Biologists from St. Petersburg State University (SPbSU), working as part of the activities of the world-class Scientific Center “Agricultural Technologies of the Future,” helped grow a crop of vegetables in the northernmost garden in Russia.
The Ilebts community of indigenous peoples, engaged in reindeer herding, organized the planting of crops right in the tundra. This place is located 10 km from the village of Seyakha in the Yamal region of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug), at 70 degrees north latitude. Previously, successful farming practices in the region were noted no further north than the 67th parallel, in the forest-tundra zone.
After analyzing soil samples from the vicinity of the village, St. Petersburg State University scientists developed recommendations for growing vegetables in open ground. First of all, on the application of fertilizers and optimization of the agrochemical regime of soils.
As a result of such cooperation, community representative Mikhail Okotetto received a sustainable harvest of vegetables in the Arctic for the second year in a row. Last season, the farmer grew potatoes on his plot for the first time, and in 2023, he also grew radishes. The size of the garden is currently about two acres.
According to the head of the Department of Applied Ecology at St. Petersburg State University, Professor Evgeniy Abakumov, agriculture in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug has its own characteristics. In the climatic conditions of the district, vegetables are able to ripen only during the long daylight hours, which begins at the end of June. In addition, the soil for creating private vegetable gardens must be specially fertilized.
As noted by the press service of the NCMU “Agricultural Technologies of the Future”, the experiment is planned to continue. Scientists from St. Petersburg State University and farmers from the Ilebts community are going to increase the area of the unique polar garden and expand the list of crops cultivated here.
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