AGROCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE SULFUR CONTENT IN THE SOILS OF THE KURSK REGION AND THE FEASIBILITY OF APPLICATION
In modern conditions of intensive agriculture, the problems of soil degradation, as well as the degree of soil availability with nitrogen, organic carbon and sulfur compounds are very relevant for such an agricultural region as the Kursk region. Preserving soil fertility, increasing crop productivity and environmental safety of the Central Chernozem region is impossible without a balanced chemical elements of mineral nutrition of plants, taking into account the content, distribution and transformation of their compounds in the soil. An agrochemical survey of the soils of Zolotukhinsky district was performed: the pH values of salt soil extracts were determined, the content of organic carbon (humus), alkaline hydrolysable nitrogen, and subsurface sulfur compounds were determined. In the course of research, increased soil acidity was found, which creates conditions for a high degree of mobility of sulfur compounds and the ability to leach into ground water. In this regard, liming of arable land is recommended, which will create an important reserve of sulfur for plant nutrition. The established critically low concentrations of sulfates in soils are the result of non-replacement of sulfur removal from soils with agricultural crops, systematic reduction of soil fertility, including organic carbon (humus) reserves, soil acidification, as well as a decrease in the overall level of use of organic and mineral fertilizers. Given the removal of sulfur compounds by crops, the recommended dose of sulfuric fertilizer: when growing cruciferous and liliaceous crops target-consistent to apply the dose in the number of 90 - 120 kg S/ha of arable land, for legumes cultures 60 - 100 kg S/ha of arable land, for grains and different cereals 30 - 60 kg S/ha of arable land. The introduction of sulfur fertilizers will provide a significant increase in yields of soybeans, sugar and fodder beet, grain and other crops in the backgrounds of N, P, K and Ca and N, P, K.