Research regarding soil erosion and its effects in the Balota area, Dolj County

• Published in: Geographical phorum Vol. XX; no. 2; pp. 181 - 188
• Main Authors: Dodocioiu, Ana Maria, Buzatu, Gilda-Diana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Craiova University of Craiova, Department of Geography 30.12.2021
• Subjects: Alfalfa; Cereal crops; Corn; Cultivation; Decomposing organic matter; Grain cultivation; Humus; Nitrogen; Nutrients; Phosphorus; Potassium; Runoff; Soil erosion; Soil nutrients; Soil water; Vegetables; Wheat
• ISSN: 1583-1523; 2067-4635
• DOI: 10.5775/fg.2021.092.d

The research presented in this paper was carried out during three years of study (2018-2020) and aimed at studying soil erosion and losses of humus and major macroelements (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) based on the precipitation regime that produced runoff on the slope. The research was carried out on a stagnic vertic preluvosoil with a slope of 4%, with a moderate acid reaction and a medium supply of nitrogen and potassium, and weak supply of phosphorus from Balota de Sus area, Dolj County, comprising 3 crops practiced in the area: wheat, corn, alfalfa compared to the field black (uncultivated) and spontaneous vegetation (natural).Following the researches, it was found that the most significant runoff on the slope was recorded in black fallow 471.98 mc/ha and corn 252.62 mc/ha, and the lowest were recorded in wheat 183.43 mc/ha and alfalfa 118.87 mc/ha (25.14% compared to the black fallow).Soil erosion, or soil losses, recorded high values also in the case of corn cultivation 6.84 t/ha (39.42%) and in the case of black fallow 17.35 t/ha (100%).The humus in the soil was lost in the largest quantities also in the corn crop 198.19 kg/ha (40.56%) and black fallow 488.58 kg/ha (100%) and in quite small quantities in the case of alfalfa 89.20 kg/ha (18.25 %).Nutrients in the soil have been lost, both by runoff water on sloping soil and by eroded soil, with higher amounts lost through eroded soil.