Land Reclamation and Water Management

STATE AND PROSPECTS OF REHABILITATION AND MODERNIZATION OF LAND RECLAMATION SYSTEMS IN MODERN CONDITIONS

M. I. Romashchenko — 2025-07-02

Although Ukraine has a modern, scientifically sound, properly enshrined at the legislative and executive levels of the state policy on land reclamation development, the main goal of which is to create an efficient irrigation and drainage sector managed with the participation of water users as the basis for transforming Ukraine into one of the world leaders in food production and export in the context of climate change, the main task of this policy, namely, increasing the area of irrigation and water regulation, is practically not being fulfilled. This is the result of fetishizing the role of the creation of water management organizations and transferring only working irrigation and drainage systems to the ownership of the grassroots level of irrigation and drainage infrastructure. As a result, and due to the lack of a mechanism and sources of VAT payment for the infrastructure transferred to the ownership of the WUCs, the latter are unable to ensure the registration of ownership rights to it and, as a result, to increase the area of irrigation and water regulation by developing and implementing projects for the reconstruction and modernization of this infrastructure, even if they have their own funds for their implementation.

In addition to the military aggression of the russian federation, the reasons for the stagnation of the process of increasing irrigation and water regulation are also the lack of mechanisms for creating water management companies on non-operational irrigation and drainage systems, financial support through access to medium- and long-term preferential loans for the implementation of irrigation and water regulation works on non-operational irrigation and drainage systems by water management companies, failure to implement the "Action Plan...", first of all, works on inventory, financial, technical and energy audit of existing irrigation and drainage systems, audit of the use of irrigated and drained lands, feasibility studies and projects for the involvement of water resources of the Danube River. Danube River, restoration of the water-regulating and water-storage capacity of Polissya and a number of other tasks without which the full launch of the process of increasing irrigation and water regulation is impossible.

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL CHANGES IN THE ECOLOGICAL AND RECLAMATION STATE OF DRAINLESS AREAS

O. V. Vlasova — 2025-07-02

The article presents the results of studies of spatial and temporal changes in the ecological and land reclamation status of drainless areas based on the use of high and medium spatial resolution satellite data. The authors assessed the geomorphological, hydrogeological, soil and land reclamation conditions of the steppe zone of Ukraine and noted that heterogeneous natural conditions such as relief, geomorphology, groundwater, soils and rocks of the active water exchange zone contributed to the development of processes of harmful effects of water and the nature of their manifestation. A large drainless area, the Petrivskyi depression in the area of the Kakhovka irrigation system, was chosen as the object of study. The processes of land degradation on the territory of the sub were identified by detecting various manifestations of spectral and textural changes in soil and vegetation surfaces under the influence of water and wind erosion, and an unbalanced land use system based on satellite images of various earth surface scanning systems. Changes were identified and studied by vegetation, soil, and water spectral indices, which made it possible to observe the flooding of the territory. Observations were carried out in different years and cover a period of more than 40 years: 1985-2015 - the most active flooding of the territory was observed; 2002, 2003 and 2005 - large-scale winter-spring flooding; 2018-2024 - the absence of a drainage system that is in decline was recorded; 2023, 2024 - the impact of hostilities on the territory of the pad. Based on the results of studies of the spatial differentiation of soil emissions and their temporal dynamics, the authors have developed a complex indicator that is a function of three components - the spectral indices NDVI, NDWI and CM. Verification of the studies of the period 1991-2017 of the averaged values of the spectral indices showed that the closest correlation exists between NDWI and NDVI and is 0,92. The experimental area was analyzed for soil fertility in contrast to the depleted soils of the pudu. It was determined that with the change in humus concentration, the color of the topsoil changes, which in turn causes changes in the spectral characteristics of the satellite image.

Through long-term observations, the spatial and temporal changes in the ecological and reclamation state of the drainless area and the probability of loss of the functional resource of the reclamation system as a whole were studied.

THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON EVAPORATION FROM THE RESERVOIRS OF THE SOUTHERN BUG BASIN

O. M. Kozytskyi — 2025-07-02

The article deals with the issue of assessing the level of flow regulation of the Southern Bug River Basin within Khmelnytskyi and Vinnytskyi regions. The Southern Bug River Basin is one of the most regulated river basins in Ukraine, with 17 % of reservoirs and 20 % of ponds of the total number in Ukraine. Many of them are in extremely poor condition. Overgrowth, siltation, and bank degradation in many small reservoirs have led to a significant reduction in their volume, an increase in the area of shallow water, disrupted soil nutrition, and caused intensive development of higher aquatic vegetation. Studies have shown that water losses to evaporation in the reservoirs of this basin amount to 25,6% of their total volume, or 50,2% of the useful volume. At the ponds, losses are much higher and amount to 66,7% of their total volume. In general, evaporation losses in the Southern Bug River (up to the border with Kirovohradskyi region) amount to 17,6% of its average annual value over the long-term observation period. A significant increase in evaporation from the water surface has been observed in recent decades, due to an increase in air temperature during the growing season. While in the very low-water years of the last century, evaporation losses of the Southern Bug amounted to 38,3% of the annual runoff, in 2020 they reached almost 70%. The greatest increase in evaporation is observed in the summer months, due to an increase in daily maximum air temperatures and the number of days with average daily air temperatures above 30 ⁰C. To solve the problem of conservation and efficient use of water resources, it is necessary to introduce a comprehensive system of organizational and technical measures, including optimization of the number of reservoirs in river basins, taking into account the level of flow regulation and economic needs; increasing the volume of functioning reservoirs by clearing their l

ESTIMATION OF WATER LOSS FOR TOTAL EVAPORATION FROM THE SURFACE OF PONDS AND RESERVOIRS IN THE INGULETS RIVER BASIN

V. P. Kovalchuk — 2025-07-02

The article considers the problem of water loss due to the evaporation from the surface of ponds and reservoirs under conditions of intense anthropogenic load and climate changes, focusing on the Ingulets river basin as an example of the one of the most regulated river systems in the steppe zone of Ukraine. Taking into account the growing shortage of water resources, especially after the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP, the relevance of studying evaporation from water surfaces of artificial reservoirs in the southern regions is increasing. Estimating water losses due to the evaporation from the surface of ponds and reservoirs in the Ingulets River basin is an important aspect of water resources management in the region. Available data on the areas of artificial water bodies and average evaporation rates were used to calculate total water losses. Based on a spatial analysis of over 1,200 water bodies in the Inhulets river basin, including an assessment of the areas and volumes of reservoirs and ponds, a quantitative assessment of water evaporation from their surface was carried out for 1961-1990 and 1991-2023. The research methodology is based on the processing of long term meteorological data from local weather stations, as well as the use of satellite and archival information from available sites. Climatic conditions in the studied region demonstrate a steady warming trend: over the past 30 years, the average annual temperature in the Ingulets river basin has increased by an average of 1,3°C with slight decreases in precipitation over the studied period. It has been found that under modern conditions, evaporation can exceed the inflow from atmospheric precipitation, which turns artificial reservoirs into active factors in reducing the water balance of the Ingulets river basin. In 1991-2023, evaporation rates from the surface of water bodies increased by 13,7% (107 mm) for the Znamyanka weather station, by 7,6% (68 mm) for the Komisarivka weather station, and by 9,1% (88 mm) for the Kryvyi Rih weather station. Particular attention is paid to assessing the water management efficiency of the functioning of such facilities in the context of environmental safety, hydrological stability, and adaptation to the climate changes. The obtained results are important for the development of regional water resources management strategies, improvement of methods for calculating water losses, and ecological and economic optimization of the water fund structure in small and medium-sized river basins.

IDENTIFICATION METHOD FOR THE LEVEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY OF WATER BODIES

M. V. Yatsiuk — 2025-07-02

A method for identifying the environmental safety of water bodies under conditions of uncertainty has been developed using systems analysis methods and a multicriteria approach. Improving the adequacy of identification involves searching for a more suitable criterion and using multiple criteria that comprehensively describe the goal of identifying the environmental safety level of water bodies and complement each other. The determination of environmental safety in the context of the requirements of the Water Code of Ukraine should be structured according to integrated criteria. The proposed identification method uses techniques for calculating scores of various factors that characterize the components of specific criteria. The objectivity of the identification process is ensured by using criteria that provide a sufficiently complete chain of assessment features of threats. The identification procedure is based on multicriteria evaluation approaches with subsequent aggregation into an integral index that defines the water body's environmental safety level. During the identification procedure, the values of indicators and indices of relevant characteristics are mapped to corresponding evaluation scales. The arguments of the target identification function, which are features of the evaluation factors according to their respective criteria components, are expressed as dimensionless scores. The identification problem for natural or artificial objects under uncertainty is solved using systems analysis methods and a multicriteria approach, and it is reduced to comparing the resulting scores and ranking them by a set of partial or integral criteria (index). The use of the Analytic Hierarchy Process to justify the contribution of comprehensive components to assessing the environmental safety level of Ukraine's water bodies is a key element that made it possible to select the most appropriate assessment methodology.

CONCEPT OF INVOLVING GASES IN THE FORMATION OF THERMODYNAMIC AVAILABILITY OF PLANT NUTRIENTS AND THE COURSE OF SOIL PROCESSES

S. S. Kolomiiets — 2025-07-02

The important role of gases in the planetary energy-mass exchange of the lithosphere with the atmosphere is determined, and attention is focused on the multifaceted mechanisms of gas exchange, especially under non-isothermal soil conditions. The conceptual principles of involving gases in ensuring the thermodynamic availability of plant nutrition, which emphasize the role of gases in a heterogeneous soil system, which is characterized by the presence of trapped air bubbles, are based on experimental data. Trapped soil air bubbles in the soil environment play the role of a distributed energy source when interacting with the thermodynamic parameters of the environment - temperature, atmospheric pressure and soil moisture content. The reaction of the soil capillary potential to a daily dynamics of external thermodynamic parameters has the nature of a self-oscillating process with a significant amplitude of the thermodynamic availability of the pore solution for plants.

This turns the trapped air bubbles into centers of thermodynamic disequilibrium (CTD), acid centers of a certain strength (AC) and ecotone centers of soil biota. Thermodynamic accessibility is determined by the dynamics of soil heterogeneity, i.e. its energy saturation with surface types of energy, as well as by increasing matter mobility and intertransitions of different categories of soil absorption capacity. The functional parameters of the soil are determined by the gas composition of the soil atmosphere, where a special role belongs to carbon dioxide (CO₂), as the main factor in maintaining soil homeostasis. Emphasis is placed on the fact that under natural conditions of soil functioning, the composition of the smallest bubbles is enriched with oxygen and nitrogen, and most importantly, the size of these bubbles becomes close to nanoradii, which gives them abnormal properties.

Using the example of nanotechnologies with various gases, the possibility of targeted control of soil processes to increase the productivity and quality of plant products and ameliorative improvement of soils has been proven. The conclusion about the extremely high potential of integrating nanobubble technologies into ameliorative agriculture when using modern drip irrigation technologies has been made.

DEWATERING OF WASTEWATER SLUDGE USING BIOFLOCCULATION

A. B. Mosiichuk — 2025-07-02

Sludge dewatering is a crucial stage in wastewater treatment that significantly affects treatment facilities' environmental and economic efficiency. This article explores the issue of wastewater sludge dewatering using bioflocculation, a biotechnology that involves the natural process of particle aggregation involving microorganisms or their metabolites. Biological wastewater treatment remains a leading approach globally and in Ukraine; however, existing sludge dewatering methods face limitations due to high costs and insufficient efficiency. Bioflocculation helps reduce sludge moisture content, increase dry matter concentration, and decrease waste volume, contributing to resource savings and reduced chemical load. The study analyzes the impact of microbial bioflocculants on sedimentation and dewatering processes, particularly exopolysaccharides produced by Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Klebsiella bacteria. Parameters influencing efficiency, such as dosage, contact time, pH, and aeration, are considered. Combining bioflocculation with conventional methods, such as centrifugation and mechanical thickening, enhances treatment efficiency while reducing energy and reagent consumption. Special attention is given to the potential implementation of bioflocculation at Ukrainian treatment plants, where the local production of microbial bioflocculants could replace synthetic polymers. Key influencing factors — microbial community composition, physicochemical properties of sludge, and cultivation conditions — are analyzed for their impact on process stability. The advantages of bioflocculation are outlined, including environmental friendliness, reduced product toxicity, improved dewatering, and cost reduction. At the same time, challenges such as microbial adaptation, wastewater variability, and the need for further research to implement the technology are acknowledged. Therefore, bioflocculation is a promising approach to improving wastewater treatment and sludge dewatering, aligning with modern environmental standards and supporting sustainable waste management.

ESTIMATION OF THE ACCURACY OF THE CALCULATION OF REFERENCE AND ACTUAL EVAPOTRANSPIRATION BASED ON VIRTUAL WEATHER STATION DATA FOR POLISSYA REGION OF UKRAINE

O. V. Zhuravlоv — 2025-07-02

This article evaluates the accuracy of calculating reference and actual evapotranspiration using Virtual Visual Crossing Weather Data (VCWD) and automatic iMetos Base meteorological station data in Polissya, Ukraine. The study confirmed the feasibility of calculating ETo and ETc using VCWD meteorological data. The ETo calculation is 86,1% accurate, with an RMSE and SEE error of 0,76 and 0,49 mm, respectively. The ETo calculation with correction factors for meteorological data increases its accuracy by 1,4%, and the RMSE error decreases by 0,08 mm. The most accurate calculations were obtained using a correction factor of 1,1 to the calculated ETo. With the correction factor applied, the ETo determination accuracy is 88,9%, with RMSE and SEE errors of 0,58 and 0,54 mm, respectively. The ETo data from VCWD were obtained with satisfactory accuracy; the largest errors in the MAPE, RMSE, and SEE were 20,4%, 1.09 mm, and 1,02 mm, respectively. For 2023–2024, the FEA, RMSE, and SEE errors for ETo calculated from VCWD meteorological data, accounting for the 1,1 correction factor, were 10,0–12,2%, 0,55–0,60, and 0,51–0,55 mm, respectively. During the research period, the MAPE, RMSE, and SEE errors for this variant were 9,0%-14,0%, 0,52-0,63 mm, and 0,34-0,56 mm, respectively. The calculation of absolute errors in determining ETo confirms that the most reliable data of reference evapotranspiration are obtained using the correction factor. This option resulted in the smallest average absolute error by years of research, which is 5 mm, and in 2024 this error was 0. In terms of months, the smallest absolute error of 2 mm was observed in May and August, and the largest -13 mm in September.

The results of the calculations of actual evapotranspiration (ETc) of crops showed that using a correction factor of 1,1 to ETo increases the accuracy of ETc calculations. The mean absolute relative error (MAPE) decreased by 2,1% for all crops, and the root mean square error (RMSE) decreased by 0,16, 0,15, and 0,09 mm for corn, potatoes, and blueberries, respectively. The average absolute ETc errors by year of research using a correction factor of 1,1 for ETo were 15,7, and 11 mm for corn, potatoes, and blueberries, respectively. In May, June, and July, the calculated ETc for corn seed was 11,6, and 8 mm lower than the actual values. In August and September, it was 1 and 9 mm higher, respectively. This trend in the errors distribution is also observed for potatoes and blueberries.

APPLICATION OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON CORN CROPS IN THE SOUTHERN STEPPE OF UKRAINE

P. V. Pysarenko — 2025-07-02

The aim of the research was to determine the productivity of the Ingulsky corn hybrid of the medium-ripening group of maturity depending on seed and plant treatment during the growing season when applying Regoplant and Vermystym biostimulants, as well as the effect of a plant density in different moisture conditions. Methods. The field laboratory and mathematical and statistical methods were used in the course of the research. Results. Irrigation provided an increase in the yield of silage mass by 1,4-2,2 times. Thus, on average, over three years, the highest productivity of corn for silage was observed when having a plant density of 90 thousand/ha without applying biostimulants – 48,6 t/ha and with applying biostimulants – 59,3-64,7 t/ha. The highest dry matter yield of 17,3-18,5 t/ha, feed unit yield of 16,1-17,4 t/ha and digestible protein content of 0,75-0,82 t/ha was obtained when biostimulants were applied when having a plant density of 90 thousand/ha. It was found that in non-irrigated conditions, the highest grain yield was 3,1-4,7 t/ha on the variant with a plant density of 30 thousand/ha. Applying Regoplant biostimulant provided an increase in grain yield by 1,6 t/ha, while applying Vermystym biostimulant provided an increase in grain yield by 1,2 t/ha, respectively. Conclusions. In non-irrigated conditions, it is necessary to apply Vermystym biostimulant with a sowing rate of 70 thousand/ha to obtain the highest yield of fodder units of 9,6 t/ha and 0,42 t/ha of digestible protein content from corn green mass. In irrigated conditions, the seeding rate should be increased to 90 thousand/ha and Regoplant biostimulant should be used to obtain the highest yield of feed units of 17,4 t/ha and 0,87 t/ha of digestible protein content. The cultivation of the Ingulsky hybrid corn for grain in non-irrigated conditions provided the highest yield of 4,7 t/ha with a plant density of 30 thousand/ha and applying Regoplant biostimulant. In irrigated conditions increasing a plant density to 70 thousand/ha and applying Regoplant biostimulant provided the maximum yield of 11,2 t/ha.

ASSESSMENT OF THE TECHNICAL CONDITION OF THE KRASNOPAVLIVSK RESERVOIR EARTH DAM

I. V. Voytovych — 2025-07-02

Dams and weirs of the reservoirs are objects of increased man-made hazard, which is due to the high probability of catastrophic flooding of territories and destruction as a result of their breakthroughs. The probability of technogenic accidents at reservoirs increases not only with exceeding the design operating lifespan, but also as a result of hostilities and climate changes, which lead to changes in the hydrological regime of surface and groundwater. According to the conducted research, it has been found out that monolithic reinforced concrete supports of the upper slopes of dams are particularly susceptible to destruction. This is primarily due to the destruction of temperature-deformation and structural joints of fastening structures, as well as the manifestation of chemical and mechanical suffosion. As a result, cavities form in the base of the earth dam body deck, which leads to subsidence and destruction of the deck, a decrease in the stability of the upper slope, and the manifestation of filtration processes. In order to assess the technical condition of the structural elements of the earth dam of the Krasnopavlivsk reservoir and determine the potential reserve of its operation, field surveys were conducted, which allowed assessing the stability of both the fastening structures and the earth dam body. The reservoir was put into operation in 1984 as a component of the hydroelectric facility of Dnipro–Donbas canal. It ensures the uninterrupted operation of the canal, and in case of emergencies it is used as a freshwater reservoir for water supply. The reservoir dam is made of soil. The upper slope is secured in the lower part with a stone cape, and in the upper part with monolithic reinforced concrete slabs. The bottom slope is secured with a layer of soil with grass seeding. To discharge the filtration water and drain it into an open drainage collector, tubular drainage and discharge wells are arranged. The dam's load characteristics are typical for the most reservoir dams in Ukraine. During the surveys, a set of diagnostic methods was used, including non-destructive examinations of the concrete cover of the upper slope reinforcement and assessment of its strength using a Schmidt hammer, georadar studies to determine cavities in the thickness of the underlying layer of the soil dam base under the concrete cover using a VIY5 600 georadar, as well as geodetic methods for measuring the geometric parameters of facilities’ structures and the consequences of the destruction of structural elements. According to the research materials, violations of the geometric parameters of the dam were noted, as well as the presence of deformation processes in the form of the subsidence of the dam crest in places where anomalous phenomena occurred. The effect of the destruction of the concrete cover on the stability of the earth dam, the manifestation of the activation of filtration processes accompanied by increased suffosion of the underlying layer of the base of the reinforcement, were noted.

MONITORING OF DEFORMATION PROCESSES OF THE ELEMENTS OF ENGINEERING STRUCTURES OF HYDRAULIC FACILITIES

Y. A. Onanko — 2025-07-02

Monitoring the technical condition of hydraulic facilities is crucial for ensuring their safe operation. This process usually involves monitoring environmental variables (e.g., concrete dam levels, temperature, piezometer readings), as well as geometric and physical variables (deformation, cracking, filtration, pore pressure, etc.), the long-term trends of which provide valuable information for facility managers. Research of the methods for analyzing geodetic monitoring data (manual and automatic) and sensor data is vital for assessing the technical condition and safety of facilities, especially when applying new measurement technologies. The age of hydraulic structures in Ukraine is 50-60 years and more, and their technical condition has deteriorated due to long-term operation. Their technical capabilities and reliability have decreased due to improper maintenance. In addition, insufficient consideration of environmental factors during operation has contributed to a decrease in the reliability of these structures.

Most reservoirs and hydroelectric power plants were built in the mid-20th century and have been under constant operation. Due to significant operational life, negative changes often occur in their technical condition. Atmospheric, chemical, and other aggressive factors also contribute to the destruction of hydraulic facilities and their elements in water. This can lead to serious damage to both the facilities and the elements of hydraulic systems dependent on them. An additional negative impact factor on the condition of hydraulic facilities in Ukraine is missile and drone shelling and other damage as a result of military operations. Therefore, there is a need to develop a device that can be used when monitoring relative static and variable deformation, plasticity, and creep of samples from various elements of engineering structures, materials, elements, and assemblies in hydraulic engineering, construction, and industry.