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Currently, Romanian agriculture depends on the weather in most of the cultivated areas. The dependence on weather has made it difficult for Romania to overcome the phenomenon of pedological drought in 2020. In this context, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ensure food security, maintain land properties in rural settlements protected by land improvements, and protect the livelihoods and well-being of the inhabitants because, unlike air and water, the land (area) has many owners whose existence depends on the agricultural production that can be achieved. Using Mike11 software for hydraulic modelling of flows in open channels having as a case study the CPE (Main drainage channel) channel, it is predicted the variation of the water level in time depending on the hydrograph of the input flows in various hypotheses of using the channels for drainage or irrigation purposes; the evolution in time of the deposition/ erosion in the channels for different assumptions of their use; the hydraulic modelling of the water accumulation capacity in the open channel drainage them open for various exploitation hypotheses and calculation of the area possible to irrigate from the volume of water accumulated in the storage basin. The Mike 11 software module used is Mike Zero, which allows the calculation of the elements necessary to highlight the volume of precipitation water that can be used for irrigation, assuming its accumulation in a reservoir adjacent to the drainage channel, especially during the winter and spring when there is a higher water input from precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most important hydro-climate risks in the Lugoj area, Romania, are hydric deficits, i.e. drought and flood periods. Drought, together with other destructive phenomena such as floods and pollution, is seen as the temporary incapacity of water resources of meeting consumption needs; it is, thus, one of the main global issues of our days. There have been, because of climate change, droughty periods in areas where the sum of annual or season precipitations is close to multiannual means: the problem is that the water came from high intensity (mm/min) precipitations, which prevented water from accumulating in the soil. The study aimed at presenting the hydric deficits (the existence of droughty periods and of hydric excess) in the Lugoj area over five years (2010-2014). The five years have been analysed from the perspective of several indicators of drought in literature. The following parameters of monitoring hydro-climate risks in the Lugoj area have been studied: sum of monthly and annual precipitations, mean monthly and annual evapotranspiration, monthly and annual hydric deficits and their graphic representation, mean monthly temperatures and their evolution; we have calculated and analysed climate and hydro-thermal indicators of drought (Topor, Lang), we have characterised depending on the precipitation deficit, the Thornthwaite indicator of precipitation efficiency, and the hydro-thermal indicator Seleaninov. From the point of view of the rainfall regime, an important indicator in acknowledging drought and humidity excess depending on the sum of monthly precipitations in summer and even in spring (annual sum of precipitations), we can draw the conclusion that, during the period studied (2010-2014), the years 2010 and 2014 were humid, rainy. Depending on the precipitation deficit, compared to monthly, seasonal and annual multiannual means, we can say that June, August and September were excessively droughty and droughty months in all analysed years. The years 2011, 2012 and 2013 were demi-arid according to most indicators analysed, i.e. years with monthly and annual mean temperatures higher than multi-annual ones, with significant hydric deficits during the hot season. Results show that there were periods with hydric deficits, droughty periods in three years (2011-2013) of the five years we analysed in Lugoj, mainly during the hot season (April-September); these years were also defined as demi-arid in most indicators analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the quality of a river's waters is of great ecological importance if we take into account that surface water pollution is, nowadays, a major issue amplified at global scale because of the agricultural and industrial pollutants that reach the rivers. The sources most widespread of surface water pollution are organised ones - sewage water from rural localities, sewage water from animal farms and from industry - but there are also non-organised sources of pollution such as rural localities that lack sewage systems, wastes stored in improper places and ways, etc. Timiş is the biggest river of Banat: it starts in the Semenic Mountains, it is 339.7 km long (of which 241.2 km in Romania), and its basin covers 13,085 km², with a medium flow of 47 m³/s. Monitoring the quality of the Timiş River waters was done in three control stations - Constantin Daicoviciu, Lugoj and Graniceri - through the sampling of the water in four sampling campaigns - February, May, August and September - during three years (2009-2011). The water was analysed in the Quality Laboratory of the Banat Water Basin Administration. The main quality indices we monitored were: suspension matter content, oxygen chemical consumption, nitrate content, and lead content. Results show that, upstream, in the control station Constantin Daicoviciu, the water is less polluted, which groups it in the 1st and 2nd quality classes; in the control point Lugoj, water was more polluted, ranging in the 2nd and 3rd quality classes, with suspension matter and lead content above maximum admitted limits; in the Graniceri section, there were significant values above maximum admitted limits in all quality indices we monitored during the three experimental years, ranging water in the 3rd and 4th quality classes because of the suspension matter, oxygen chemical consumption, nitrite content, and lead content. The conclusion we can draw is that the waters of the Timiş River are polluted in the Lugoj and Graniceri sections, that the main causes of the pollution are waste waters from households, wastes from households, wastes from crop and animal farms in the area, and hydric erosion in the hydrographic basin of the Timiş River (natural source of pollution). In order to improve the quality of the Timiş River waters downstream we need to develop effective sewage systems in rural localities, water treatment stations and controlled removal of waste waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study of water consumption in apple tree in the conditions of Timisoara, between 2000 and 2010, and of water deficit during apple tree vegetation period. Well knowing water requirements of a fruit tree species is of importance in determining irrigation requirements if we wish to obtain large high-quality productions. Literature shows that water requirements vary depending on the different biological, meteorological, soil, and technological factors. This explains largely the different results mentioned in literature concerning annual, monthly and daily water requirements in apple tree in different geographical areas. The theme has direct applicability in practice, particularly for the farmers. Research was carried out on the fruit tree plantation of the Didactic Station of the Banat University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine of Timisoara, Romania, within a trial organised in an intensive apple tree plantation. The apple tree cultivar we studied, Jonathan, is precocious, very productive, and moderately pretentious as far as climate and soil are concerned, resistant to apple scab, codling moth or apple root aphid. The soil is a cambic chernozem, poorly gleyed, with low salinisation and alkalinisation below 100 cm, meso lime, on fine medium loessoid deposits, medium loamy clay. The value of hydrophysic indices show that the soil has a high capacity of retaining water since it has a natural fertility favourable to apple tree and is suitable for drip irrigation. The studied area is within the moderate temperate continental climate area, with a mean multiannual temperature of 10.80C and atmospheric precipitations reaching a mean multiannual value of 631.0 mm. Water consumption was calculated with the Thornthwaite formula, the most suited taking into account that it best correlates with research field results. Thus, we calculated monthly, daily total and mean water consumption during the vegetation period (April 1-October 1) for all the studied years between 2000 and 2010, and then we compared these consumption levels with the coverage degree from precipitations during the same period of time, obtaining hydric deficits, i.e. the necessity of covering them through irrigation. The highest hydric deficits were in 2000 and 2009 (447.12 mm and 355.76 mm, respectively), but there has been hydric deficit that coincided with maximum consumption periods in apple tree (June, July and August).We also need to supplement these hydric deficits through drip irrigation, the method with the lowest water consumption, compared to classical irrigation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under current conditions marked by significant effects of changing climatic conditions due to global warming, first of all, the increase in the demand for agricultural products and the change of mentality regarding the way of interaction with nature, the specialists are looking for solutions for the full rethinking of performance agriculture. Given the growing demand for agricultural products and the global warming that is already making its presence felt, makes it increasingly difficult to produce them, it is important to find solutions for expanding cultivated areas, in an environmentally friendly way and respecting the concept of biodiversity, also ensuring the best development conditions for crops. In addition to new discoveries and technological innovations (equipment, seed varieties, fertilizers), the way to make an environmentally friendly agriculture is defining in the new thinking in the field. Finally, it is our duty to find solutions. The paper presents a method of approaching the problem of improving saline soils, present insular in a soil to be prepared by land improvement works, to be planted with hazelnuts. Land improvement works can also contribute to the improvement of saline-affected soils, through specific actions. The case study reveals the problems encountered that determined these works, their solution, the agrotechnology used (stages, equipment, materials) and the land improvement works executed as support, as well as the results, one and two years after the execution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal teas are a popular beverage and are used as therapeutic vehicles in many forms of traditional medicine. As tea is a popular drink and its preparation is remarkably simple (pour hot water on various dry herbs), it is very important to monitor and develop a screening methodology for detecting metals content in herbal tea. The number of articles exploring the efficacy and clinical safety of teas and herbal teas is small, even though herbal materials are the basis of the discovery of medicines and teas are some of the most popular drinks. This research was aimed to estimate the distribution of some bioelements in different types of herbal teas used in diet therapy. We used atomic absorption spectrometry in order to determine the concentration of Ca, Mg (macroelements), Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu (trance elements) in various indigenous herbal teas. In our work we collected herbal teas from county Gorj. These herbals are chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), peppermint (Mentha piperita), marigold (Calendula officinalis), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and Plantain (Plantago lanceolata). Preliminary results of this study reveal an uneven distribution of the concentrations of these bioelements. Bioelements distribution in analysed herbal teas presents generally, the following trend: Ca > Mg > Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu. The study aimed at the determination of the mineral composition of medicinal herbs for evaluation of the coverage of the recommended daily intake of mineral elements by tea. The concentration of these bioelements in herbal teas shows significant variations determined by the nature and type of herbal tea and bio-elements investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After 1989, irrigation facilities were increasingly less used, entering a process of physical and moral damage. The paper briefly presents the way applications for accessing the rehabilitation/modernization of the main and secondary infrastructure of irrigation facilities are done. The case study is made for an irrigation plot from the patrimony of irrigation water users (O.U.A.I.) using modern mobile watering equipment and equipping pressure pumping stations with new energy performance aggregates, start/stop safety and higher functioning yields. The Ialomița-Călmățui Terrace irrigation facilities in operation between 197and 1983, of which, in the Țăndărei area, the gross area of 7,275 ha and the net area of 7,158 ha is served by pressure pumping stations SPP 13, SPP 14, SPP 22, SPP 21+21bis, of which: 1,354 ha in plot SPP 13, 1,606 ha in plot SPP 14, 1,686 ha in plot SPP 22 and 2,512 ha in plot SPP 21+21bis. For the case study, the modernization of SPP 13, representative of the current stage, belonging to Murgeanca, the initial state, the technical solution for modernization and the current situation after the modernization investment are presented. By rehabilitation/modernization of the irrigation plot, it has also been streamlined through the economy of labour, energy and water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is of great ecological, social and economic interest. Water is a vital and vulnerable natural resource for life and society. Nevertheless, it is one of the worst managed resources, being used improperly, wasted and returned to nature in bad condition. As many negative events with pathogenic or toxic risk may occur, water supply monitoring in a human community through sample collection and analysis has become a necessary permanent measure. While completing a cycle that starts from its source and ends with its final use (in households, farms or industries), water can accumulate and carry human activity residues that alter its basic qualities. Monitoring groundwater quality in South-Western Banat Plain was based on two drillings, one in Gătaia and one in Belinț. Water samples were collected in May and June 2009 and 2011. The main quality indicators were dissolved oxygen concentration, chemical oxygen consumption, nitrate and nitrite concentration, calcium, magnesium, iron, lead and manganese concentration. The analyses were performed at the Laboratory of Basin Water Administration, the Banat Branch. The low concentrations of oxygen dissolved in water indicate that water in both drillings belongs to the third class. As far as the chemical oxygen consumption at the Gătaia drilling is concerned, water belongs to the first class, while at Belinț the water is second class. The nitrate concentration is much above the limit, reaching values that correspond to the fifth class. The nitrite concentration in both drillings places the water in the fourth class. The calcium level is higher at Gătaia, where water is very hard. The magnesium level indicates that only the water at the Belinț drilling belongs to the second class, while the iron concentration places both drillings in the second class. The lead level is above limit only at Gătaia, and the manganese level places water in the third class. These results reveal that in both drillings, water quality is low and not suitable for supply, especially because of the nitrate and nitrite concentrations. The very hard water at the Gătaia drilling requires special attention when used for irrigation purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study of potential evapotranspiration has taken into consideration a priority issue confronting our entire planet: global climate changes. This phenomenon can be revealed only through long-term monitoring. Consequently, for convincing results, the study considered all the data about the monthly temperatures that are recorded at Timisoara Weather Station, as this station has the oldest records in the Banat Plain. The studied period covers 114 years, from 1897 to 2011; unfortunately, the records between 1917 and 1920 are missing. Potential evapotranspiration is calculated with the Thornthwaite method, as this fits our country's conditions best; however, for the water use calculation, it is necessary to determine the coefficients for each plant culture. The results were interpreted and systematised with the Bravais-Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression. The study has concluded that annual potential evapotranspiration has a slightly increasing trend that is explained by the high temperatures of the past years that have exceeded the multiannual mean. Consequently, maximum evapotranspiration, 840.2 mm, was reached in the agricultural year 2008-2009, which caused a humidity deficit of 339.2 mm. The 1975-1976 agricultural year had the lowest value of evapotranspiration: 617.4 mm. Surprisingly, in the same year, the precipitations did not cover the plant water use, leading to a deficit of 117.2 mm. As far as evapotranspiration in the vegetation period is concerned, a much stronger increasing trend is observed than in the case of the annual trend. The maximum calculated value was 728.3 mm in the 2008-2009 agricultural years, accounting for 86.68% of annual evapotranspiration. In this vegetation period, the humidity deficit was also high - 464.3 mm. The minim, 532 mm, was recorded in the 1977-1978 agricultural year, which still had a 136.4 mm humidity deficit. On summing up the results, we have discovered that Banat is undergoing a process of transformation from the climatic viewpoint. The transformation is both thermal, as a result of its increased values in the past years, and pluviometric, caused by decreased rainfalls that no longer cover the plant water use. The present paper is a reference and original study, given the long period of time that was analysed - 114 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehensive analysis regarding the scientific substantiation of the need to rehabilitate the modernization and extension of the arrangements for regulating the water regime from the surface and soil mass so that the level of pedophreatic water does not rise to join the rainwater highlights some essential aspects. Due to the malfunction of the hydro-amelioration works due to the clogging of the canals, their flooding by vegetation, the reduction of the evacuation capacity by pumping, the damage of the bridges, footbridges and other works, the water evacuation is done at low parameters which causes the rise of pedophreatic level, causing secondary wilting and salinization. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of performing hydro-amelioration works and the influence on groundwater pollution.( KAREL IAROSLAV LAŢO, LUCIAN NIŢĂ, ALINA LAŢO, 2013). Excess moisture has a negative effect on plant development, so crop yields decrease. Excess water favors the multiplication of hydrophilic weeds, it also determines the appearance of fog, a favorable condition for the appearance of pathogens. The soils specific to the studied area, having an adhesive plastic consistency as well as a degree of natural compaction, but also an additional compaction due to the soil works often at too high humidity require additional energy consumption to perform technological works specific to cultivated plants. Another major drawback of these soils is the fact that the periods of time in which good quality agrotechnical works can be carried out, which would contribute to the improvement, even temporarily, of the microbiological activity in the soil, by increasing its air content, are short., the soil moving from excess moisture to deficit, relatively quickly.( LOREDANA DARICIUC, I. GAICA, D. DICU 2016). Due to this characteristic, the farmers in the studied area, practically have to equip themselves with tractors, agricultural equipment and combines, so that they can carry out in a short time the specific agricultural works. "In the area studied in the conditions of flat lands, there are microdepressions in the form of" croves "which, although they are not easily noticeable, in the conditions of excess humidity are harder to blow, remaining like lenses in the wilted plot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the researches is rooted in the current scientific and practical discussions on the accumulation of knowledge regarding the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of the soils in relation to the natural features of the natural framework for the evaluation of their quality, which are found in the pedological studies prepared by the local OSPA. The relief on which the river basin of the river Timis is grafted is varied – mountains, hills and plains – so that the territory taken into account determines a great diversity of ecological conditions, generated by the variability of cosmic-atmospheric and earthly-edaphic factors that compete at achieving the environment in which plants grow and harvest. The issue addressed concerns an area of 328,728 ha of which 271,037 ha (82.45%) are agricultural land. The importance and timeliness of the work is the need to protect the edaphic cover and the environment by the accumulation of scientific data necessary for the substantiation of some technologies of consecutive works of edaphic cover and of sustainable management of the soil and water resources; and by implementation of conservative and sustainable management systems in the physical-geographical and climatic-edaphic conditions within the space considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]