Soil distribution in Crna river basin and its importance for agricultural production

Abstract

This paper is a result of many years of field and laboratory research of the soils in Crna river basin, spread out on 497 514,81 ha, ranging from 150 to 2601 m above the sea level in order to gain a better understanding of the productive capacities of the soils and measures for their improvement. The catchment area of Crna River is a spatial area that extends in two states in the southwest of the Republic of North Macedonia and the northern part of the Republic of Greece, whose boundaries are naturally clearly defined. The filed research of the soils and preparation of soil samples has been done according to ISO 10381-1 and ISO 10381-2 protocols. In laboratory, the following analyses have been carried out on the soil samples: hygroscopic moisture; mechanical composition; pH of the soil solution; humus content and total nitrogen; content of carbonates; available nutrients P2O5 and K2O. The mechanical composition and chemical properties of the soils have been determined by standard methods.This area is very heterogeneous, with numerous relief forms, with different expositions and inclinations, and with great differences of altitude. Additionally, there are several geological formations of a very heterogeneous petrographic-mineralogical composition and climate-vegetation zones. Long-term effects of human involvement should also be noted. The vast diversity of the factors required for soil formation in catchment area of Crna River are the reason for the formation of many different soil types as well as the lower taxonomic units. There are 14 (fourteen) different soil types distributed in the Crna river basin together with a considerable amount of subtypes, varieties and forms. The most represented with the largest area are: Fluvisol, Fluvisol (Colluvial Soils) and Cambisol. These types of soils are characterized by different properties (chemical, physical, physical-mechanical and productive). Therefore, they have varied effects on agricultural production (field crop, viticulture and fruit production).