SOIL LIMING AS A TOOL FOR IMPROVING THE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND REDUCING EUTROPHICATION OF SURFACE WATERS

Abstract

Abstract: soils along with their properties, climate and mineral fertilisation level are among the most important environmental elements impacting the quality and quantity of agricultural crops. Agricultural practices as well as crop varieties also have an impact on crop quantity and quality, but the method of cultivation of agricultural crops and selection of varieties depend on soil quality and local climate conditions.

Assuming optimum distribution of annual precipitation and proper level of fertilisation, the quality and quantity of agricultural crops depend on the properties of the soils in which they are grown. One of the most important soil parameters is pH. Acidic soils result in a range of negative phenomena that, on the one hand, impact crop quality and quantity, while, on the other hand, place a burden on the natural environment. Most soils used for crop cultivation in Poland originated from noncarbonate rocks and, consequently, are acidic. In order for agricultural production to reach an appropriate level of economic efficiency, systematic deacidifying fertilisation should be applied. However, the level of deacidifying fertilisation in Poland is far too low relative to the requirements of most plants (including mainly cereal). The necessity of using deacidifying fertilisers in crop production is a known problem and has been described in both scientific and popular scientific literature. Nevertheless, current trends indicate that farmers still use deacidifying fertilisation to a small extend, despite the fact that it is a simple way to significantly increase the quality and quantity of agricultural crops while maintaining the same level of fertilisation by mineral fertilisers. 

The paper describes, based on the National Agricultural Census 2012-2022, the current level of soil fertilisation by deacidifying fertilisers in Poland and analyses the reasons for this level as well as potential consequences.