The Russian invasion of Ukraine is not only disrupting the country’s food exports but also threatening its long-term role as the “breadbasket of Europe.” Researchers warn that Ukraine’s soils are gradually being depleted of essential crop nutrients.
A collaborative study by scientists from the UK, Ukraine, and the Netherlands found that more nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are now being removed through harvested crops than are being replenished. This imbalance stems from reduced access to fertilizers during the war, inefficient farming practices, and widespread soil degradation and erosion caused by military activity.
The research, led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and published in Communications Earth & Environment, calls for improved nutrient management on farms. Recommendations include greater use of animal manure as organic fertilizer, more efficient fertilizer application, and incorporating legumes into crop rotations.
Such measures would strengthen soil health, boost food production, and protect the environment. Mismanaged nutrient use not only weakens soil quality but also contaminates water systems, leading to harmful algal blooms. Excess nitrogen further contributes to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Integrated Management
Dr Sergiy Medinets of UKCEH, who led the study, said: “Unless action is taken to restore lost nutrients in soils, there is likely to be a long-term impact on crop production in Ukraine. This would not only affect food security in Ukraine but also globally – particularly North Africa and the Middle East which depend upon imports – and further push up prices and increase hunger.
“There is therefore an urgent need for an integrated nutrient management plan for Ukraine that wastes fewer nutrients and reduces the amount of synthetic fertiliser needed.”
Medinets explained this plan would involve more efficient use and precise application of synthetic and organic fertilisers. It would also include expanding the production of legumes such as beans, peas and lentils as well as cover crops – all of which are effective at removing nitrogen from the atmosphere and storing it in soils, making it available for subsequent crops, according to a press release.
Sharing Expertise
The study brought together scientists from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Odesa National I.I. Mechnikov University (ONU) in Ukraine, and Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in the Netherlands.
Using official data on fertilizer use and crop yields, the researchers estimated nutrient balances for three of Ukraine’s key export crops — wheat, maize, and sunflower — across each region of the country over the past four decades. These crops together account for roughly two-thirds of Ukraine’s agricultural land.
Following independence, Ukraine emerged as one of the world’s leading crop exporters, ranking as the top global producer and exporter of sunflower meal, oil, and seed, and among the top five exporters of maize and wheat. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has disrupted fertilizer inputs, threatening the long-term sustainability of this vital agricultural system.
“We are optimistic that sharing expertise on nutrient management is another way in which the UK and other countries can support Ukraine’s environment and economy at the same time,” study coauthor Professor Mark Sutton of UKCEH said.
Promoting Greater Efficiency
Over recent decades, arable and livestock farming in Ukraine have become increasingly separated, leaving many farms without easy access to animal manure as a natural fertiliser. Livestock numbers have fallen sharply, and according to the study, around 90% of the manure still produced goes to waste — representing a loss equivalent to US $2.2 billion in fertiliser value.
The authors therefore call for a return to more integrated farming systems and for sustainable, locally managed manure use. They emphasise that Ukrainian farmers need better information about the economic and environmental benefits of taking such action.
Many of the study’s recommended measures require minimal financial investment, meaning that — with community cooperation — Ukraine could begin its transition toward more sustainable agriculture even as the Russian invasion continues. These actions could lower costs for farmers, maintain crop productivity, and reduce environmental impacts.
The report suggests setting up local collection and redistribution systems for surplus manure, adopting more efficient fertiliser types, and promoting knowledge-sharing from farms already using sustainable practices. It also calls for a national inventory of the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium removed from soils by different crop varieties — an essential step toward developing a “smart fertiliser planner,” a digital tool that would enable farmers to apply nutrients precisely according to crop needs.
The researchers further urge financial support from both the Ukrainian government and international partners, including the Ukraine Recovery and Reconstruction Fund, to improve nutrient management. Such assistance would help farmers invest in machinery for more efficient fertiliser application and in facilities for the handling, storage, and treatment of manure.
From Excess to Deficiency
During the Soviet era, Ukraine’s farmlands suffered from excessive fertiliser use, which led to nutrient oversaturation and environmental pollution. Today, the situation has reversed: the country’s agricultural soils now face widespread nutrient deficiencies.
After independence, the use of synthetic phosphorus and potassium — mostly imported — declined steeply, leaving most soils under-supplied for the past 30 years. The Russian invasion has only worsened this imbalance.
Synthetic nitrogen use followed a different trajectory: although it fell during the 1990s, domestic production later boosted supply, leading to over-application in some areas. By 2021, Ukraine’s nitrogen fertiliser application rates per hectare ranked among the highest globally. However, the invasion has caused a sharp decline in use once again, further straining soil fertility.
