THE SIGNIF ICANCE OF HARVEST RESIDUES IN THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF ARABLE LAND. II. HARVEST RESIDUES MANAGEMENT

Harvest residues (HR) are one of the important aspects sustainable management in agriculture, representing a significant portion organic matter (OM) that can be retained or removed from agro-ecosystems. There several ways to manage plant residues: (i) burning, (ii) incorporation soil, (iii) leaving after harvest on soil surface form mulch, (iv) undersowing crops HR and (v) baling removing plot. Burning is most unreasonable action agricultural production, which prohibited by legal regulations force. The burning means complete loss OM - N S irretrievably lost air, mineral substances remain ash, microorganisms layer destroyed. Incorporation may partial, depending cultivation method applied. This has number benefits: increases content nutrients, humus; microbiological activity; improves water, air physical properties; structure, ultimately contributing increase fertility growth. Two practical approaches were once common, have been neglected. Namely, mixed where various species simultaneously grown with between plantings main crop. Removal indirectly leads decrease soil. In essence, there need determine size acceptors return rates different quality, efficiency nutrient cycling through land crops, minimal losses system.