Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Protecting the soil from erosion by cropping systems and fertilization in Moldavian Plateau

Author(s):

Costica Ailincai ^*, Gerard Jitareanu, Daniel Bucur, Adrian Mercus

Recieved Date: 2010-11-08, Accepted Date: 2011-01-15

Abstract:

The results on runoff and soil losses by erosion in different crops from the Moldavian Plateau, Romania, showed that during 1980-2010 of the total amount of 570.6 mm rainfall, 366.1 mm (64.3%) produced water runoff, which was between 6.4 mm in perennial grasses and 30.6-36.4 mm in maize and sunflower crops. The annual soil losses by erosion were between 0.245 t·ha^-1 in perennial grasses and 8.929 t·ha^-1 in sunflower. Erosion has affected soil fertility by removing once with eroded soil, high amounts of organic carbon and mineral elements, which reached 16.2-17.6 kg·ha^-1 nitrogen, 1.2-1.3 kg·ha^-1 phosphorus and 2.0-2.4 kg·ha^-1 potassium in maize and sunflower crops. The use of crop rotations until 20% of row plants, which also included outside fields cultivated with perennial grasses, reduced soil and mineral element losses by 36.7% (1.846 t·ha^-1) and, respectively, 33.7% (3.987 kg·ha^-1), as compared to 2-year crop rotation (wheat-maize). The crop structure, which reduced mean soil losses by erosion until 3.119 t·ha^-1 included 20% straw cereals, 20% annual legumes, 20% row crops and 40% perennial grasses and legumes. The crop rotation is also important under conditions of an intensive technology, being the main measure for soil protection, crop and efficient capitalization of all technological factors. Total carbon content of cambic chernozem in the Moldavian Plain increased at fertilization rates higher than N₁₆₀P₁₀₀ in case of organic and mineral fertilization and in 4-year crop rotation, which included ameliorative perennial grasses and legumes.

Keywords:

Water erosion, cropping systems, fertilization, nutrients losses, organic carbon

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2011
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Category: Environment
Pages: 570-574

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