Soil quality as a basis for sustainable intensification of agricultural production
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7251/ZARS2401081RKeywords:
sustainable intensification, agricultural production, land, soilAbstract
Sustainable intensification (SI) of agriculture implies an increase in yield without harming the environment and further cultivating new land areas. Research aimed to establish soil quality indicators (organic carbon, silt and clay, pH value, cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil depth and terrain slope) in 150 samples from different soil types in AP Vojvodina and based on their values, determine the suitability of different soil types for SI. The six soil quality indicators were evaluated from 1-4 points for each sample. The sum of the points of all indicators for an individual sample would classify the soil in a certain Category. Category 1 (6-10 points) is recommended only for extensification; Category 2 has more than 10 points, but one or even more indicators are in bad condition (1 point), and therefore intensification is possible only with high-risk; Category 3 (11-15 points) has a low potential for SI and intensification should be carried out with great caution; Category 4 (16-20 points) represents soils that can compensate for the impact of agricultural production on the environment. According to the results, it was determined that 25% of the soil samples are not suitable for SI, while 75% of them are suitable for SI. In soils unsuitable for SI, organic carbon was the main limiting factor. The Vertisols, Solonetz and Solonchaks groups belong to the highest Category according to suitability for SI, and Arenosols and Cambisols to the lowest. Soils with greater depth and a higher content of silt, clay and organic carbon have the highest number of points, namely the soils in the Tisa River valley and the gleyic and clayey soils of eastern and central Banat, while the lowest number is evident on sandstones and mountains. The chernozem zone is in the middle regarding the number of achieved points in terms of SI.
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