Agro-Ecological Zones

There are three major agro-ecological zones:

· Polissia in the north (mixed forest zone, 19 percent of the entire Ukrainian territory),

· Forest Steppe to the south (33 percent)

· Steppe in the south (40 percent).

Polissia is the least ploughed part of the territory, characterised by a diverse mosaic of natural complexes, with many hayfields and pastures with 77.3 percent being natural pastures and 22.7 percent sown. The percentage of ploughed land here is 36.4 percent of the terrain. Conditions are suited to many cereals, pulse crops, potatoes, flax, forage crops and traditional development of beef-dairy cattle-raising. In recent years, small areas in the sown lands are often occupied with winter wheat, rye, spring barley, potato and perennial grasses. Potatoes are used for food and pig fattening, especially on private holdings.

Forest Steppe having fertile soils and favourable moisture conditions is characterised by a higher percentage of ploughed land, reaching 58.9 percent of the terrain. Conditions here are favourable for cereals, especially winter wheat and maize, peas, white beet, and potatoes. The moister northern and north-west areas suit perennial grasses. This zone may produce sugar beet with beef-dairy cattle raising and pig rearing. Sugar beet and grain are the main commodity industries. The percentage of forest land of the Forest-Steppe territory is about 12%. The woody vegetation is represented by broad-leaved oak, oak-hornbeam, oak-maple-linden woods. In the river valleys pine and oak-pine woods occur.

Steppe is also an intensively cultivated area. It has 62.3 percent of its area ploughed. Main crops include winter wheat and sunflower. Large areas are occupied by maize for green fodder and silage. Southern, droughty regions of the Steppe are suitable for viticulture. Animal industries include cattle and sheep rearing.

The piedmont and highland areas of the Crimea are where viticulture and horticulture are developed, where essential oil crops (rosemary, clary, lavender) and tobacco are grown. Highland hayfields and pastures promote development of cattle and sheep rearing. Sheep are also important on abundant natural pastures in the highlands of the Carpathians.