According to the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine[1], 10.67 million tonnes of organic fertilizers were applied in 2018. The major share of organic fertilizers is animal waste (manure and slurry) totally of 91.62% by weight(Figure 1).
Figure 1 Organic fertilizers use in Ukraine by type (2018)
The use of organic fertilizers of natural origin, which include different types of silt, sapropels, peat and its products (mainly humates), does not exceed 1% by weight in total, but their contribution to the proportion of active nutrients is obviously greater, since such natural fertilizers are more concentrated compared to manure/slurry. About 7.6% of organic fertilizers are classified in the category “Other types”, but it is not possible to determine these types of fertilizers from the public statistical reporting form.
The methodology of statistical reporting on fertilizer application does not allow to estimate the actual contribution of each type of organic fertilizer to the active nutrients (NPK), but the current dominant role of livestock waste (manure and slurry) in the structure of organic fertilizers application is evident.
An important indicator of organic fertilizers use is the specific use of organic fertilizers per unit area of fertilized land, as well as per unit of total arable land in Ukraine (Figure 2). The figure shows a rapid decline in organic fertilizer application per arable land area for the period from 1990 to 2000, which correlates well with the cattle and pig population drop. At the same time, there is a gradual fall in the rate of application of organic fertilizers per unit of organically fertilized land, the minimal value was observed in 2018 at the level of 14.56 t / ha.
Figure 2 Use of organic fertilizers in Ukraine (1990-2018)[2]
Data analysis of on the use of organic fertilizers per unit of fertilized area shows a significant difference of this indicator by regions of Ukraine – from 1.3 t/ha in Zakarpattya (Trans-Carpathian region) to 35.1 t/ha in Ivano-Frankivsk region (Figure 3).
Figure 3 Use of organic fertilizers and generation of manure/slurry per hectare of treated area, by regions (2018)(*) – based on the Author`s estimations
Comparison of manure and slurry production at agricultural enterprises estimated by Consultant based on available livestock, and statistics of organic fertilizers use per hectare of fertilized area of land shows that in most regions there is a significant divergence of indicators, with either incomplete use of manure and slurry for field fertilization, or differences in methodological approaches. At the same time, manure and slurry in any case somehow mostly introduced into the soil.
Export of organic fertilizers from Ukraine amounted to only 340 tons in 2018. From this amount 200 tons were represented by granulated poultry litter. Thus, export amount can be neglected in the structure of total organic fertilizers generation.
Authors: Petro Kucheruk, Yurii Matveev – experts of Bioenergy Association of Ukraine
[1] Використання добрив і пестицидів під урожай сільськогосподарських культур 2018 року / Держстат, 2018
[2] Use of mineral and organic fertilizers in Ukraine 1990-2018 / Ukrstat, 2019
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