Implementation of agroecological zoning index to map the suitability of agricultural lands of the Steppe zone of Ukraine for the cultivation of major crops

Abstract

Pavlo Lykhovyd*, Raisa Vozhehova, Liudmyla Hranovska, Iryna Bidnyna, Oleksandr Shablia, Vasyl Kokoiko, Svetlana Koblai, Ruslan Solomonov, Elgudzha Kulidzhanov and Yevhen Hnylytskyi

Current climate change requires revision of agroecological zones in terms of their suitability for crops cultivation. The main goal of this study was to perform comprehensive agroecological zoning based on complex Agroecological Zoning Index (AEZI) for major crops of the South of Ukraine. The AEZI values are calculated based on the values of NDVI, NDWI, and NRI spatial indices, providing a complex assessment of the croplands in terms of their general suitability, water and nutrition supply. The results of the agroecological zoning of the steppe zone of Ukraine by AEZI values, screened for the 2018-2019 season, testified that the zone is unfavourable for late spring crop cultivation under rainfed conditions, while cereals and rapeseed could be cultivated in the zone even without irrigation. As for the irrigated croplands of the zone, they are conditionally suitable or absolutely suitable for all the major crops. The results of the estimation were mapped and included in the database ‘Agroecological Zoning of the Steppe Zone of Ukraine v.1.00’ to ease the use of the methodology by scientists and practitioners. Further extension of the agroecological zoning scale and updates to the database will be conducted in future research work.