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Agricultural land abandonment represents a significant landscape-forming process affecting vegetation structure, soil stability, and the functionality of agroecosystems. This paper focuses on the identification and mapping of agricultural unused land (AUL) in the cadastral territory of Velke Trencianske Stankovce (Trencin district, western Slovakia). The analysis is conducted on 371 state-owned parcels and parcels with unknown or unidentified ownership managed by the Slovak Land Fund, covering a total area of 98.0...

The Topolnitsa River basin is a vulnerable agricultural area affected by mining and metallurgical pressure. Irrigation with surface waters and contrasting soil properties may increase secondary contamination. This study develops the Chemical Line of Evidence (Chem-LoE) within the TRIAD framework of an advisory system for ecological risk assessment. The focus is on riparian and floodplain agricultural soils, mainly alluvial-meadow and deluvial-meadow soils. Copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and arseni...

Arbuscular mycorrhiza, a widespread mutualistic association between fungi of the phylum Glomeromycota and plant roots, plays an important role in improving plant nutrition and tolerance to environmental stress. Through this symbiosis, fungi supply mineral nutrients and enhance resistance to drought and pathogens, while receiving assimilates from the host plant. This study was conducted on a commercial plantation of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) in southwestern Slovakia. The plantation was inoculated with mycorr...

A health-friendly crop rotation system for soil is an essential tool for sustainable agriculture, especially in the context of achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal. Therefore, the research aims to assess the integration of three crops beneficial to soil health into the production of winter wheat and winter rapeseed every third year and their socio-economic and environmental impacts in Latvia. The research results revealed that crop rotation has a significant impact on the economy of farms, and only ...

Soil resilience is known as the ability to resist and recover from exposure to contaminants, climate change, erosion, anthropogenic activities and intensive use of resources, in order to maintain vital processes such as nutrient cycling, water retention, and structural stability. To remediate the affected soils, several integrated strategies, including bioremediation, hydrological management and the use of amendments can be applied. The usage of natural amendments represents a sustainable path for improving soil p...

West Romania Banat high plains in the Pannonian Basin are low slope and wet. Block subsidence, loess, and river lake beds built a wide glacis belt cut by marshy vales. We mapped soils and limits in six plains from Vinga and the Bega Timis gulf to Gataia Tormac Moravita and Buzias Timis, 43 cadastral units, 346000 ha farm. Data follow Romanian soil taxonomy 2012 and were joined with relief from a digital elevation model, sediment maps, canal and dike maps, and climate means at Arad and Timisoara (T 10.4–10.8C; P ...

Mining activities can influence agricultural environments by altering potentially toxic elements (PTEs) concentrations in different environmental compartments, promoting their accumulation and generating potential exposure pathways. This study analyzed PTEs in agricultural soil and irrigation water in the Santa Rosa mining district, Ecuador. Fourteen soil samples were collected from agricultural farms, and ten water samples were obtained from a nearby canal used for crop irrigation. PTEs levels were measured by XR...

The aim of the work was to assess relation between the chemical composition of the biomass of cover crops and the intensity of its decomposition during the winter period. Parameters for 13 cover crop species included contents of soluble sugars, cellulose and lignin (ADL), on the basis of which derived indicators were calculated – Sugars/ADL ratio and lignocellulosic index (LCI). Biomass decomposition was assessed according to weight loss after winter exposure. Results showed a significant variability in the chem...

Soil liming is an essential component of sustainable soil management, affecting both crop yields, nutrient uptake efficiency, and environmental quality. Therefore, the research aims to assess the economic and environmental efficiency of soil liming in Latvia. This research compared the economic and environmental efficiency of crushed lime and limestone flour in Latvia, analysing the costs, benefits, and impacts of a six-year liming cycle on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and phosphorus leaching. The research resul...

The generation of leachates containing heavy metals, salts, and organic contaminants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) makes municipal solid waste landfills a major contributor to soil and water degradation. Because traditional remediation techniques are often cost-prohibitive, sustainable approaches such as phytoremediation have gained considerable attention. This research investigates the efficacy of Paulownia tomentosa (Oxytree) in restoring soils impacted by landfill leachates. In a controlled green...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

This study aims to evaluate the effects of foliar fertilization (FF) on the yield and quality of sunflower seeds. Foliar fertilization (FF) applied to sunflower crops can have significant impacts on seed yield and quality, influencing their chemical composition and nutritional values. Unlike soil fertilization, which delivers nutrients through the root system, foliar fertilization supplies nutrients directly to the leaves, ensuring a rapid and efficient absorption of essential elements during critical growth stage...

Between September 13th and 16th, 2024, heavy rainfall led to widespread flooding across the municipalities in the Senica district, as well as significant soil erosion on intensively farmed arable land. According to data from the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMU), the Senica district received a total of 230 millimeters of precipitation during this period. In the village of Smolinske, located in the lowlands of Zahorie in western Slovakia, experienced substantial flooding of agricultural areas, leading to ...

Brown Coal Research Institute j. v. c. (VUHU) from July 2023, together with scientific teams from several European countries, participates as part of the EU research program in the solution of the REECOL project, which deals with the reclamation of areas affected by mining in European coal basins. This paper includes the results achieved in the preparation of the first sub-research report of the project, which deals with degraded soils. On the basis of archival data and own research, the concept of "soil degradati...

The research is aimed at identifying the conditions for the formation of the ecological agriculture concept aimed at creating a sustainable, environmentally friendly and efficient agricultural production system. The main idea is to use natural processes and resources to ensure a harvest while maintaining the environmental balance. Ecological farming can be an important step towards sustainable agriculture and environmental sustainability, but it requires a balance between positive and challenging aspects, as well ...

The soils from the central part of Sredna Gora Mountain in Bulgaria were studied aiming to establish the occurrence of contemporal soil forming processes occured in the forest ecosystem. Soils were analyzed to determine the carbon content, the soil organic matter composition and the total soil acidity. The precise soil classification based on the detail morphological diagnostic was carried out. The ecological conditions in forest ecosystem determine the mode of humic substances in the studies soils. Soils are char...

Geochemistry, a young earth science discipline, has evolved with chemical analysis techniques and is now integrated with environmental issues. Industrial development has increased the input of toxic elements into soil, water and air, potentially affecting the food chain. Geochemical tools investigate these sources and assess the risk of contamination. The combination of background enrichment indices and contamination indices provides a robust framework for understanding soil contamination. This dual approach enabl...

To enable effective operational decisions and combat mission execution on the battlefield during war, access to reliable, accurate, and timely data is essential. We propose utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyze extensive datasets, as modern military operations rely on accurate spatial terrain mapping for command, control, communication, and coordination. This study introduces a terrain analysis approach tailored to military vehicle movement, focusing on assessing ground resilience to vehicle tr...

The presented paper focuses the issue of finding new sources of phosphorus fertilizers to be used in conventional agriculture. Various types of pellets for heating purposes were tested. Based on the determination of phosphorus (P) content in ash obtained from the combustion of pellets produced from plant waste generated during the production of seed materials, it was found out that getting P from this ash is more effective than getting P from the ash of wooden pellets that are commonly used as fuel in households. ...

Micromorphological features of salt-affected soils in the Cis-Baikal and Trans-Baikal regions (south of East Siberia, Russia) are considered. When studying morphogenesis of these soils, pedofeatures of soluble salts and gypsum serve as indicators of modern and former stages of soil formation. Comparative-geographical, micromorphological, and chemical methods have been applied to study soil salinization. Chemical analyses attest to the presence of gypsum and soluble salts in solonchaks of both regions. However, the...

Phytoremediation technology is environmentally friendly and inexpensive to clean soils of harmful toxins. The study aims to introduce phytoremediation of arsenic in the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti regions to restore soil fertility. For this study, three plants, Amaranthus gangeticus, Chenopodium album and Helianthus annuus, were selected for the accumulation and translocation of Arsenic from the contaminated soil. The seeds of selected plants were treated with the bioactivator Biorag to increase the plant's ...

Orphaned or abandoned sulphide tailing disposal sites pose significant environmental hazards, including eolian dispersion, water erosion, acid mine drainage, and heavy metal mobility. Phytostabilization, an eco-friendly strategy, entails the use of alkaline amendments alongside non-native plant species capable of thriving in environments with high concentrations of heavy metals. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the effect of a commercial cement which contained 46.3% sand, applied alone or combined w...

Potential environmental impacts of growing maize as monoculture lead to efforts focused on finding other potentially suitable crops or their combinations that could replace the pure maize cultures. The most frequent and most effective combination is a mixed crop of maize and legumes. The presented paper deals with the issue of the quality of post-harvest residues when growing maize in the system of mixed cropping. In the field experiment, yield and quality of post-harvest residues were studied during the growing s...

The health, richness, and variety of microbial life in soil represent basic indicators for the evaluation and surveillance of forest ecosystem vitality. The vital role these microorganisms occupy in forest ecosystems underscores the necessity to in-depth assess and monitor their populations within soil habitats. Aiming to deepen our comprehension of microbial communities across different soils and soils horizons, we conducted an investigation of 22 soil profiles situated within the territory of Vitosha Nature Park...

Brown Coal Research Institute j. v. c. (VUHU) from July 2023, together with scientific teams from several European countries, participates as part of the EU research program in the solution of the REECOL project, which deals with the reclamation of areas affected by mining in European coal basins. One of the important tasks of the first phase of the project solution is to find suitable case study areas in each country of the project solution. The selection of these areas in the Most Basin (CZ) is the subject of th...

The result of the survey carried out on the territory of the Sofia-city municipality is presented, in relation to the application of the Program for the protection, sustainable use and restoration of soils as a limited and non-renewable natural resource. The obtained data on the Chomic Luvisols nearby the area of Kremikovtsi debate the basic physical and chemical soil characteristics. The priority task on the soil protection in the region aimed at the sustainable development, restoration and improvement of the soi...

The paper presents the results of research undertaken in 2023, in the perimeter of the Stationary for the Study of Soil Erosion located on the left side of the Slanic Hydrographic Basin in Buzau county, with a slope of 15-20 %. Within the station are located 12 plots for the control of soil surface erosion cultivated differently. The amount of soil washed away by torrential rains during the growing season was different depending on the degree of soil cover given by agricultural crops [11] . From the plot cultivate...

Soil moisture, soil temperature, nutrient availability, and land use practices affect the GHG emissions from soils. In this study, the aim is to determine and analyse GHG emissions from agricultural soils in five monitoring sites. The mobile spectrophotometer Picarro G2508 is used for the quantification of N2O, CH4, and CO2 soil flux across five monitoring sites used for agricultural production during the growing seasons from 2017 to 2023. Findings reveal significant variations in GHG emissions across the monitori...

The study aimed to identify the influence of the altitudinal difference on the fertility characteristics of grasslands soils and implicitly on the production and quality of plant associations intended for grazing with animals. For that, the study material was represented by the soils of the grasslands in the region of the ?ureanu Mountains, part of the Southern Carpathians of Romania. From a geographical point of view, distinct formations were identified in the studied area with altitudes between 250 m and 1800/18...

In 2021, a field experiment was conducted with white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) the seed of which is an interesting raw material in agriculture, industry and food production. Stands of tested plants were established without tillage into a freezing catch crop from the Fabaceae family within regenerative agriculture. The stand of clovers was used as a tool of bio-drilling to work the soil and as a source of nitrogen required by the subsequent crop, and the frozen biomass was applied as mulch onto the soil surface. Th...

The highly diversified structure of the vegetal carpet in permanent grasslands, made up of numerous plant species from various botanical families, also influences a strong differentiation in the consumption of nutrients by these plant species. Thus, species with high fodder value, are high consumers of nitrogen, and meadow leguminous species require higher consumption of phosphorus, calcium, and potassium. The area of permanent grasslands studied is located in the Banat Plain Romania, more precisely at the contact...

The agricultural area of the town of Sanicolau Mare is 18,836 ha, where the following types of soil were identified: aluviosols, 2,335.66 ha; chernozems, 7,553.24 ha; vertosols, 4,407.62 ha; gleysols, 94.18 ha; solonetz, 659.26 ha; and soil associations, such as aluviosols, chernozems, vertosols and solonetz, 3,786.04 ha. The town is in the low plain of the Aranca Canal. The plain is generally plane, but slightly fragmented as a result of water erosion during flooding by the River Mure? (no longer possible nowaday...

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of low rates (20-40 kg ha-1) of siliconcontaining organo-mineral complex (LignoCel-Si) application on potatoes "Imanta" and summer wheat -Vinjet- productivity and quality, under conditions of organic farming. The LignoCel-Si organo-mineral complex was obtained on the basis of the residues of hydrolysis lignin and sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) agro-waste lignocellulosic biomass after water-ethanol extraction, and enriched with silicon (Si)- containing inorga...

The paper presents the main limiting factors of the soils in the town of Biled, Timi? county, factors that affect the production potential of the soil cover in the area. The studied territory is located in the central part of Timi? county. The following limiting factors were reported: compactness of the soil, by 8.77%; excess phreatic moisture manifested by 12.74%, soil alkalinity manifested by 1.65%; soil acidity manifested on 0.24% and the low level of humus content signaled on 0.57% of the surface. As a result ...