The publication of this Handbook was supported by the Russian Federation

Agro-ecological monitoring (AEM) is the main source of  information on the ameliorative 
state of  irrigated soils. The AEM is performed in compliance with the Land Amelioration 
Law of  Ukraine (№ 1389-XIV of  14.01.2000), the Water Code of  Ukraine (№ 213/95-BP 
of  06.06.1995) and several decisions of  the Cabinet of  Ministers of  Ukraine. A systematic 
monitoring is applied to 2170 thousand hectares of  irrigated lands. However, the AEM system 
also has its shortcomings, as it monitors only a limited number of  parameters: irrigation 
water quality, groundwater table, groundwater salinity (mineralization), water loss with 
drainage, soil salinity and alkalinity. The data obtained are summarized in departmental 
reports together with conclusions on the ecological-ameliorative state of  irrigated lands. 
The authors believe that the AEM data together with the data of  agrochemical soil 
assessments and the agrochemical records of  agricultural lands should be included into a 
unified national environmental monitoring system.
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