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Ekologija / Ecology

ISSN 0235-7224
ISSN 2029-0586 (online)

2009 m. Nr. 2

The influence of soil characteristics on plant productivity and ecological stability
Mečislovas VAIČYS, Jonas MAŽVILA

The article is based on the abundant research material on both agricultural and forestry issues concerning the main characteristics of soil. The productivity of agricultural and forest crops is predetermined by soils, their granulometric texture, moisture regime, soil properties. Based on the applied FAO classification, the new approach was employed for investigating the impact of the main soil systematic units on the productivity of forests and agricultural crops. From the point of view of agricultural crops, Cambisols and Calcareous Luvisols are more productive (by approx. 30%) than Albeluvisols of the same granulometric composition (loamy sand, sandy loam, clay soils) and by approx. 15% than Haplic and Albic Luvisols, while the latter are by 15% more productive than Albeluvisols. Under the impact of various factors, a gradual degradation of soils is taking place in the country. It is caused by water, wind and chemical erosion, soil water-logging, strong acidification, compaction, contamination with heavy metals, pesticides, destruction of forest litter or its excessive accumulation, the high density of stands, establishment of pure spruce and pine stands, formation of ortzands in the soil, podzolization and gleyization processes. Fires are especially harmful to the soil.

From the ecological viewpoint, at present, the content of mobile phosphorus in most soils of the country causes no major threat of water contamination. However, the functioning large livestock farms produce high amounts of liquid manure and dung, the use of which for the fertilization of fields around the farms leads to a rapid increase of not only the content of phosphorus, but also of nitrogen, which may cause a serious threat to the ecological stability of the natural environment.

Causes of soil erosion and their consequences for agricultural plants and forests have been elucidated. A strong influence of human activities on soil characteristics by long-term fertilization, liming and drainage of land with water-logged soils, which sometimes lead to destabilization of the ecological balance, has been revealed. The obtained data could be successfully applied when tackling the questions of crop production in agriculture and forestry, as well as of a rational use of potential soil capacities.

Keywords: plant productivity, soil characteristics, erosion, site types

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2011 - Vol.57
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