engleski

Agricultural compaction of some soil types in eastern Croatia

Frequent use of heavy equipment (mechanisation) lead to soil degradation processes of physical- mechanical properties of soils in agricultural production. Soil compaction, as one of the main causes of soil degradation, reduces pore volume in the soil, which directly influence on water- air relations. A very common problem is the impossibility of infiltration of rainwater and its retention on the surface in a shorter or longer period. In such conditions, plants suffer from lack of oxygen (hypoxic or anoxic stress) which resulted of reduction conditions and may lead to decreasing of pH reaction and availability of plant nutrients. In addition, when the bulk density reaches a critical value, e.g., 1.6 Mg m-3 for loam and clay loam, significantly increases resistance to root penetration in soil depth. Research was conducted at 40 locations on three soil types with the aim of recording the current situation and the intensity of soil compaction damage in agricultural area of eastern Croatia (Slavonia and Baranja region) and to determine the soil properties that are in a strong correlation related to the compaction. According to the values of packing density, researched soils can be classified as medium (PD = 1.35 to 1.57 Mg m-3) to very compacted (PD = 1.77 to 1.99 Mg m- 3).

soil degradation ; soil compaction ; bulk density ; packing density

nije evidentirano