Consumption of organic fertilizers in Ukraine
According to the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine, 10.67 million tonnes of organic fertilizers were applied in 2018. The major share of organic fertilizers is animal waste (manure and slurry) totally of 91.62% by weight(Figure 1).
Figure 1 Organic fertilizers use in Ukraine by type (2018)
The use of organic fertilizers of natural origin, which include different types of silt, sapropels, peat and its products (mainly humates), does not exceed 1% by weight in total, but their contribution to the proportion of active nutrients is obviously greater, since such natural fertilizers are more concentrated compared to manure/slurry. About 7.6% of organic fertilizers are classified in the category “Other types”, but it is not possible to determine these types of fertilizers from the public statistical reporting form.
The methodology of statistical reporting on fertilizer application does not allow to estimate the actual contribution of each type of organic fertilizer to the active nutrients (NPK), but the current dominant role of livestock waste (manure and slurry) in the structure of organic fertilizers application is evident.
An important indicator of organic fertilizers use is the specific use of organic fertilizers per unit area of fertilized land, as well as per unit of total arable land in Ukraine (Figure 2). The figure shows a rapid decline in organic fertilizer application per arable land area for the period from 1990 to 2000, which correlates well with the cattle and pig population drop. At the same time, there is a gradual fall in the rate of application of organic fertilizers per unit of organically fertilized land, the minimal value was observed in 2018 at the level of 14.56 t/ha.
Prepared by: Petro Kucheruk – Member of the Expert Council of the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine for the platform of sustainable agribusiness SAF Ukraine.
The Bioenergy Association of Ukraine since 2019 is a partner of the platform of sustainable agribusiness SAF Ukraine.
