Publication: Perennial legumes as a factor in soil fertility improvement
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Date
2026-02-24
Authors
Hanhur, V. V.
Гангур, Володимир Васильович
Vodianyk, O. V.
Yeremko, L. S.
Єремко, Людмила Сергіївна
Staniak, M.
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Abstract
Long-term leguminous grasses (Medicago sativa L., Trifolium pratense L., Onobrychis viciifolia Scop., Melilotus officinalis L.) are strategically important crops for sustainable agriculture because they combine high agronomic, ecological, and economic benefits. Their cultivation contributes to a long-term increase in soil fertility due to their significant biomass, ability to biologically fix nitrogen, improve soil physical properties, and activate soil biota. One of the key properties of perennial legumes is symbiotic nitrogen fixation. With the participation of nodule bacteria, they are capable of absorbing 80 to 250 kg of N/ha per year from the atmosphere, which is several times higher than the capacity of other crops. This biological nitrogen is formed gradually and evenly enters the soil, improving the nitrogen nutrition of subsequent crops in the crop rotation. This reduces the need for mineral fertilizers, especially nitrogen fertilizers, which contributes to resource savings and reduces the technogenic load on the environment. The highly developed root system of perennial legumes, which can extend to a depth of 1.5–3 m, performs a number of important functions: improving soil structure and aeration, increasing its water permeability, and preventing erosion processes. The roots help break up compacted layers of the arable horizon, providing better conditions for the growth of roots of the next crops. In addition, roots and post-harvest residues significantly enrich the soil with organic matter—humus accumulates in the soil profile, which is the main indicator of fertility. The organic mass of perennial legumes is characterized by an optimal C:N ratio, which ensures rapid decomposition of plant residues and effective humus formation. The application of biomass is equivalent to the application of large amounts of organic fertilizers in a naturally occurring manner. This contributes to improving the nutrient regime, increasing the content of available phosphorus and potassium, activating microbiological processes, and increasing the biological activity of the soil.
Description
Hanhur V. V., Vodianyk O. V., Yeremko L., Staniak M. Perennial legumes as a factor in soil fertility improvement. Актуальні напрями та проблематика у технологіях вирощування продукції рослинництва: матеріали V міжнародної науково-практичної інтернет-конференції (м. Полтава, 25 листопада 2025 р.). Полтава: ПДАУ, 2025. С. 7-9. ISBN 978-617-8466-56-5
Keywords
Crop production, cultivation technologies, yield, grain quality, mineral nutrition, fertilizers, soil fertility, crop rotation, legumes, sunflower, bioecology, agroecosystems