Agriculture

The Bragin District is one of the most Chernobyl-affected districts. It lies in close propinquity to the nuclear power plant. As a result of high contamination, 50,842 of land have been removed from agricultural use in the years that followed the disaster. More than 64,000 ha of contaminated land have been re-designated and incorporated in the Polessye State Radiation Environmental Reserve.

Agricultural land occupies 25.3% or 49,700 ha of the district.

88% of the agricultural land have ¹³⁷Cs contamination density over 1 Ci/km² (over 37 kBq/m²) and ⁹⁰Sr contamination density over 0.15 Ci/km² (over 5.5 kBq/m²) is 92%. Figure 1 shows proportions of land with different levels of contamination.

Figure 1. Distribution of the agricultural land according to density of contamination with ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr, %.

Today, 18 years after the Chernobyl NPP accident, production of agricultural products with the content of radionuclides below the maximum allowable parameters in the Bragin District continues to be a challenge. This is caused by a high density of radioactive contamination of agricultural land and poor soil fertility coupled with the lack of a comprehensive approach to protective action. Agro-chemical soil analysis indicates that 39.5% of arable land and 58% of hayfields and pastures require application of lime. Phosphate fertilizers are to be applied in 49.6% of arable land and 80% of hayfields and pastures. 63.3% of arable land and 88.5% of hayfields and pastures should be treated with potassium fertilizers.

The main type of agricultural soils is sod-podzol; the share of sod and floodplain soils is smaller. The dominant share of arable land is located on light clay sand and sandy soils, that of hayfields and pastures - on peat-mossy soils (Figure 2). When agricultural crops are grown on such types of soil, there is a high transition of radionuclides from soil to vegetation.

Figure 2. Soil distribution according to type and grain composition, %

To ensure effective agricultural management on low-fertility soils and reduction of radionuclide accumulation in agricultural products, application of a range of protective measures is a prerequisite. Above all, this includes application of lime, phosphate and potassium fertilizers taking into due account soil fertility and the level of radioactive contamination; these practices are implemented 60-80% at the expense of funds provided from the State Programme on Minimisation and Overcoming of the Consequences of the Chernobyl NPP Accident of the Republic of Belarus.

Crop production. Forecast of ¹³⁷Cs contamination in food grains of farms' winter wheat, winter rye, oats and barley shows that practically on all arable lands the levels of ¹³⁷Cs accumulation will not exceed the NPL (national permissible level), except for oats grains on the territory of four farms. The problem of production of grains contaminated with ⁹⁰Sr is coming to the forefront. According to the forecast level of contamination with ⁹⁰Sr, 72.3% of arable land of the district, with the ⁹⁰Sr contamination density over 0.5 Ci/km², cannot be used for growing food cereals. It is expedient to use such land for growing cereals for seeds and fodder.

Potato production for food is not limited by ¹³⁷Cs soil contamination density. Limitations on potato cultivation for food, as regards ⁹⁰Sr, have been imposed on 14 agricultural entities with sandy soils. In such entities, it is required to select fields for potato growing, especially in the private farms, where the cases of exceeded NPL are the most frequent.

As it has been stated earlier, due to a grave economic situation the amount of applied mineral and organic fertilizers has been decreasing affecting the crop yield (Figure 3). Therefore, the yields of agricultural crops are low: for cereals, it is 20 centners (1 centner = 100 kg)/ha, for potato - 70-100 centners (100 kg)/ha (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Dynamics of average crop yields over 1986-1990 and 1998-2000.

The yield of cereals, potato and vegetables grown on private land does not exceed - and is often lower - than in the public sector, and is characterized by a higher degree of contamination. Agricultural products grown in rural areas form the staple diet of local people greatly contributing to their internal exposure dose. On this account, it is important to develop radiological awareness so as to build capacity of local people in managing their farming under the conditions of radioactive contamination.

The amount of applied fertilizers is mush lower on hayfields and pasture land (88 kg of active substance/ha) than on arable land (220 kg of active substance/ha). This has caused a more intense transition of radionuclides to fodder and, from it, to animal farming products. To increase efficacy of crop production and create a reliable fodder-procurement basis contributing to sustainable growth of animal farming output, it is necessary to make application of mineral fertilizers a priority for intensive agriculture, especially within contaminated areas.

The economic development of the district is based on agricultural output. The district has 20 agricultural enterprises. Employment constraints and barriers pose one of the hardest problems reflecting upon living standards of local people.

An emphasis is currently placed not only on the production of clean crops and cattle breeding, but also on enhancing economic efficacy.

Milk. One of the most important problems, unresolved to date, has been the production of milk in the private sector where the content of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs is exceedingly high. The number of cows in the private sector is 2,018. The number of cows in the public sector is 6,800. Per-cow milk yield is 2,000-2,200 l/year. The gross production of milk in the district is 13-14 thousand tons.

Despite allocation of funds from the Chernobyl Programme for the management of fodder lands at the rate of 0.5 ha of pasture and 0.5 ha of hayfields per cattle animal, in 2003, 8 communities produced milk with exceedingly high concentration of ¹³⁷Cs and 10 other reported higher-than-standard content of ⁹⁰Sr. The amount of milk with exceeded NPL standards can be reduced through different measures. However, today it continues to be a big problem (Figure 4). Not all the milk produced by private farms is tested. Due to a high contamination density of agricultural land, the milk produced in the district is processed into butter at the Khoiniki Cheese Factory.

Figure 4. Dynamics of milk flow from the public (left) and private (right) sectors to milk factories with ¹³⁷Cs exceeding 100 Bq/kg

Therefore, it is critical to select the most fertile land for future pastures (with pHKCl over 6.0 and the content of mobile potassium and phosphorus not less than 200 mg/kg of soil). After the completion of land improvement activities, pastures can be used for 4-5 years if proper care is exercised. An important technique reducing the transition of radioactive caesium from fodder to milk is the use of fodder in combination with ferrocine. Fodder is mainly distributed among private farms where whole milk is obtained with exceeded NPL. It is required to improve the level of education and information activities related to the correct use of ferrocine-containing agents.

Meat. Due to the impossibility of producing milk with the content of radionuclides below the maximum permissible level in this district, beef cattle production may hold promise. In some farms, beef raising is becoming the key profitable sector (up to 15%). Statistical data show that about 2,000 tons of beef are sold in the district every year. The weight increment of young cattle is 240-300 g a day. Hence, by wisely tackling beef production issues, it is quite possible to achieve economic benefits and increase employment of the population.

There is some experience in the district related to breeding of meat cattle, namely at the state farm "Komarinky". Also, there is experience related to breeding of young cattle by the private sector, which allows increasing the standard of living of the people.

All Rights Reserved, CORE, 2004