Ekonomija: teorija i praksa (Jan 2017)
Soil fertility as a condition of sustainable development
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to examine soil fertility parameters as indicators of sustainable management in order to preserve this resource for future generations. The parameters tested are the pH value of soil and humus content. The pH value of soil affects the presence and mobility of nutrients and their uptake by the plant. On the basis of potential acidity, the quantity and type of the needed fertilizer can be predicted. For the purpose of this research, 100 soil samples from the territory of western Serbia have been examined. Active acidity, i.e. the pH values of sample extracts in distilled water and potential acidity, i.e. the pH value in 1N potassium chloride solution were measured. As the remediation strategy for acid soils we have proposed the method of calcification with the determining of hydrolytic acidity. The presence of humus substances was determined using a method proposed by Kochman, based on the oxidation of organic matter from the soil with potassium permanganate solution (KMnO4). The released CO2 was determined indirectly by the retraction of the KMnO4 solution of oxalic acid and a method proposed by Tjurin, based on the oxidation of organic matter in the soil. Organic carbon was determined spectrophotometrically at 585 nm. Having obtained such insight into the measured values, we can confirm the dominant presence of strongly acidic and acidic soils. In terms of the amount of humus in soil, the obtained results were quite satisfactory, i.e. humus and very humus soils prevail on the observed territory.
