Agrotechnical Market

Agriculture today is a complex blend of science and technology, traditions and innovations, with relatively recent inventions spreading rapidly in this seemingly conservative sector of the economy. Agriculture appeared ten thousand years ago, but most of the technologies used in it today have been introduced over the past two centuries. Not only tools and machinery have changed significantly, but even materials — for example, soils. Soil improvement was known in ancient times. Now primitive methods — slash-and-burn farming or the application of basic organic fertilizers — are being replaced by high-tech techniques.

Chemical fertilizers emerged in the first half of the 19th century, in the works of Davy (1815) and Liebig (1840). At first they met with misunderstanding, but now mineral compounds to increase soil fertility are used in all developed countries. Organic fertilizers remain popular as well: one of their most important sources is peat. The sale and delivery of peat, as well as its processing, are among the key components of the modern agrotechnical market. Especially since peat can be purchased quite cheaply and used for a variety of purposes — not only as a fertilizer, but also as an excellent water and air filter, as insulation, used as bedding for livestock, and so on.

This market is closely linked with the market for building materials and equipment. One might wonder what connection there can be between things like block containers or site cabins and greenhouses, construction cranes and tractors, etc. Yet the same block containers are widely used in rural construction (and site cabins are often seen at dachas). Many substances used in the construction industry are also applied in agriculture. For example, sand. Construction sand is one of the most important basic materials both in erecting buildings and in laying roads or producing artificial mixtures. The extraction, processing, and delivery of sand are necessary for creating sandy soils on which melons, peanuts and other useful crops grow. In addition, sand is essential for drainage in agriculture at every level.

Paradoxically, crushed stone — also known mainly as a construction material — also belongs to rocks with dual use. Liming of soils is a popular agricultural practice, and lime is, of course, obtained from the corresponding rock. At the same time, limestone crushed stone is widely used in construction. Due to its relatively low strength (grades M300–600, which are 2–4 times weaker than stronger grades of crushed stone), it is not as valued as granite or basalt crushed stone. On the other hand, it is widespread, inexpensive and quite suitable for many construction operations. The same applies to clays — perhaps the most universal and promising type of building material. Clays in agriculture are used not only as a basis for soils but also as a raw material for expanded clay (keramzite) and other useful compounds.