Soil Pollution and Agricultural Productivity Losses
Sevda Jafarova 
Abstract. In the modern era, soil pollution is considered one of the main threats to the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems. In particular, under intensive cultivation conditions, changes in the physical and agrochemical properties of soils significantly affect the yield and quality of agricultural crops. The aim of the present study was to assess the level of soil pollution in the sugar beet fields of Azershakar LLC in Yevlakh district, to evaluate its effects on the physical and agrochemical properties of the soil, and to investigate the relationships between these changes and crop yield and sugar content. During the study, soil samples were collected from plots with varying levels of pollution, and the analyses were conducted in accordance with international ISO standards. The results indicated that increasing levels of pollution led to the deterioration of soil structure, a reduction in humus content, a deficit of essential nutrients, and accumulation of sodium. These changes restrict the development of the sugar beet root system, resulting in decreased yield and reduced sugar content. The study highlights the importance of scientifically based agrotechnical and reclamation measures to preserve soil fertility and prevent productivity losses.
Keywords: Soil pollution, sugar beet, soil fertility, agrochemical analysis, yield losses, agricultural ecosystems