Comparative characterization of eroded and uneroded chernozems’ features in the catchment area of Middle Prut Plain | Caracterizarea comparativa a insusirilor cernoziomurilor neerodate si erodate din bazinul de receptie-cadru al campiei Prutului de Mijloc
2013
Cojocaru, O., Universitatea Agrara de Stat din Moldova, Chisinau (Republic of Moldova) | Cerbari, V.
The researches were conducted on the northwestern slope of the catchment area in the hilly zone of Middle Prut Plain, situated in Negrea village, Hancesti district (Republic of Moldova). The climate, topography and soil of this area are favorable for growing a wide range of agricultural crops. The main factor undermining the agricultural production in this area is the increasingly precarious soil characteristics as a result of widespread soil erosion. The aim of the research was to assess the degradation degree of the eroded ordinary chernozems by comparing their characteristics with the characteristics of uneroded soils. As a result of our investigations, it was established that both uneroded and eroded soils are characterized by identical clay loam texture. Physical clay content in depth and space varies between 51-60% while the clay content makes up 29-31%. Eroded chernozems, as the erosion degree increases, are characterized by thinner humus profile, lower humus content and by increased carbonate content. High carbonate content in the arable layer contributes partially to the decrease of the cohesion between elementary soil particles, which favors erosion. Regardless of the erosion degree, the soils are very poor in terms of total and mobile phosphorus content. According to the performed calculations, soil bonitation of the investigated chernozems is the following: uneroded - 82 points, slightly eroded - 66 points, moderately eroded - 49 points and strongly eroded - 41 points.
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