MINERAL NUTRITION AND CHEMICAL AMELIORATION OF SOILS IN RUSSIAN AGRICULTURE: IMBALANCE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

DOI 10.32651/267-87

Issue № 7, 2026, article № 12, pages 87-96

Section: Agrofood market

Language: Russian

Original language title: МИНЕРАЛЬНОЕ ПИТАНИЕ И ХИМИЧЕСКАЯ МЕЛИОРАЦИЯ ПОЧВ В СЕЛЬСКОМ ХОЗЯЙСТВЕ РОССИИ: ДИСБАЛАНС И ЕГО ПОСЛЕДСТВИЯ

Keywords: MINERAL FERTILIZERS, NITROGEN FERTILIZATION, LAND RECLAMATION, LIMING, ACID LOAD, CROP YIELD

Abstract: The article presents the results of an analysis of trends in the development of Russian agriculture from 2010 to 2024, with a focus on the use of mineral fertilizers and chemical soil amelioration. The study draws on data from Rosstat, including the annual statistical publications Key Indicators of Agriculture, Agriculture in Russia, and Key Environmental Indicators. The analysis reveals a steady increase in both the production and application of mineral fertilizers over the study period, with the structure of fertilizer use shifting toward nitrogen-based forms. An assessment of crop yields for major agricultural crops indicates a consistent upward trend, largely attributable to the expanded use of fertilizers. Against this background, the scale of soil liming has remained limited. A nutrient balance calculation demonstrated that actual mineral fertilizer application covers no more than 27–37% of the normative demand determined by crop nutrient removal, while the area limed annually accounts for less than 1% of the acidic arable land requiring amelioration. To quantify the emerging imbalance, the study introduces a nitrogen-to-lime load coefficient, reflecting the ratio between the volume of nitrogen fertilizer application and the use of liming materials. The dynamics of this indicator show a sustained upward trend, pointing to a structural mismatch: nitrogen inputs are intensifying while soil amelioration efforts are lagging behind. The study also examines the role of market and institutional factors that constrain domestic fertilizer consumption and slow the implementation of liming programs. The findings underscore the need to adjust public policy aimed at improving the efficiency of fertilizer use and chemical soil amelioration in order to ensure more sustainable growth in agricultural production.

Authors: Narbut Viktoriia Viktorovna