Fertilizers and Pesticides Impact on Surface-Active Substances Accumulation in the Dark Gray Podzolic Soils

Abstract

The article reports on a study that examined the impact of agrochemicals on the levels of surfactants in soil. Specifically, the study found that the use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides led to an increase in the levels of anionic surfactants (ASA) in the soil. Furthermore, the simultaneous application of fertilizers and pesticides had a greater effect on ASA levels than either factor alone. The use of pesticides also led to an increase in non-ionic surfactants (NSA), while the use of fertilizers resulted in a decrease in NSA levels. The study also found that the increase in the levels of mobile forms of key nutrients in the soil was associated with the accumulation of ASA in lower layers of the soil profile.The amount of alkaline hydrolyzed nitrogen under the low protection system increased by 3.0–23.2 mg kg-1 soil, mobile phosphorus by 14.0–144.0 mg P2O5, and exchangeable potassium by 9.0–222.0 mg K2O per kg soil, compared to the control. With the complex use of fertilizers and pesticides in one block, a trend of increasing mobile forms of nutrients in the soil was observed. The distribution of ASA amount in the soil profile is descending. The clear presence of ASA was established only in the soil layer of 0–40 cm. An increase of ASA content in the soil due to the use of agrochemicals and fertilizers is observed up to a depth of 60–80 cm. Using biological elements in agriculture significantly reduces the amount of these substances in the soil profile.