State independence is the greatest and most invaluable achievement in the modern history of every nation. It is not merely a political concept, but also a guarantee of the existence of a nation, the preservation of its language and culture, and the foundation of an independent sovereign state on the world stage.
The state independence of the Republic of Tajikistan has created favorable conditions for the comprehensive development of key sectors of the economy, including agriculture and its scientific foundation. Over the 35 years of independence, agricultural science and its key fields — soil science and agrochemistry — have passed through a stage of recovery and have become one of the leading areas in ensuring the country's food security. The structure of Tajikistan's land resources and its climatic characteristics require the use of soil and water resources to be based on precise scientific research and modern agrotechnologies.
Over the past 35 years, soil science, as a key link between agriculture and soil fertility, has achieved significant results:
Modern soil maps have been developed and land bonitation has been carried out, contributing to the assessment of the actual potential of agricultural lands in different regions of the republic.
The mechanisms of water, wind, and irrigation erosion have been studied, particularly in stony and steppe soils, and recommendations for erosion-control measures have been developed.
Chemical and biological land reclamation methods have been developed to bring low-productivity and saline lands into agricultural use.
The content of nutrients (humus), macro- and micronutrients, as well as the biological and enzymatic activity of soils, including enzymes such as urease, protease, and dehydrogenase, have been studied to accurately assess soil condition and health.
Modern mobile laboratories have been introduced for diagnosing the physicochemical properties of soils and accelerating the provision of practical recommendations to farmers for improving soil fertility.
A transition has been made toward the targeted and balanced application of mineral and organic fertilizers, as well as plant growth regulators and foliar fertilizers.
The use of repeated cropping and the efficient utilization of every plot of land have been expanded, taking into account the need to preserve soil structure and fertility.
Agricultural science and soil science are among the most important factors in ensuring food security and the sustainable use of the environment. Research conducted by scientists in this field has great practical significance and has established a reliable foundation for preserving soil fertility, preventing soil degradation, and developing climate-adapted agrotechnologies.
The preservation and further development of this scientific field, together with the introduction of digital technologies, will serve as a guarantee of the sustainable development of the country's agricultural sector in the future.
