Assessment of the micronutrient status of arable land in Rivne region for the establishment of special raw material zones

Mykola Klymenko, Anatoliy Hurskiy, Serhiy Buhlak, Yaroslav Rabeshko, Olha Varzhel
Received: 07.01.2026 Revised: 27.04.2026 Accepted: 27.05.2026 Published: 29.05.2026
Retrieved from Vol. 29, No. 2, 2026 Pages: 33-47
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Abstract

Soil contamination by heavy metals and micronutrient deficiency in agricultural land reduce product quality and limit its suitability for infant and dietary nutrition, which necessitates a comprehensive study of micronutrient content in soils. The aim of the study was to assess the micronutrient status of arable land in Rivne region for the establishment of special raw material zones. The research was conducted on the basis of agrochemical monitoring data for 2015-2020 using correlation and regression analyses. It was established that in the Polissia zone the micronutrient content was as follows: manganese levels ranged from 4.6 to 17.1 mg/kg, copper from 0.1 to 0.75 mg/kg, cobalt from 0.18 to 2.57 mg/kg, and cadmium from 0.08 to 0.5 mg/kg; in the Forest-Steppe zone, manganese ranged from 10.08 to 21 mg/kg, copper from 0.08 to 0.23 mg/kg, cobalt from 0.24 to 0.42 mg/kg, and cadmium from 0.05 to 0.14 mg/kg. Correlation and regression analyses showed that the dynamics of changes in these elements exhibited significant fluctuations described by stochastic models with weak and strong correlation relationships. It was determined that most districts within the studied zones are unsuitable or only marginally suitable for the establishment of special raw material zones due to low copper and cadmium content; in the Forest-Steppe zone, nine districts were assessed as unsuitable. To ensure the production of raw materials suitable for infant and dietary nutrition, it is necessary to maintain high levels of manganese, copper, and cadmium availability. The obtained data make it possible to substantiate measures aimed at optimising soil micronutrient status and forming special raw material zones for the production of safe infant and dietary products

Keywords

soil quality; assessment of soil suitability; soil contamination; infant nutrition; product quality; raw material production

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Klymenko, M., Hurskiy, A., Buhlak, S., Rabeshko, Y., & Varzhel, O. (2026). Assessment of the micronutrient status of arable land in Rivne region for the establishment of special raw material zones. Scientific Horizons, 29(2), 33-47. https://doi.org/10.48077/scihor2.2026.33