The fundamental principles of genetic soil science in agrochemistry and agriculture

Any effective fertilization system begins with an understanding of how the soil is structured in a particular field. Agricultural chemistry is inextricably linked to soil science: it is impossible to manage plant nutrition without knowing the pathways of element transformation. Soil is not a passive substrate, but an independent living body.

The formation of this body is a complex process that occurs under the influence of five key soil-forming factors:

• climate;
• relief;
• flora and fauna;
• parent materials;
• geological age of the territory.

There is a constant genetic link between soil, crops, and soil bacteria. To build a nutrition system, it is important to know the gross chemical composition of the arable land. Data on composition helps to calculate the availability of elements for plants and to forecast the behavior of fertilizers in the soil complex.

Zonal approach to technologies and soil fertility assessment

Each field has a unique soil profile formed according to the laws of horizontal zonality and altitudinal zonation. This means that any agrotechnical practices cannot be copied using a template without reference to the terrain. All cultivation technologies for crops must strictly correspond to a specific soil-climatic zone.

Soil maps help manage processes that determine the stability and magnitude of the harvest. At the same time, it is important to evaluate soils in dynamics, taking into account the history of a specific field. For example, regular application of manure significantly improves the state of cultivated soil, which requires adjustment of evaluation scales and classification of plots when calculating nutrition.

• Soil-forming factors — 5
• Main reference point for agrotechnics — soil zonality
• Fertility assessment — with consideration of manure application

Management of soil fertility is built on biological processes. Studies of the decomposition processes of plant residues and the accumulation of humus under the influence of microorganisms, conducted between 1845 and 1895, helped reveal the mechanisms of forming healthy arable land. The most important role in this process is played by the colloidal fraction of the soil — it is this that determines the creation of a stable cloddy structure that retains moisture and air. By knowing the natural connection between soil types and plant communities, an agronomist can more accurately predict the absorptive capacity of the soil in a particular field. The materials of these investigations formed the basis of the first national textbook on soil science and manuals on tillage.

Methods of nutrient mobilization and soil improvement

To provide plants with macronutrients, it is important not just to apply purchased mineral fertilizers, but also to activate the internal resources of the field. Works on soil fertilization from 1884 substantiate the need for the mobilization of the soil's own nutrient reserves. To this end, specialists proved the effectiveness of using phosphorites and evaluated glauconites as potassium fertilizers. Special attention in the technology is paid to regulating the nitrogen regime and managing the transformation of nitrogen compounds.

• Application of manure with mandatory control of timing and methods of its incorporation.
• Use of green manures to replenish organic matter.
• Chemical amelioration to regulate acidity and water-physical properties.

Solonetz soils, solonchaks, podzols, and gray forest soils require special attention. For each of these types, effective methods for improving fertility have been developed, based on the conditions of their natural formation. Practice shows that blindly copying foreign technologies without reference to domestic farming conditions reduces the effectiveness of agricultural practices.