Ukraine remains one of the world's richest countries in terms of fertile agricultural soils, although soil quality varies significantly across regions. According to a study by the Ukrainian Institute for Soil Protection based on its 2023 assessment, the highest average soil quality among government-controlled territories was recorded only in the Kirovohrad and Kharkiv regions. Researchers evaluated more than 20 indicators, including humus content, soil acidity, nutrient availability, and other measures of soil fertility.
Most Ukrainian regions fall into the category of medium-quality agricultural soils. The lowest soil quality was identified in the Sumy, Volyn, and Zhytomyr regions. The Polissia zone is characterized by acidic soils with relatively low humus content, while Sumy has experienced significant soil degradation after decades of intensive agricultural use.
The research also revealed substantial regional differences in soil characteristics. Vinnytsia, Chernihiv, and Zakarpattia contain a high proportion of acidic soils, whereas Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Kherson, and Mykolaiv are dominated by more alkaline soils. In addition, the largest humus deficit was recorded in the Odesa, Cherkasy, and Zaporizhzhia regions, highlighting the need for greater use of organic fertilizers and sustainable soil management practices.
Experts emphasize that preserving soil fertility has become one of the key priorities for Ukraine's agricultural sector. Increasing organic matter through regular application of organic fertilizers, maintaining scientifically based crop rotations, adopting modern cultivation practices, and continuously monitoring soil health are considered essential for sustaining long-term productivity and preserving Ukraine's competitive advantage in global agriculture.