Ukraine's soil fertility continues to decline despite the country's vast reserves of highly productive black soils. According to the Institute for Soil Protection of Ukraine, only the Kirovohrad and Kharkiv regions currently maintain high overall soil quality, while many other regions are experiencing declining humus levels, nutrient depletion, and gradual land degradation.
The most critical situation has been identified in the Sumy, Volyn, and Zhytomyr regions. In the Polissia area, soils are characterized by high acidity and low humus content, while Sumy has lost its position as one of Ukraine's most fertile agricultural regions due to years of intensive cultivation without sufficient restoration of soil fertility.
Even the country's leading agricultural regions are showing signs of deterioration. Experts report insufficient use of organic fertilizers and declining zinc levels in Kirovohrad, while Kharkiv is experiencing gradual depletion of phosphorus and potassium reserves. Long-term extensive farming practices, inadequate organic fertilization, climate change, and increasing pressure on arable land are identified as the main causes of soil degradation.
Specialists emphasize that preserving soil fertility requires a comprehensive approach, including greater use of organic fertilizers, proper crop rotation, restoration of nutrient balance, and the adoption of modern soil management technologies. Without systematic action, continued land degradation could reduce crop yields, weaken the competitiveness of Ukraine's agricultural sector, and threaten the country's long-term food security.