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The development of alternative soil tillage technologies, which ensure the conservation and maintenance of its productive capacity as well as the reduction of energy consumption per unit of processed area, is today a necessity in developing a sustainable agriculture. The study presented in this paper was carried out in the area of Oravița, Caraş-Severin County, Romania, and refers to the minimum tillage technology in wheat culture. The study points to the unfavourable effect of intensive soil works -- classic (conventional) system -- on soil erosion. This has led to the development of some research oriented towards new technologies of soil working in the conservation system. The purpose of this paper is to promote the introduction of alternative technologies in agricultural works, by dealing with the main technical, economic and environmental aspects that compete for the achievement of efficient agriculture. From an economic point of view, this method is less expensive because fuel consumption and machine working time are reduced. The use of modern mechanization technologies has a great economic efficiency due to the following aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims, as the main purpose, at assessing the limiting factors of the soil quality in the perimeter of the Commune of Secaş, Timiş County, Romania. To achieve the aim pursued, we identified the main limitative factors of agricultural productivity and soil degradation processes. These were introduced in the database using modern methods, namely the GIS technique, for each soil unit, with "space" representations thereof. The soil surfaces on which each factor and/or degradation process is manifested and which is of particular practical importance in assessing soil quality were calculated automatically. The method used allows one to highlight the soils identified by various maps and cartographic representations. Most of the results were obtained from field work and calculations in the office and laboratory, supplemented by those from O.S.P.A. Timisoara and from literature. The importance of this study materialized in a complex database comprising all soil units in the studied perimeter, limiting factors specific to this area and degradation processes, as well as the establishment of fertility classes, i.e., the quality of existing soils in the studied area. The study highlights that the soils of the Commune of Secaş falls into grade III and IV fertility (quality). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality control methods have been used by construction civile industry and road for many years to control the compaction process carried out, either of the soil or of the asphalt mixtures. These control procedures are based upon experimental and/or statistical concepts and their goal are to be an instrument to assist the contractor to carry out the execution checks in insuring that impose degree compaction was achieved in accordance with technical project of the works. These concepts are built around the idea according to which it is possible to randomly select a small sample of a soil or asphalt mixture and then to predict from this sample an average value of compaction quality to be assigned to the entire area of the layer tested. For the most part, these aspects are valid in our country, but the technical regulations of developed countries provide for a variety of methods based on the in-situ measurement of specific compaction parameters in order to predict the quality of the area under control. The paper will describe the methods used in Romania (laboratory and in-situ tests) along with those implemented in the world and used with remarkable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elaborating this paper, the authors took into account previous research that highlighted the following: Romania falls into the category of countries with modest exploitable water resources; over 85% of the arable land arranged with irrigation works is fragmented in small plots; soil water deficit is the most important risk factor in agriculture. Watering efficiency depends on the watering method; sprinkling is the main watering method; the concept of water monitoring provides for the complex recovery, and quantitative and qualitative control of water sources; sustainable use of irrigation water requires watering at the optimum time, depending on the optimal real evapotranspiration (ETRoptim = Kt × Ev). It is necessary to know the physical evaporation of water, Ev and the monthly value of the indicator Kt, as an average over a series of at least 30 years, for a certain plant. The proposed method captures the irrigation water, so that once the water has passed the root zone it gets absorbed and stored in a modular underground tank. The excess water collected in the modular basin will be reused when the soil and plant sensors will signal the presence of the humidity deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper presents the monitoring of soil and nutrient losses through runoff as the result of the climate change. The experimental results were recorded on the standard plots for runoff and erosion control. The results of the studies carried out highlight that total nitrogen losses range from 0.05 kg/ha to 12.60 kg/ha, potassium displaced from the plots has values between 0.02 and 1.35 kg/ha, the humus associated with the eroded soil includes values between 0.51 and 176.5 kg/ha, phosphorus is recorded with maximum values of 0.39 kg/ha, the total iron losses have values between 3.14 and 431.16 g/ha, manganese has losses from 1.69 to 290.82 g/ha, copper losses range from 0.15 to 7.62 g/ha, and, regarding zinc, the values are within the limits of 0.25–57.22 g/ha. The maximum values of the displacement of fertilizing elements from the sloping agricultural lands, by means of liquid and solid leaks, are registered at the plots left as permanent black fields, the plots practically unprotected against the rain erosion. The experiments were performed at the Soil Erosion Research and Development Station "Mircea Moțoc", Perieni/Staţiunea de Cercetare Dezvoltare pentru Combaterea Eroziunii Solului "Mircea Moţoc", Perieni (SCDCES—MM, Perieni), Vaslui County, an institution strategically located in an area subject to erosion soil. Additionally, the paper envisages how the National Rural Development Programme (NRDP) and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) can be of use in this area by analysing past lessons and providing an overview of what was done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemp is cultivated for its high content in natural, durable, resistant fibres and for its oil-rich seeds. Hemp for seeds is cultivated to fulfil the requests in the technical, cosmetic, food, fodder fields. Hemp has the highest industrialization capacity of all technical plants. Because for a long period of time, the cultivation of hemp in Europe as well as in Romania was in decline, being continuously practiced only in certain European states, it is desired to emphasize how hemp can make an essential contribution to the development of innovative solutions regarding the relaunch of the industrial hemp sector. The paper presents some research results obtained during the realization and experimentation of some technical equipment intended for the mechanization of the works within the hemp cultivation technologies in different systems. The technology of establishing, managing and valorising the hemp culture for fibre or seed can have perspectives starting with the conventional system, the ecological or successive one and at the level of experimental lots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale application in Romania of work systems that aim to preserve soil fertility is of primary importance given that increasing arable areas are cultivated without consulting a specialist and without a system in which to take account of the short-, medium- or long-term consequences on the soil. The purpose of soil preparation works performed after the ploughing consist of breaking and crushing the structural soil clods and soil structural macroaggregates in order to sow. For the execution of mechanized soil scarification, the preparation of the germination bed and of the sowing of maize is important for the choice of the types of tractors according to the technological work process and the biological properties of crops depending on the following indicators: gauge, size, plot size, energy consumption of agricultural machinery, land condition, humidity, and manoeuvrability. This paper aims to highlight the usefulness and economic efficiency of conservative (unconventional) works because this cultivation technology contributes to: reducing soil works to a minimum by reducing the number of machines; reducing soil setting by reducing the number of passes and work operations; reducing water and wind erosion by leaving plant remains on the soil surface; maintaining soil humidity by reducing evaporative water losses because the layer of plant remains are left on the ground; increasing the soil water capacity due to the layer of plant remains that slows water drain on the soil surface thus increasing the infiltration time; improving the physical structure of the soil; increasing the content of humus; and developing biological activity in the soil. From an economic point of view, the method is less costly because it reduces fuel consumption and working time with machines. The use of modern mechanization technologies has a great economic efficiency due to the following: works are carried out in a short period of time, so that the optimal time of technological work is respected; the number of aggregates is reduced; the number of passes on the ground is reduced; the setting of soil is reduced; wage costs are reduced; fuel consumption is reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the increase in the amount of sewage sludge as a result of the development of urbanization, and the pollution of the environment through the storage of this sludge, the objective of this paper is to analyze the effects of the action of different doses of urban sewage sludge as a fertilizer for agricultural soil. Starting from the legislative recommendations regarding the use of urban sewage sludge in agriculture, we analyzed the sludge resulting from the sewage treatment plant in the Municipality of Alexandria, Romania. This sewage treatment plant, with two technological lines of water and sludge treatment, produces urban sewage sludge without pathogenic bacteria. We highlighted that by applying sewage sludge doses of 15 t/ha and 25 t/ha to agricultural soils, on which we planted soybean and wheat crops. We obtained high yields, and the concentration of heavy metals in the roots, stems and grains of soybean and wheat crops did not exceed the maximum standard limits allowed. Having a high content of organic matter and nutrients important for plants such as nitrogen, ammonium, potassium and zinc, sewage sludge has improved the fertility, physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil, and is able to be used as a fertilizer for degraded soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is weed control by cutting, pulling from the ground and covering with a thin layer of ground, where they can regenerate. The good preparation of the germination bed allows the seed to be covered with a wellaerated, heated soil layer and stand on a more stable and favourably humid soil. The lack of weeds and vegetable residues on the surface of the soil and on the depth of the germination bed gives it the appropriate quality to be sown. The preparation works of the germination bed were carried out at the "December 3, 1990" commercial company from Periam, Timiș County, Romania. The main methods utilized to optimize the use of agricultural aggregates are mathematical programming, direct calculus solutions, and operating nomograms. The purpose of the secondary works performed after ploughing consists in the crushing of soil clogs and of structural soil macroaggregates in order to carry out the sowing. For the execution of the mechanised scarification works, the preparation of the germination bed and of maize sowing, the types of tractors are chosen according to the technological process of the works and to the biological properties of the crops, depending on the following indicators: light, gauge, size of equipment, plot size, energy consumption of agricultural machines, state of the land, humidity, and manoeuvrability. Soil works have been an integral part of agriculture since the beginnings of farming and they have served several important goals: the preparation of the germination bed, the reduction of soil compaction to increase aeration and allow the root system to develop optimally, the reduction of weeding, the incorporation of fertilizers and amendments, and the management of plant debris. Following the study, we can conclude that the optimization of the use of agricultural aggregates in operation contributes to the reduction of the production expenses, of the specific fuel and material consumption, and of the labour requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will assess the sensitivity of soil moisture anomaly (SMA) obtained from the Soil water index (SWI) product Metop ASCAT, to identify drought in Romania. The SWI data were converted from relative values (%) to absolute values (m 3 m -3 ) using the soil porosity method. The conversion results (SM) were validated using soil moisture in situ measurements from ISMN at 5 cm depths (2015-2020). The SMA was computed based on a 10 day SWI product, between 2007 and 2020. The analysis was performed for the depths of 5 cm (near surface), 40 cm (sub surface), and 100 cm (root zone). The standardized precipitation index (SPI), land surface temperature anomaly (LST anomaly), and normalized difference vegetation index anomaly (NDVI anomaly) were computed in order to compare the extent and intensity of drought events. The best correlations between SM and in situ measurements are for the stations located in the Getic Plateau (Bacles (r = 0.797) and Slatina (r = 0.672)), in the Western Plain (Oradea (r = 0.693)), and in the Moldavian Plateau (Iasi (r = 0.608)). The RMSE were between 0.05 and 0.184. Furthermore, the correlations between the SMA and SPI, the LST anomaly, and the NDVI anomaly were significantly registered in the second half of the warm season (July-September). Due to the predominantly agricultural use of the land, the results can be useful for the management of water resources and irrigation in regions frequently affected by drought.

It is generally accepted that radon emission is strongly influenced by the geological characteristics of the bedrock. However, transport in-soil and entry paths indoors are defined by other factors such as permeability, building and architectural features, ventilation, occupation patterns, etc. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the contribution of each parameter, from natural to man-made, on the radon accumulation indoors and to assess potential patterns, based on 100 case studies in Romania. The study pointed out that the geological foundation can provide a reasonable explanation for the majority of the values recorded in both soil and indoor air. Results also showed that older houses, built with earth-based materials, are highly permeable to soil radon. Energy-efficient houses, on the other hand, have a tendency to disregard the radon potential of the geological foundation, causing a higher predisposition to radon accumulation indoors and decreasing the general indoor air quality.

The paper studied new system of agriculture - crop systems without soil. The culture systems without soil can be called also the hydroponic systems and now in Romania are not used only sporadically. In other countries (USA, Japan, the Netherlands, France, UK, Denmark, Israel, Australia, etc.) they represent the modern crop technology, widely applied to vegetables, fruits, fodder, medicinal plants and flowers by the experts in this area. In the world, today there are millions of hectares hydroponics, most of the vegetables, herbs, fruits of hypermarkets are coming from the culture systems without soil. The process consists of growing plants in nutrient solutions (not in the ground), resorting to an complex equipment, depending on the specifics of each crop, so that the system can be applied only in the large farms, in the greenhouses, and not in the individual households. These types of culture systems have a number of advantages and disadvantages also. Even if today's culture systems without soil seem to be the most modern and surprising technology applied in plant growth, the principle is very old. Based on him were built The Suspended Gardens of the Semiramis from Babylon, in the seventh century BC, thanks to him, the population from the Peru"s highlands cultivates vegetables on surfaces covered with water or mud. The peasant households in China, even today use the millenary techniques of the crops on gravel. This hydroponic agriculture system is a way of followed for Romanian agriculture too, despite its high cost, because it is very productive, ecological, can cover, by products, all market demands and it answer, increasingly, constraints of urban life. The concept of hydroponics agriculture is known and appreciated in Romania also, but more at the theory level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil has an important influence on human health, especially for children, due to more frequent dermal contact, ingestion, and inhalation. Urban playgrounds are of particular concern, because of the presence of a multitude of dust particles of natural or anthropogenic origin, which could enter or interact with the toddlers' body. In this work, the soil samples were collected from important playgrounds from the city of Galati, Romania, being subjected to a mineralogical investigation by Total Attenuated Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (ATR-FTIR) technique using a BRUKER TENSOR 27 FTIR spectrometer coupled with a diamond ATR device. Preliminary results of ATR-FTIR analyses of the soil samples highlighted the presence of montmorillonite, kaolinite, quartz, and calcite as soil mineralogical constituents. The main aim of this paper was to observe if the characteristic peak of Chrysotile, a component of asbestos, can be identified in the spectra of the investigated target urban soils from playgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Romania the climate is temperate continental, but climate change from recent times fragmenting this climate into one with nuances of excess. This is due to large temperature variations between the hot and cold seasons, but also of large temperature differences between day and night. In addition to these aspects, the uneven distribution of precipitation as well as extremely large variations in their total quantity registered from one year to another negatively influences the growth and fruiting of grapevine plants. This paper presents methods and systems for detecting water stress in viticulture. Among the most commonly used instruments are tensiometers and soil psychrometers to measure directly the capillary tension or energy with which water is withheld by the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper makes an analysis of the results obtained on the long-term experience with chemical and organic fertilizers with regard to the chemical condition of soils (pH, total nitrogen content, soluble phosphorous and humus). After thirty years of experiments, we like to make known the importance of systematic fertilizer application for preserving and/or increasing soil fertility, as sustainable development measure. Through long-term experiments with chemical and organic fertilizers, located in representative pedo-climatic area of Romania, important information werefound. They covered crop fertilization with adequate fertilizer application rates for obtaining maximum and economically optimum yields, the best use of nutrients and gaining high quality harvests; at the same time, important information could be acquired on the complex interactions between crops x soil x weather, necessary data for conserving and/or increasing soil fertility and for environment protection. The use of nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers, on large scale, in Romania determined us to investigate the results under the fertilization variants with these macro-elements. At the same time, we also took into consideration the results on the evolution of the soil chemical condition through the application of organic fertilizers (manure) every four years. The pH level in the variants chemically fertilized with nitrogen and/or phosphorous decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the main factors limiting soil fertility in the Moldova Noua area, Caras-Severin County, Romania. The goals of this paper are: characterising the natural landscape, identifying and characterising soil types and subtypes, describing the factors limiting soil fertility, and presenting soil fertility improvement and protection measures. The material used is represented by the main soil subtypes in the studied area. Results allowed the description of the most important factors limiting soil fertility and the suggestion of soil fertility protection, conservation and recovery solutions, i.e. agricultural and soil improvement works. This was determined by the very complex soils located in a relatively moist climate area and on a strongly fragmented relief made up mainly of a wide variety of rocks. Along the valleys, there are prepodsols and different subtypes of prepodsols, together with regosols and erodosols, while on the terraces, there are stagnogley prepodsols and, in the mountain area, podzols, rendzinas and lithosols are predominant. Moldova Noua is located in southern Caras-Severin County, Romania, on the Danube River, covering 146 km². Geologically, the territory belongs almost entirely to the Meridional Carpathians, namely to the Locvei Mountains, which are made up of lime rocks and crystal shales rich in copper. In lime areas altitude reaches over 700 m. To study the factors limiting soil cover fertility in Moldova Noua, Caras-Severin, Romania, we had to conduct a set of laboratory analyses. The studied area belongs to Moldova Noua, Caras-Severin County, Romania, and is characterised by varied geological and physical and geographical conditions, which generated a complex soil cover represented by 6 types and 77 subtypes of soil: Luvisols, measuring 932.06 ha (15.23%) of the studied area; Entianthroposols, measuring 0.63 ha (0.01%); Chernozems, measuring 3,977.24 ha (65%); Phaeozems, measuring 1,001.77 ha (16.37%); Pelosols, measuring 18.35 ha (0.30%); and Vertosols, measuring 188.8 ha (3.09%). The aide range of factors influencing soil fertility caused a wide variety of soil subtypes: this diversity is of considerable importance for each crop from the perspective of crop favourability and suitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the present paper is to get information concerning the technical and fertility features of agricultural lands to be able to determine their present general production capacity in different crops and, implicitly, the uses that underlies technically and scientifically the most proper practical measures of rational use and conservation of the land for the benefit of the specialists. We focussed in the present study on the lands belonging to the cadastral territory of the commune of Covaci (Timiş County), i.e. the soil types identified within this perimeter. They are studied in relation to environmental factors that impact them and making up, with them, homogeneous ecological territory units with specific suitability for different agricultural or forestry uses and with different improvement requirements and technologies. The goals were: - characterising the natural framework; -identifying and characterising soil types and subtypes; -calculating land assessment grades; establishing suitability and classifying agricultural lands into fertility classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the problem of soil erosion in Romania's agriculture as the main phenomenon of land resource degradation. The size of the phenomenon is estimated at more than 50% of the country's arable land area. In terms of regional distribution, the most affected areas of the country are those from Transylvania, the Sub-Carpathians and the Plateau of Moldova. There were assessed the erosion extent and the losses in terms of harvest and soil. The anti-erosion works were included among the main land reclamation works. However, within this ranking, soil erosion was on the last place, after irrigation and drainage, although experts in the field consider it the worst because soil losses due to erosion are unrecoverable. At the end of 1989, from a program providing for 5,500 thousand ha equipped for irrigation, 5,530 thousand ha of drainage, 5,300 thousand ha of anti-erosion facilities, there were achieved in percentage terms: 56.5% - irrigation, 55.8% - drainage, and anti-erosion facilities- only 41.9% (2,220 thousand ha). The economic efficiency of erosion control works has been assessed at a yield increase of 20-25%, with an additional financial supplement of less than 10%. In conclusion, the authors consider that the current land policy, which gives absolute priority only to the rehabilitation of irrigation systems, does not correspond to the requirements for preserving the best land resource, i.e. the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scientific paper is based on a selective evaluation of specilaity literature data on fundamental, general and particular aspects regarding soil resources of the Jimbolia locality perimeter and the establishment of these soils' fertility. The paper objectives are as follows: caracterization of the natural frame; identification of soil resources and determination of soil fertility. Soil resources identified within the researched perimeter are generally very fertile, belonging to the Chernisoil class. There are brown soils tending towards dark brown and black. Two main chernozem types occur: the slightly gleyed classic Chernozem with insertions of carbonic, phreatic-humid and vermic Chernozems and the cambic Chernozem, often associated with psamosoils. On reduced surfaces, mollic gley soils and white alkali soils also occur. The researched perimeter is located in the western part of Romania. Within the borders of the Timiş county, it is located in the western extremity, at a 39 km distance from Timişoara city. As a geographic position, it is situated in the Banat Plain, at the contact point between the Timişului Plain and the Mureşului Plain, at an average altitude of 82 m. From a climatic point of view, it corresponds with the temperate-continental climate type specific for Central Europe, where sub-Mediterranean influences can be registered. From an agro-climatic point of view, certain restrictive factors are signaled regarding the insufficient precipitation quantity, especially during the warm season, and the relatively high frequency of droughts. Underground water can be found at a 3-5 m depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is one of the main drivers, which pushes a society for change, showing influences in both the economic and social environment. Agriculture in turn is influenced by various factors that get out of human control, such as natural and technical factors. Some of the main natural factors are the shape of the land and the type of soil, and the technical factors are represented by mechanization, irrigation, chemicalization, etc. The increase in large-scale agricultural production has led to the emergence of intensive agriculture. A system that is based on the concentration and specialization of production. (Okros 2016) The different components of the technological system are intensively applied. There are issues that are in favour of this type of agriculture and others against it, because the use of chemicals to accelerate crop production pollutes the waters and soils.(Berbecea, 2014) Through this paper we want to present a case study on an intensive agricultural system located in Gătaia. The area of this locality offers an ideal environment for crop diversity due to the plain area in which it is located, with a temperate continental climate and soils of high fertility.(Borcean 2009) The data presented are collected from a farm for a period of 3 years, more precisely for the years 2018, 2019, 2020 with a total area of 4.160.21 ha. The main agricultural crops within the farm being wheat and corn and the rest of the crops are intended as a feed base for the livestock sector that the farm owns and to carry out a judicious crop rotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture has been a vital area of human activity since ancient times, a thing that can be observed even today, representing both the only source of food and an important supplier of raw materials for different industries. The importance of agriculture differs from country to country, but it continues to be the main economic branch in all nations, including the highly developed ones. In this paper we want to present the suitability level of the soils in Carani, for the establishment of a tree plantation in this area (Marin 2013, Astrid 2017). The suitability of the soils is checked for the following varieties of trees: apple (MR), pear (PR), plum (PR), plum (PR), cherry-cherry (CV), apricot (CS), peach (PC).((In order to determine this suitability, a series of soil types and subtypes were chosen, namely: typical endocalcaric preluvosoil (7.50 ha), typical preluvosoil (29.13 ha), stagnant preluvosoil (4.15 ha) and molic preluvosoil (6, 30 ha). Following the analysis performed on the characteristics of the soil they are distributed within one of the four classes of suitability (Florescu 2014). The bonitary marks offered to the soils being the main indicator for classifying them. The total area considered for this study is 47.08 ha. A number of recommendations will also be made regarding possible improving the suitability of the if that is possible (Mihut, 2018). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to evaluate for the first time the degree of contamination of soil and crops with major and trace elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, F, Na, Mg, Si, P, Cl, Fe, Al) in agricultural lands situated in the Lower Danube Basin, Galati and Braila counties (SE Romania), impacted by the steel industry. Soil samples, as well as leaves and seeds of wheat, corn, and sunflower, were collected from two depths in 11 different sites. Along with elemental and mineralogical analyses, performed by HR-CS AAS, PIGE, SEM-EDX, and ATR-FTIR, the soil pH, texture, organic matter, electric conductivity, and CaCO3 content were investigated. The results showed that the levels of Cr (83.27–383.10 mg kg−1), Cu (17.11–68.15 mg kg−1), Ni (30.16–55.66 mg kg−1), and F (319–544 mg kg−1) in soil exceeded the Romanian regulations for sensitive use of the land. Igeo, EF, PI, and PERI pollution indices indicate that the soil is moderate to highly contaminated with Cr, Ni, and Cu, while the CSI and mERMQ indices suggested a relatively low risk for metal contamination. The elemental concentrations in plant tissues and bioaccumulation factors (BFs) provide valuable insights into the soil–plant relationship, health risks, and the selectivity of plant compartments for different elements. Thus, the results revealed that the wheat plants tended to exclude the bioaccumulation of particular elements in their tissues, while exhibiting a different bioaccumulation pattern for Zn and Cu. In the case of corn, most BFs were below one, indicating a limited phytoaccumulation capacity. However, exceptions were observed for Cd, Zn, and Cu with the sunflower BFs indicating higher bioconcentration of these elements in leaves and seeds compared to other elements. Chromium (Cr) contributes to non-carcinogenic dermal contact and ingestion hazards, children being more susceptible to the adverse effects of this contaminant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the legislative framework in Romania on soil and subsoil - understood as "the massive of earth" - includes a package with direct references to the issue of soil contamination and ways of investigation. Given that land can be both private and public property, in 2015 work is still undergoing in shaping a common EU policy on the management of contaminated sites, discussions and negotiations with national mark between representatives of various Member States being still not finalized. So the European Union has not yet developed a separate policy on the management of contaminated land existing in the Member States. The paper presents the current level of correlated law concerning environmental factor soil in Romania, EU member-state, and work in practice, based on the functions the soils fulfills in society. Current legislation in Romania shows that the soil functions are recognized and that civil society is interested in knowing the suitability of land for specific uses, health status and quality condition. With Romania's integration in the EU were established new regulations regarding reports on knowledge of the state and protection of soil quality in Romania. Although significant progress is made at a national level, there is no complete study on the suitability of current land in use, categories or maps on the nature and intensity of a given pollutant that contributes to the pollution level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red oak is a native North American species that was cultivated in Europe from the XVII century onward firstly in ornamental purposes and then in forest plantations. At present, the species occupies in our country a surface of 2.500 ha and is renowned for its rapid growth. The present paper has characterized red oak stands from the West Plain taking into account their environment and stand conditions. In order to achieve this, data from forest management plans were used from the period 1995- 2008 from 13 forest districts located in this area. Red oak stands occupy a surface of 474 ha in this area (4%), especially in Tinca, Oradea, Radna and Săcuieni, and are situated at altitudes between 120-300 m. This species appears in field and slope areas, on preluvisol, luvisol and eutric cambisol soils and in Quercus mixtures, oak stands or Turkey oak stands. Tree pruning is low towards average, while the composition is mixed or in dense clusters. The structure is even-aged and the production class is average and average towards superior. The knowledge of these characteristics is very important for adapting the best practices in forestry and for the protection of best stands of the read oak, especially because this area (the West Plain) is one of the main area where the species is present in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the research undertaken finds its origin in the current scientific and practical preoccupations more and more assiduous to identify and develop an integrated management of agroecosystems, efficient from an agronomic point of view, with reduced energetic and financial efforts, ecological and conservative for soil and environment. This paper presents a few aspects regarding the edaphic layer structure and its quality, as well as some restrictive features of land quality, features that define their vocation for certain utilities and different favorabilities for certain plants and fruit trees. The geographical area known as the Lipovei Hills, Lipovei Piedmont or Lipova Plateau is positionally located in the western part of the country. As a geographical unit of transition between the orogeny of the Western Carpathians. They are an integral part of the Western Hills, which are well-individualized geomorphological units by the structure of deposits, their location on the periphery and altitude. The situation of the land of recent developments and its current state consists of all areas represented by land areas and those covered by water, regardless of destination, the title on which they are held or the public or private domain to which they belong. Referring to the area taken into account, the issue addressed refers to an area of 309,186 ha of which 181,890 ha are agricultural land (58.83%) and 110,695 ha (35.80%) land with forest vegetation, located in western Romania, which from an administrative point of view, they belong to a number of 25 ATUs from Timiş (17) and Arad counties (9). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes all soil types and subtypes within the Lipova Forest District. Geographically, the Lipova Forest District is located in the western part of Romania, in the Lipova Hills, with the Mureș River as limits to the north, the hills within the Bega River basin to the south, and the boundary between the western plain and the Lipova hills (UP I and UP IX) to the west. The average altitude is between 120 m, in the meadow of the Mureş River, and 340 m. Most forests are found at altitudes between 200 and 400 m. Slope is the predominant geomorphological unit, followed by plateau, meadow and mane. The terrain configuration is usually flat and wavy, less often bumpy. Slope is a physical-geographical character with an ecological determinant role for soil and vegetation, bringing important changes in surface leakage. A number of arboreta suffer from the stationary conditions in which they vegetate, the soil being exposed to excess water -- short-lived (0.67 ha) or seasonal (0.83 ha) -- while others have stems damaged by game or rot at the base as a result of the origin of the shoots. These destabilising factors affect a total area of 2,687.18 ha as follows: 1.50 ha of low-to-medium intensity; unhealthy stems on 2,685.68 ha of which 10-20% (2,677.41 ha) and 30-50% (8.27 ha). These destabilising factors act either singularly or cumulatively (most often) with a different degree of intensity and, depending on it, they affect the normal development of the respective arboreta. Within the Lipova Forest District, the soils of the luvisol class predominate by 95%: luvosol, by 77%, preluvosol by 16%, and allosol by 2%. Next are the protisol class soils that participate with 3% of the area of forests and land for afforestation or reforestation while the smallest area is occupied by the cambisol class, which participate with only 2% of the area of forests and land for afforestation or reforestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the soils that are found in the Suceava River basin, soils that have certain distinct features in terms of parental material but also of their physical, hydric, and chemical properties. Both alluviosols and certain gleic, salic, and salinized subtypes are found, i.e. soils that are influenced by groundwater located at shallow depths and which influence their features, fertility, and occupancy. Of the total area studied of 87,552 ha, forests occupy quite small areas, i.e. 19.34% compared to 44.66% by the forests of Suceava County, Romania. Moreover, at the level of our country, Suceava County has the highest degree of afforestation in the country, i.e. 52.88%, which is one of the reasons why it is worth studying, protecting, and highlighting. As for the zoning of vegetation in the Suceva River basin, there are both forests and meadows. Two sub-areas are present: the beech area and the sessile oak area. It is important that the forested area at both Suceava County and country level, where soils are not suitable for agriculture, be forested. There is also a need for afforestation of those soils that are found spread over large slopes, where there is a risk of landslides, erosion for better use, and conservation of these soils.Vegetation acts as a protective screen on the soil limiting the amount of water drained on the slopes, reducing the striking force of raindrops, and reducing areolar and linear erosion. Human intervention by deforestation and improper cultivation technologies favours accelerated erosion. In the forest area, soils are highly acid, there are fewer nutrients, poorly humified, and forming dark raw humus which causes reduced biological activity. Vegetable residues are very importantȘ in deciduous forests, two or three times more nutrients are obtained compared to evergreen forests. The territory studied falls within the area of silvostepe, with two subzones: the beech area and the sessile oak area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of a combined soil and vegetation survey in Roşia Montană mining area (western Romania), famous for its gold and silver deposits, extensively exploited over the last 2,000 years. As the ore extraction has ceased in 2006 and new operations could be initiated in the future, the study contributes to the definition of the environmental baseline. Samples of topsoil and leaves of the tree species Betula pendula and Carpinus betulus have been collected from the inside and outside of the mining area, on a total surface of more than 60 km. The pH and heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) have been measured on 262 soils/sediments samples, revealing the predominantly acidic character of soils and the generally low contents of heavy metals. Stronger acidity and higher contents of heavy metals have been noticed in the proximity of the mining site, on the tailings and waste rock dumps, and along the streams with acid water. More than 100 leaf samples have been analysed for the same heavy metals as soils and also for chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment concentrations. B. pendula has shown a particular ability to concentrate Zn in leaves, at levels that may greatly exceed the Zn content in the corresponding soil samples. The correlation between the heavy metal contents in leaves and in soils, in most of the cases, is not very strong, presumably in relation to the low concentrations in soils. The chlorophyll concentration in leaves of B. pendula slightly diminishes on soils with low pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romania, one of the most important coal producing countries in Europe, has a long tradition in the mining industry and has significant coal reserves that can ensure the continuity of production for more than 150 years. After 1989, coal production in our country almost halved, mainly due to the decrease of the mining activity and the reduction of the coal consumption, these aspects also affecting the exploitation in the Berbeşti Mining Basin. The exploitation of the lignite in the Berbeşti Mining Basin has a consistent environmental impact that needs to be properly identified and quantified so that appropriate measures can be implemented to ensure maximum exploitation in terms of quality and in assuring the implementation of the principles of sustainable development. The present paper presents the three active quarries in the Berbeşti Mining Basin, respectively West Berbeşti, Panga and Olteţ quarries, which in the present period exclusively provide the raw material for the operation of the Govora Thermal Power Plant. The identification and assessment of the impact of exploitation of the lignite in the Berber Mining Basin is based on the realization of an impact network and a matrix from which the main impact generating activities as well as the major changes they bring to the environment can be observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper refers to one of the greatest threatens our environment is facing, namely deforestation. Through an inventory of the reports at the global, European and national level, the study aims to emphasize the main four problems deforestation causes: the atmosphere problems, the hydrographic ones, soil problems and the environmental problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Petroleum - Gas University of Ploiesti Bulletin, Technical Series is the property of Petroleum - Gas University of Ploiesti and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Petroleum - Gas University of Ploiesti Bulletin, Technical Series is the property of Petroleum - Gas University of Ploiesti and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Petroleum - Gas University of Ploiesti Bulletin, Technical Series is the property of Petroleum - Gas University of Ploiesti and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Contamination of cereals with fungi Aspergillus spp. and mycotoxins aflatoxins causes losses in the agrofood chain and cancers in animals and humans. This article assesses the occurrence of total aflatoxin contamination in common wheat in Romania during the 2015 - 2016 period under the influence of environmental factors and extreme weather events. Wheat samples (N = 272) taken from localities characterized by deoxynivalenol contamination in 2012 - 2014, were analyzed for aflatoxins using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and gained resuts were statistically evaluated by SPSS. Total aflatoxin contamination in common wheat was very low (max. 1.10 µg/kg) in June - August of the 2015 extremely dry year, but high values were recorded in Covasna, Harghita, and Vâlcea counties (4.00 µg/kg; 5.42 µg/kg; 4.58 µg/kg; acidic soils) in May - June 2016, an extremely rainy year. Extremely hot and dry weather conditions in July - August 2015 reduced the effects of environmental factors to non-significant correlations with total aflatoxins. The effects of the extreme drought were also manifested in 2016, but the temperature and precipitation in July - August were significantly correlated with aflatoxin contamination. The results show the occurrence of total aflatoxin contamination in common wheat grown in regions characterized by Fusarium spp. and deoxynivalenol contamination in the year following a dry year. The increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the last two decades and the predicted climate changes require the analysis of aflatoxins in wheat and other cereals grown in agricultural regions with low aridity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there are many studies on mint species, too few establish the link between its growth and the environment in which it grows. Between 7 and 22 August 2017, at Ilganii de Sus village (Nufăru commune, Tulcea County), on Sulina Danube branch, five soil samples taken from the base of some populations of pennyroyal plants (Mentha pulegium L.) were analysed. The sampling points were chosen according to the different habitats encountered at Ilganii de Sus (ruderal sites, grazed pastures, flooded ditches, sandy beaches on the banks of Arhipenco channel), with different soil texture. Surrounded by other mint species and cocklebur, pennyroyal can be seen as a potential environmental weed in the study area. We found that the highest values of humus content, potassium and phosphorus levels correspond to a zone located at the western edge of the village, where household waste and poultry manure are deposited. The pH values of soil at Ilganii de Sus varied between 7.30 and 8.57; meanwhile, salts levels indicated a non-saline soil type. As far as we know, this report brings the first data concerning the soil features and environmental conditions for Mentha pulegium in a Romanian landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare earth elements (REEs) and 18 other elements in the vegetables (carrot, parsley, cabbage, potato, onion) and soils from two villages near tailings management facilities in the Baia Mare area, NW Romania, were measured. The soil-to-plant transfer and the health risks posed by the consumption of these vegetables were also assessed. The pseudo-total concentrations of elements varied widely in the soil and vegetables, with the lowest concentrations being found for Ta (2.1 µg/kg) and the highest for Fe (9219 mg/kg). The concentration of total light REEs (LREEs) was considerably higher than that of heavy REEs (HREEs). The percentages of available elements were <20% of the pseudo-total concentration, except for Zn, Cd, and Pb, where the available fractions were much higher. Generally, the soil-to-plant transfer factors decreased in the following order: parsley > onion > cabbage > carrot > potato, and varied from element to element. The LREEs were less absorbed than the HREEs in all investigated vegetable species. Pearson correlations revealed strong positive correlations between the lanthanides, except for Eu, in the soil and vegetables. No important health risks following the consumption of vegetables were found for REEs, the estimated daily intake of REEs through vegetable consumption being much lower than the acceptable daily intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was carried out during the period of 2020-2022 in the south-eastern part of Romania on a reddish preluvosoil. Two types of slag from the metallurgical industry were applied, namely furnace slag and converter slag in doses of 1 t/ha, 3 t/ha and 5 t/ha. Taking into consideration the chemical composition of these materials and the fact that they contain elements such as Ca, P, Zn, Ni, Fe, Mg, they can be used to neutralize the acidic reaction of soils and for a better utilization of nutrients by crop plants. The research analyzed the effect of these materials on the chemical properties of the soil, on the soil's reaction, the soil's humus content and content in elements, as well as their influence on the production of maize, wheat and peas, while also taking into account the content in macroelements and heavy metals found in the soil and crop plants. The obtained results demonstrated that the application of these materials in the established doses of 1, 3 and 5 tons/ha led to significant increases in the production of maize, wheat and peas without the risk of accumulation of heavy metals in the soil and in the crop plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article are studied samples of soil collected from Public Garden of Galați, Romania. This location was chosen to observe the negative influence of road and railway traffic on the soil quality. The soil samples were collected from the surface (0 cm), 5 and 30 cm, from the all four principal and secondary garden entrances and one sample from the playground area. The analytical method used to study the soil samples was X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), a non-destructive technique and very popular in environmental studies, that provided qualitatively and quantitatively information of the elements contained in soil. The results presented a strongly negative influence on soil quality from the road traffic, but the railway traffic didn't have a strong impact on the soil quality because it was related to person transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantification of soil biological status, through investigation of edaphic communities' composition, constitutes an important factor for the assessment of the grassland ecosystems, including their protection. The structure of soil invertebrate communities was investigated for five grasslands under different chemical and organic treatments, for the first time in Romania. In order to accomplish this task, some structural parameters were quantified: numerical abundance, taxa richness, Shannon diversity index of taxa and equitability. We demonstrated the relationship between five environmental factors (vegetation coverage, soil temperature, soil acidity, soil resistance at penetration, soil moisture content) and the community structures of soil fauna. In total, 17 invertebrate groups were identified with a total numerical abundance of 14,953 individuals. Considering the numerical abundance, the dominant taxa were Acaridae, Collembola, Oribatida and Mesostigmata, the least dominant being Coleoptera, Opiliones and Araneae. In spatial dynamics the investigated plots were characterised specifically by soil invertebrates' communities' structures, highlighted by the varied values of structural parameters: by indicator taxa and by the characteristic average values of environmental parameters. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that the most important environment parameters influencing the soil taxa were vegetation coverage (especially on Acaridae, Glycyphagidae and Formicoidea) and soil resistance at penetration (Nematoda and Coleoptera). This study constitutes a scientific argument for the usage of soil invertebrate communities as indicators of the ecological conservation status of some fertilised grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high salt content in the soil raises special problems regarding the use of soils affected by salinity and alkalinity. In Romania, there is an area of approximately 614,000 ha of land where salinization-alkalization processes occur, causing a low fertility of these soils and at high concentrations, these soils cannot be used for agricultural production. In order to identify the areas occupied by these soils, research was carried out based on satellite images in three localities in Brăila county: Măxineni, Racovi?ă and Tudor, where laboratory determinations such as: soil reaction, content in chlorides, sulfates, magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium. With the help of remote sensing and satellite images, maps were made regarding the salinity index (SI), Bare Soil index (BSI), Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), Tasseled Cap Transformation Wetness (TCW). Our study demonstrated the ability of remote sensing techniques and geographic information systems to survey, monitor, identify, analyze and classify land degradation manifestations and to detect spatial and temporal variables occurring in the study area. The digital indicators (INDEX) contributed to highlighting the terrain characteristics very effectively helping in clarifying the spatial distribution picture and the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the types of soil degradation manifestations in the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]