ABSTRACT
Farmers in Uzbekistan are challenged with the maintenance of irrigated soil quality for economic crop production under a continental climate. Irrigated soils produce over 96% of the gross agricultural outputs of Uzbekistan; however, its soils are low in organic matter and available nutrient content. They cannot maintain and/or support production agriculture without substantial fertilizer input. The loss of organic matter and nutrients is due in great measure to continued deep plowing of soils which accelerates chemical oxidation of organic matter and greater mining of nutrients, thus affecting soil quality over time (Lal, 2004). Crops are also affected by water stress which is considered one of the most limiting factors for crop production under dry climates. The progressive decline in irrigated soil quality is becoming a major agricultural problem in Uzbekistan.
