THE CONFERENCE „SOIL AS A WORLD HERITAGE”

Abstract

THE CONFERENCE „SOIL AS A WORLD HERITAGE” was unique as a forum for discussion of scientifi c aspects of sustainable agriculture in the light of knowledge drowns from long-term fi eld experiments both in Moldova and other countries. Key topics included in the discussion were: soil fertility and soil health; environmental services provided by soils such as: carbon sequestration, supply of fresh water, moderation of climate, nutrient and energy cycling, the biodiversity of soils and landscapes etc. During the field excursion on the experimental plots of the „Selectia” Research Institute of Field Crops (Balti) the qualities of the black earth, the chernoziom soils, have been analyzed together with experimental data obtained during 50 years. The scientific articles will be published by Springer (Germany) in a separate book. This site has been provisionally approved by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for the chernozem and for soil science. Participants, scientists from 13 countries, have adopted recommendations of the international scientific conference on soil as World Heritage. The recommendations include: principles for policies to make the best use of existing knowledge, new research thrusts and soil resolution. The organizers of the conference (Selectia Research Institute of Field Crops, Alecu Russo State University from Balti and Nicolae Dimo Research Institute of Soil Science and Agrochimistry, Chisinau) are thankful to EU Joint Research Center, Central European Initiative, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Rothamsted Research (UK), to NGO from Czech republic and Republic of Moldova (Agroinform, Procore) for their support in conducting the conference. We would like to address special thanks to all researches, technical workers and workers which have devoted their efforts and life experience in different periods time for maintaining the long-term fi eld experiments at the Selectia Research Institute of Field Crops.