Aggregate stability and sealing risk of solonetz under different land use regimes

Abstract

Solonetz is a type of alkaline soil which covers about 3.75% of the Province of Vojvodina, Serbia. In order to investigate the potential implementation of efficient agricultural production on this soil, we investigated the stability of structural aggregates and sealing risk (crusting hazard) in the surface layer (0-20 cm) of solonetz exposed to different land use. Four classes of stable aggregates (8000-2000, 2000-250, 250-53 and <53 μm) were obtained and the risk of sealing was calculated. The results show relatively stable structure in the surface layer of the investigated solonetz soils, but also a high risk of sealing. Solonetz under native vegetation showed higher aggregate stability and lower risk of sealing compared to solonetz exposed to long term tillage. Such soils can be recommended for establishing protective forests or cultivation of shallow rooted plants under condition that appropriate chemical properties of the surface horizon are monitored and cultivation practices against risk of sealing are implemented. Also further interdisciplinary study of these alkaline soils is recommended bearing in mind its high prevalence and variability of their properties.

Keywords

• aggregate stability
• alkaline soils
• crusting
• sealing risk
• soils
• solonetz
• surfaces