Crop rotation and soil fertility – limiting factors in ensuring the sustainable development of agriculture in the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

The article comprises experimental data obtained from long-term tests in crop rotations and permanent crops carried out at ”Selectia” Research Institute of Field Crops.They confirm the possibility of significantly reducing the dependence of agriculture on the use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides for diseases,pests and weeds control,irrigation water etc.The effect of fertilization is considerably higher in the permanent crop and at the incorrect alternation of the crops after the predecessors,compared to the effect of crop rotation.The efficiency of using nitrogen from mineral fertilizers is relatively low which increases the risk of global warming by emission of nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere.The share of soil fertility in the formation of yields for most crops is dominant due to the relatively small share of nitrogen from mineral fertilizers in the total nitrogen extract.The sustainable and resilient management of soil organic matter is crucial in order to ensure a viable development of agricultural sector in the Republic of Moldova.Agriculture can provide both the country”s food security and its energy security.

Keywords

• crop rotation
• monoculture
• soil fertility
• nitrogen use efficiency
• sustainable agriculture.