Abstract:

The aim of the study is the formalization of the balance tools and their application to determine of ecological and economic land use efficiency in agriculture, as well as to create practical recommendations for the preservation of soil fertility to ensure food security. Land as the main resource of agricultural production is irreplaceable, the problem of its efficient use remains extremely urgent on a global scale. Accurate land management affects the physical and economic food accessibility. In the area of environmental protection, there is usually uncertainty about benefits and uncertainty about costs. Therefore, today further approximation of the assessment processes occurring in the interaction system between man and nature in the agricultural production  is required.

Analysis of the agricultural land use efficiency requires the determination of both economic and environmental performance. The ecological land use component can be measured based on the magnitude of the environmental damage caused to soil fertility, and the magnitude of the environmental effect that is created during the activities for the soil fertility reproduction.

The cost of measures for the soil fertility reproduction are ecological costs, their effectiveness can be estimated by the output of additional agricultural products per unit area. Studies have shown that the cultivation of crops, taking into account the actual receipt of nutrients causes a negative balance of nutrients in the soil.  The calculation of ecological and economic efficiency indicates the need not only for the joint application of organic and mineral fertilizers in the optimal parameters, but also the search for alternative ways to ensure the soil fertility reproduction. In the near future, the agriculture biologization will be one of the really cost-effective ways to ensure the soil fertility decline and increase agricultural production along with the use of artificial means. Ecological principles of agriculture biologization involve reproduction of microorganisms in the soil, recycling of nutrients, dynamic management of biodiversity, energy conservation on all scales.