ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT STATE OF THE SOIL COVER OF ZAPORIZHZHYA OBLAST

Soil is an accumulating medium capable of accumulating high concentrations of elements. The composition of soils and their ability to self-renew are influenced by natural (soil-forming processes) and anthropogenic (industrial and transport emissions) sources. Agricultural soils are most susceptible to pollution with disrupted natural self-purification processes. In this regard, monitoring the state of soil cover in agricultural areas and identifying sources of their pollution is the most urgent issue of today. Research show that the effective components of nutrients are those that can be absorbed by the plant, and that the bioavailability of an element is related to its chemical state in the soil. A major problem of Ukrainian soils is the deficiency of nutrients, namely 40% of soils in Ukraine have an average and low phosphorus content - the content of P2O5 in them is from 10 to 12 mg/kg, sometimes up to 17 mg/kg of soil. Therefore, the fertility of Ukrainian soils requires constant diagnostics and monitoring. Agricultural soils of Zaporizhia oblast are under high pressure due to intensive farming, an increase in the number of agricultural enterprises, as well as an increase in the storage of prohibited and unsuitable pesticides. The work assessed the current state of the soil cover of the Zaporizhia oblast based on data from the region's ecological passports for 2016-2023. As a result of the research, it was found that soils with medium (2,1-3,0 %) and elevated (3,1-4,0 %) humus content dominate in the region, but their gradual reduction is observed. Soils with very low and low nitrogen content also dominate in the region. Research have shown that the degree of soil phosphorus supply has significantly deteriorated. If in 2016 soils with very high and high levels of supply prevailed, then in 2023 soils with very low, low and medium levels of supply were already observed. Regarding the potassium content in soils, it can be said that soils with high and very high potassium content dominate in the region.