Ecological and economic aspects of the efficiency of Polissia organic plant models

Purpose. The objective of the article is to investigate theoretically the possibility of harmonization of ecological and economic aspects of functioning of organic agricultural products production models under natural and climatic conditions of crop enterprises of Polissia zone in the Region of Chernihiv. Methodology / approach. The study was conducted at the Institute of Agricultural Microbiology and Agro-Industrial Manufacture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine during 2011–2020. The analysis of ecological and economic efficiency of organic crop rotations was made based on the results of the proprietary research on the example of generalization of predicted results of the developed standard models of organic crop rotations at crop enterprises of Polissia zone. Main methods: modelling (development, in particular, of standard models of crop rotations, modelling of the size of fertilizer potential over time by years); predicting (prediction of receipt and expenditure of nutrients, organic matter), balance (calculation of balances of humus and key nutrients), calculation and design (calculation of the basic parameters of economic efficiency); abstract and logical (formulation of the provisions of the article based on the analysis of studies of other authors, drawing conclusions based on the results of studies conducted). Results. Developed typical crop rotation models are characterized by positive predictive humus balances and acceptable key nutrient balances (NPK). With the implementation of ‘organic’ prices for agricultural products, most crops achieve an acceptable level of profitability. However, in order to achieve a competitive level of profitability of organic production, it must be provided with an appropriate economic mechanism of its functioning, in particular higher prices compared to traditional agricultural products, etc. Harmonization of economic and ecological aspects in simulated crop rotations is achieved primarily by selecting crops with high yields, which are mainly characterized by insufficient or low level of ecological efficiency, and crops with high or medium ecological efficiency, which having insufficient or low economic efficiency, compensate mostly negative ecological consequences of growing crops with high economic efficiency. This is accompanied by achievement of the ecological balance of agrocenoses and an acceptable level of economic efficiency of organic models. The practical aspect of the activities of specific farms in relation to the choice of the appropriate model of organic management should take into account not only considerations of ecological and economic efficiency, but also the level of resource provision within these limits. Originality / scientific novelty. The possibility of harmonization of economic and ecological aspects and achievement of their acceptable level in crop rotations of organic agriculture for crop enterprises has been theoretically substantiated. For the first time, the methodological approach developed by the authors on the distribution of costs for the production and application of organic fertilizers between crops during crop rotation in proportion to the duration and amount of fertilization was implemented. Practical value / implications. Typical models of crop rotations of organic farming for crop enterprises in Polissia were developed. Methods of choosing a certain model were proposed both according to the criteria of ecological and economic efficiency, and taking into account the organizational and economic capabilities and resource provision of a particular business entity.