Assessment of soil suitability for potato cultivation

Abstract. The purpose of the study is to assess the suitability of soils for growing potatoes according to the requirements for the crop under study. Conduct a grouping of soil types in the study area according to fertility indicators. To form an optimization model in terms of fertility indicators relative to the requirements for the cultivation of potatoes. Methods. The object of the study is the territory of the northern forest-steppe of the Tyumen region. The studies were carried out on the basis of an analytical method using the following tools: at the first stage, the technology for creating a digital soil map of the South of the Tyumen region was carried out; at the second stage, a modeling method was used to develop an optimization model of soil fertility indicators; data of long-term research of the Department of Soil Science and Agrochemistry of the State Agrarian University of the Northern Trans-Urals. Scientific novelty. Work has been carried out to create a digital soil map of the south of the Tyumen region. 52 genetic types of soils were identified, the maximum area in the region falls on bog high-moor peat soils – 32.1 %, the minimum meadow-chernozem solonetsous and podzolized chernozems – 0.1 %. Taking into account the parameters of soil fertility, using the modeling method, an optimization model has been developed in the context of soil grouping by fertility. Results. The most favorable in terms of fertility for the cultivation of potatoes are the following types of soils - gray forest podzolized, dark gray forest solodized, ordinary solonetzic chernozems, podzolized chernozems, leached chernozems and meadow chernozem soils, since their initial fertility indicators are closer to the required conditions for potato cultivation. With regard to the content of nutrients in the soil, here it is necessary to take into account through laboratory studies. However, when selecting soils from the presented model, one can understand how much nutrients need to be added to the soil with fertilizers in order to provide optimal nutrition for potatoes.