprise specialists go out to the fields to accept limed areas. Processed plots are hatched on both the paper soil acidity map and the electronic one, with dates of work performed, as well as the amount of dolomite flour or ground dolomite applied.
Vasily Leontiev emphasizes that thanks to working with the satellite monitoring program in 2020-2021, the quality of liming has improved. The final results will be summarized by the agronomists of Vitebsk region after a four-year cycle of use.
IN CONTEXT
The chemicalization station stores information on the soil fertility of Vitebsk region since 1964. For example, in the 1960s, the acidity was 5.04, now the pH is 6.07. To achieve such a shift, in the 1970s, it was necessary to lime 250-280 thousand hectares per year, and now 26-30. Other indicators have also improved significantly, which helps to achieve better yields, provided that all agrotechnical requirements and deadlines are met.
— Now we can see on the computer which driver is applying which dose of ameliorant, how accurately they are performing the task. If something goes wrong, we can contact the machine operator and stop, correct the work, — Vasily Leontiev clarified.
Enterprise specialists go out to the fields to accept limed areas. Processed plots are hatched on both the paper soil acidity map and the electronic one, with dates of work performed, as well as the amount of dolomite flour or ground dolomite applied.
Vasily Leontiev emphasizes that thanks to working with the satellite monitoring program in 2020-2021, the quality of liming has improved. The final results will be summarized by the agronomists of Vitebsk region after a four-year cycle of use.
IN CONTEXT
The chemicalization station stores information on the soil fertility of Vitebsk region since 1964. For example, in the 1960s, the acidity was 5.04, now the pH is 6.07. To achieve such a shift, in the 1970s, it was necessary to lime 250-280 thousand hectares per year, and now 26-30. Other indicators have also improved significantly, which helps to achieve better yields, provided that all agrotechnical requirements and deadlines are met.