Irrigation effects on chernozem structure
2004
Belic, M. (Poljoprivredni fakultet, Novi Sad (Serbia and Montenegro)) | Pejic, B. | Hadzic, V. | Bosnjak, Dj. | Nesic, Lj. | Maksimovic, L. | Seremesic, S.
Thai. A study of irrigation effects on chernozem structure was carried out at the Rimski Sancevi Experimental Field of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad (Serbia, Serbia&Montenegro). The aggregate composition and stability of structural macroaggregates against dissolution in water were analyzed according to Savvinov using dry and wet sieving. The assessment of aggregate composition was performed by calculating the structure coefficient (k), while the stability of structural macroaggregates against dissolution in water was assessed according to the classification by Kacinski (Sein et al., 2001). The calculated structure coefficient values indicated a better structural status of the 0-20 cm soil layer in the nonirrigated treatment relative to the irrigated one. The 20-60 cm layer had a better macro- to microaggregate ratio, i.e. the k coefficient values were higher in the irrigated treatment than in the nonirrigated one. Both treatments had a low proportion of aggregates 5-3, 3-2 and 2-1 mm in size, which provide the best soil properties for plant growth and development as a result of humus content reduction and CaCO3 leaching from the surface soil layers to those deeper down the profile. The results of wet sieving in 0-60 cm layer were indicative of excellent stability of structural macroaggregates against dissolution in water in the irrigated treatment and of good stability in the nonirrigated check. Despite the fact that chernozem is characterized by stable values of physical properties, structural status included, the changes observed in the study suggest that further reserch is needed to obtain an even clearer picture of soil structure as the key to soil fertility.
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