PROBLEMS OF SOIL FERTILITY AND APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS IN RUSSIAN SUBTROPICAL PLANT GROWING

The review briefly reflects the role and global functions of soil in the Earth's biosphere; the importance of mineral fertilizers in solving the problem of soil fertility and food problems, the scale of their use in Russia and around the world; the history of soil and agrochemical research in the field of subtropical crop production in Russia. The main work on scientific support of tea growing industry, as the leading branch of agriculture in the region, is presented in more details: developments in the field of soil fertility optimization and mineral nutrition of culture; valuation of soils and lands under tea plantations based on the analysis of agroecological conditions and their impact on crop productivity; zoning of the territory by categories of suitability for tea cultivation; certification system of tea plantations. The effectiveness and payback of mineral fertilizers, as well as the rate of decline in soil fertility and yield of tea plantations during fertilizers absence have been demonstrated. The following measures aimed at ensuring the fertility of agricultural lands and increasing the farming standards in tea growing and fruit growing in the region are proposed: presentation of scientifically-based requirements in order to ensure the optimal rates of mineral fertilizers for perennial plantations, as well as to achieve a certain level of plantation yield depending on the tea growing zone and land bonitet; the introduction of a special agroproduction document – a passport of perennial plantations (tea plantations, southern fruit and subtropical crops).