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The aim of this study is to identify an appropriate management practice applicable to permanent grassland ecosystems located in the low-altitude area of the Western Plain of Romania. To achieve this objective, a comprehensive study was conducted, initially focusing on determining the main soil types and their characteristics. The next stage involved performing soil analyses to identify the natural reserve of macroelements. Subsequently, the type of plant association that defines the permanent grassland ecosystem w...

Nature of Latvia is very diverse, and one of its most valuable land uses is natural meadows. A natural meadow is a bio-top of grasslands that has formed as a result of long-term grazing or mowing without artificial fertilization and without intensive soil cultivation. Such meadows are not sown with grass their species composition has developed naturally, and rare plant species are also often found there. They are not only part of a beautiful landscape, but also an important ecosystem that provides a habitat for ma...

This paper analyzes the impact of climate change on cereal crop yields: wheat, corn, and barley, in Constan?a County over the period 1994 2024, emphasizing the relationship between climatic variables (annual average temperature, total precipitation, and the number of hot days) and agricultural performance. Constan?a, one of Romania s most agroclimatically vulnerable regions, provides a relevant case study for Southeastern Europe. The research applies a quantitative methodology, combining climatic and agricultural ...

The identification of degraded territories has become an important component of spatial planning and development in the world, because land, both as a territory and as a natural resource, is limited, so much attention is paid to its efficient and sustainable use. There is no single definition of what constitutes a degraded territory. An important feature that characterizes these types of territories is their low value and limited use possibilities their full use cannot be initiated or continued without improvement...

Accurate estimation of soil organic carbon (SOC) is critical for carbon accounting in high-altitude ecosystems, where variability in soil properties challenges the use of standardized conversion factors. This study assesses the validity of the Van Bemmelen conversion factor (1.724) for estimating SOC from soil organic matter (SOM) across contrasting Andean ecosystems within the upper Pastaza River watershed in Ecuador, with a primary focus on paramo. A total of 109 soil samples were collected at 30 cm depth using ...

This study explores the possibility of creating detailed maps of organic carbon content in the arable lands of northern Kazakhstan. The technology is based on filtering satellite images with convolutional neural networks and calculating the coefficients of the multi-temporal soil line using remote sensing data with a resolution of 30 meters. Calculating the coefficient of the multi-temporal soil line allowed us to create a map of the bare soil surface, highlighting areas of soil cover heterogeneity. The resulting ...

The recurrence of droughts increased in the past decades and is foreseen to intensify affecting larger areas than today. As agriculture is among the economic sectors most vulnerable to climate change, with drought representing a key challenge for crop productions, this study assesses the probability of yield loss for major Romanian crops such as, winter wheat, maize, sunflower, grape, in response to varying intensities of drought. To achieve this, a probabilistic modeling framework was constructed, integrating the...

In the development of plant communities within permanent grasslands, key environmental factors include relief, climate, soil characteristics, groundwater, and anthropogenic influence. The primary objective of this study was to identify the interdependence between the botanical composition of the plant community, plant productivity, and the main biotope characteristics. The ecological and forage value assessment of the studied ecosystem involved evaluating species requirements for the following ecological indicator...

Cloudberry is a perspective berry crop for extracted peat bog recultivation in Latvia. The study aimed to assess the effect of different fertiliser doses on cloudberry variety Nyby vitality. In 2023, cloudberries were propagated and in September planted outside into outdoor flower beds (24 pots in each bed) with milled raw peat. The beds were separated into four treatments with different doses of complex fertiliser 12-8-16 with micronutrients: control C, N12, N24, and N36 (respectively, 0, 12, 24, and 36 kg ha-1 o...

This research was conducted for six years, in experimental fields located in B-rzava Plain, West part of Romania. The purpose of this research was to observe if a mixture of manure and calcium carbonate can improve some fertility indicators of soil. The monitored soil fertility indicators were: pH, humus content and nitrogen index. The mixture applied on the experimental field contain 20 t/ha cow manure and 4 t/ha calcium carbonate, being distributed in the first experimental year and in the fourth experimental ye...

A significant component of soil organic matter (SOM) is constituted by disintegrating plant residues containing particularly cellulose and lignin which are resistant to microbial decomposition. Yet, the degradation of lignin may begin already in the early stages of organic matter decomposition if there is a sufficient amount of available saccharides in the soil as these serve as a quick source of energy allowing the microorganisms to produce enzymes for lignin decomposition. The aim of this study was to verify whe...

While urban land use planning receives much attention in land management in Bulgaria, agricultural land use planning has been significantly neglected. Today, more than ever, effective and efficient land use planning is needed to address the global and local challenges, such as protecting prime agricultural lands for food production, achieving sustainable productivity gains, improving water use efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, etc. The objective of the paper is to review the international experience i...

The study is based on an assessment of the level of land disturbance by full-scale military operations and the emergence of land use deficits in certain territories. It has been determined that military operations cause disturbance of the earth's surface in the form of mechanical, physical and chemical changes in the soil, the negative consequences of which can be felt for decades. Territories that have been subjected to military operations become dangerous for the population for a long time and unattractive for i...

In the post-war period, the priority issues that will need to be addressed are the reconstruction of rural areas and ensuring not only food security but also environmental safety. The article draws attention to the fact that ensuring sustainable development of rural areas should become a priority task of the government of Ukraine, especially in the post-war period. The priority of such a task should be comprehensive and has to include: poverty alleviation, restoration of the state of the environment, ethno-cultura...

Environmental pollution by technogenic chemical elements is a significant problem of modern industrial cities. To determine remediation measures it is necessary to have information on heavy metal pollution of all industrial and public facilities of cities, adjacent territories, and soils in parks and city lawns. Content of chemical elements in soil and their concentrations are in close genetic relationship with the lithosphere (bedrock), atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere and show constant exchange of matter an...

The health of soil, groundwater, air and the entire environment of inhabited areas depends largely on the intensity of agriculture and its systems. In order to achieve the desired quantity, quality and economic profitability, it is necessary to apply large amounts of unnatural, often chemical substances in the production process in order to achieve the desired and profitable harvests. These are mainly industrial fertilizers, which, when used for a long time, can contaminate all components of the environment. Altho...

Potassium (K) is a crucial mineral nutrient that plays a significant role in various physiological and metabolic processes in plants. Disruptions in potassium supply can severely impair vegetative development, making efficient potassium fertilization strategies essential for maintaining plant health and productivity. As the most abundant inorganic cation in plant cells, potassium is vital for proper physiological functioning, primarily existing as a free ion (K?). It is indispensable for several physiological func...

This study evaluates the radioecological condition of soils in the vicinity of major industrial enterprises in Georgia, focusing on contamination by radionuclides (K-40, Cs-137, Sr-90) and heavy metals. Three key industrial regions: Rustavi (metallurgical and chemical industries), Bolnisi (polymetallic mining), and Gardabani (energy production) were selected as research sites. Spectrometric analysis was performed using the Atomtex Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICPE-9820) in compliance with GOST standards. T...

Since July 2023, the research institute VUHU has been the investigator of the European reclamation project REECOL. The first part of the paper summarizes the results of the successful completion of the working package WP3, which was led by VUHU and finished in 2024. Within four sub-tasks, the current reclamation situation in the individual project countries was mapped. The main part of the paper evaluates the research within the framework of another working package WP5 focused on short-term and long-term monitorin...

The objective of the paper is to develop a methodology for arable land planning, taking into account the modern trends in agricultural machinery technologies and the contemporary environmental requirements for soil cultivation. It was found that design standards for arable land can be developed in the direction of: plot area up to 150 ha; working stroke over 1200 m; and aspect ratio up to 11. The study was based on two groups of spatial planning projects: two projects according to the existing design standards for...

In order to predict water erosion processes on mountain slopes in the mountainous and foothill landscapes of Georgia, in May and September of 2024 a field scientific study was conducted in the ecosystems of Chiatura Municipality. As a result, five erosion-sensitive sites were selected, for which GPS coordinates and absolute heights above sea level were recorded and plotted on a digital map. Longitudinal and transverse profiles were made at the selected sites, and soil samples weighing up to 3 kg were collected. Te...

One of a country s most valuable natural resources is its soil, and since it cannot be replaced, it must be protected. In addition to being an important part of the environment with a variety of functions, it is crucial for agricultural and forestry productivity. Nevertheless, the soil is in danger due to a number of processes. In the Czech Republic, these are primarily water and wind erosion. Agroforestry systems are one of the options to reduce them. Furthermore, they can enhance water management, mitigate the e...

Soil organic matter (SOM) plays a crucial role in maintaining soil fertility and ecosystem stability by influencing nutrient cycling and water retention capacity. Climate change, manifested through rising temperatures, extreme precipitation variability, and increased frequency of extreme weather events, directly affects the dynamics of SOM decomposition and accumulation. This paper examines the mechanisms by which these climatic changes impact SOM stability, emphasizing their effects on agricultural and natural so...

Ensuring ecologically grown fodder for organic livestock farming has become an imperative matter for the development of the livestock sector in western Romania. Against this background, but also due to very good production results and the improving effects on soil fertility, more Romanian farmers are choosing to include, each year, fodder legumes in their crop rotation. The research conducted over three experimental years, in two agricultural areas from the Timis Plain, known as favorable for fodder pea crops, had...

In the current global food and environmental context, the cultivation of legumes crops is of particular interest, because of the high protein content of the grains for feed, as well as of the ability of these valuable species to fix a high amount of natural nitrogen in the soil. Due to its many agricultural advantages, soybean continues to be one of the most valuable crops cultivated in the world and one of the most important sources of plant protein both for human and animal feed. In Romania, soybean is cultivate...

Urban soil contamination with heavy metals is a growing environmental concern due to its adverse effects on human health, ecosystem stability, and soil productivity. The primary sources of this pollution include industrial activities, vehicular emissions, atmospheric deposition, mining operations, and improper waste disposal. As heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), and chromium (Cr) accumulate in the soil, their persistence and low mobility make them difficult to degrade or rem...