As part of support for farmers affected by hostilities who received vouchers for free soil testing, specialists from the Ukravit Institute, together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), held a webinar for agricultural producers of Kherson region on the topic: "Soils of Kherson Region: From Sample to Solution."
The event was dedicated to practical issues of assessing soil fertility, proper sampling, and the use of laboratory test results for making informed agronomic decisions.
During the webinar, the head of the service and technology department at Ukravit, Serhii Salnikov, showed participants the results of studies of the main agrochemical indicators of the region's soils for 2019–2026 and, based on them, revealed the features of the soil cover of Kherson region.
“Each region has typical issues in the context of soil fertility indicators,” the specialist noted. “The results of our research show that Kherson Oblast is characterized by somewhat elevated soil alkalinity, low iron and manganese content, as well as an excess of calcium, which often limits the uptake of magnesium and potassium from the soil. But, of course, each field must be approached individually.”
Particular attention was paid to the practical aspects of soil sampling: the selection of representative plots, schemes and optimal sampling depth, the formation of composite samples, their labeling and preparation for transfer to the laboratory. After all, quality sampling is the foundation of reliable research, and therefore — also a prerequisite for the correct approach to nutrition.
For farmers of Kherson region, who work under numerous wartime and economic challenges, objective information about the state of soils is of particular importance, emphasized Serhii Salnikov. It helps to plan a fertilization system in a well-founded manner, use resources rationally, save funds, and maintain the productivity of agricultural land. And holding such educational events contributes to the dissemination of modern approaches to agrochemical monitoring and to increasing the efficiency of agricultural production — even in such a difficult time.