Anișoara Duma-Copcea

The purpose of this work is to determine and analyze the current state of soil quality and fertility in Bihor County, in order to support decisions on the sustainable use of agricultural land and the improvement of land management practices. The purpose of this work is to determine and analyze the current state of soil quality and fertility of agricultural soils in Bihor County. The judicious use of soil resources is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration between local authorities, farmers, researchers and civil society. By developing rigorous studies and implementing evidence-based policies, we can ensure not only environmental protection, but also long-term sustainable economic development. The long-term viability of Bihor agriculture depends on a holistic approach: research, environment and the transposition of knowledge into agricultural practice.

The study analyzes the efficiency of vineyard land use in the Recaș Wine Center (Timiș County) over the last decade, under the influence of accelerating climate change. Using climate data from 2013–2022 and local agrometeorological observations, recent trends of warming, aridization, and increased frequency of extreme events—droughts, heat waves, late frosts, and hailstorms—are highlighted. The main soil types in the area (preluvosols, eutric cambisols, chernozems, and weakly gleic soils) ensure a high natural suitability for viticulture, generally classified in creditworthiness classes I–II when optimal management practices are applied.Land-use efficiency was evaluated based on grape yields (t/ha) recorded for five representative varieties—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Fetească Neagră, and Chardonnay—during two contrasting years: 2023 (cool, rainy spring and balanced summer) and 2024 (severe drought and extreme summer temperatures). Results indicate yield reductions of 20–30% in 2024, particularly for drought-sensitive red varieties, emphasizing the vulnerability of the viticultural system to water deficits in the absence of irrigation.The findings are discussed in relation to soil productive potential and compared with studies documenting climate-induced yield fluctuations in European viticulture. Existing adaptation strategies in Recaș—canopy management, crop load regulation, inter-row mulching and grassing, night harvesting, and digital monitoring—are assessed alongside future measures such as drip irrigation, diversification with drought- and heat-tolerant varieties, and the use of oenoclimatic indices in vineyard planning.Overall, the study concludes that sustainable vineyard management increasingly requires not only the optimization of yields and quality but also the long-term protection of soil and water resources under rapidly evolving climatic conditions.

The paper presents a detailed analysis of the soil cover in Bazoșu Vechi locality, located in the north-west of Timiș County, with a focus on pedological properties, limiting factors of agricultural production and the potential for sustainable land use. Based on existing soil studies, the main soil types have been identified – alluvial, eutriosol, preluvosol, pelosols and stagnosols – each characterized by distinct morphological, physico-chemical and technological particularities. Of these, alluvial soils and eutrichabbosoils have a superior natural fertility and a high productive capacity, being suitable for a wide range of agricultural crops. In contrast, pelosols and stagnosols show important pedological limitations, determined by the fine texture, low permeability, defective aerohydrous regime and low humus level, and complex agro-pedo-ameliorative interventions are recommended. The results obtained highlight the importance of detailed knowledge of soil properties and pedoclimatic conditions in order to adopt appropriate measures to preserve fertility, optimize agricultural practices and prevent land degradation. The study contributes to the substantiation of modern solutions for the sustainable management of soil resources in the context of intensified agriculture in Timiș County.

The paper presents the course and evolution of the agricultural system in Fârdea Commune, Timiș County, during the period 2022–2024, with a focus on crop structure, agricultural land use, and trends in plant production diversification. Fârdea Commune is located in the eastern part of Timiș County, on the northwestern slope of the Poiana Ruscă Mountains, in a transition zone between mountain and plain environments, characterized by fragmented relief and pedoclimatic conditions favorable to mixed agriculture. The data used were obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR), the Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA), and the Agricultural Chamber of the Fârdea Town Hall. The results highlight that, during the analyzed period, areas cultivated with cereals for grains – especially corn – dominated the crop structure, followed by wheat, potatoes, vegetables, and fodder plants. Beginning in 2023, crop diversification became evident through the introduction of strawberries and the expansion of fodder plant areas, while in 2024, young orchards also appeared, confirming a gradual shift toward mixed and sustainable agriculture. The paper contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics of agricultural land use in the mountainous and submontane areas of Banat, providing a reference framework for future strategies in sustainable rural development.

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of the local economy in the town of Recaș and its surrounding villages, where the pedo-climatic conditions favor a diverse range of crops and a strong winemaking tradition. This study presents the structure of the land fund (2024), the degree of arable land suitability, and the main limiting factors, correlated with the level of mechanization and the crop structure. Of the total area of 23,198.48 ha, 85.1% is agricultural land, including 56% arable land and 7.5% vineyards; non-agricultural land accounts for 14.9%. Within the arable category, the distribution by quality class is as follows: Class II – 14.8%, Class III – 44.2%, Class IV – 29.4%, and Class V – 11.6%. The dominant limiting factors include soil acidity (low pH values over approximately 21% of the surface), slope (affecting around 31.7%), excess moisture (about 22%), and low total porosity in soils with a Bt horizon (approximately 32%). The analysis of the technical base reveals a diverse but uneven fleet of agricultural machinery across small farms, a factor that may affect production stability. The results are discussed in relation to literature on agricultural management, mechanization, the integration of weed control technologies, and trends in agro-economic and rural development. The conclusions highlight key directions for improving performance: integrated soil and weed management, optimization of input use, and strengthening of technical capacity, while leveraging the competitive advantage of local viticulture.

This study presents an integrated evaluation of soil fertility, bonitation scores, and crop suitability in two representative agricultural localities from the Western Romanian Plain: Periam and Sânnicolau Mare (Timiș County). In Periam, representative soil profiles were analyzed at two depths (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm), and laboratory determinations focused on key agrochemical parameters (pH, humus, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and potassium), physical properties (bulk density, texture), and hydrophysical indicators. Data from Sânnicolau Mare were integrated comparatively based on regional pedological reports and scientific literature. Results highlighted the predominance of chernozems in both localities, accompanied by gleysols in poorly drained microdepression areas, where lower pH values and higher bulk density were recorded.Statistical analyses revealed significant relationships between pH, humus, and nutrient availability, emphasizing the role of organic matter and water regime in determining the actual fertility of soils. PCA clearly differentiated samples by soil type and locality, confirming the superior fertility of well-drained chernozems in Sânnicolau Mare compared to those in Periam. Bonitation scores placed the soils predominantly in quality classes II–III, with potential decreases to class III–IV in gleysols affected by temporary water excess. Applying ameliorative practices (drainage, deep loosening, liming, legume-based rotations) may increase bonitation scores by 5–10 points, thus improving productive capacity.Overall, the study provides a robust scientific basis for adopting sustainable land management practices, demonstrating that combining pedological analyses with bonitation evaluation and modern statistical tools is an effective approach for optimizing agricultural land use in the Western Romanian Plain.

The purpose of this work is to determine and analyze the laws of motion (velocities and accelerations) of the components of the cutting mechanisms in order to evaluate and optimize their performance, precision and durability. The present work aims to carry out a detailed kinematic study of the connecting rod-crank mechanism, having as its main objective the determination of the position, velocity and acceleration equations for the translation element (piston) as a function of the geometric parameters (length of the connecting rod and crank) and the angular velocity.The results obtained will serve as a basis for the analysis of the performances and for the formulation of constructive optimization proposals in specific applications, such as agricultural machinery. From the analysis of the kinematic parameters of the connecting rod-crank mechanism, the following can be formulated:The kinematic parameters show that in the case of agricultural machinery (mowers), the obtained speed profile allows the choice of an optimal operating regime, ensuring a sufficiently high cutting speed at the moment of impact with the plant, while minimizing excessive dynamic loads when reversing the movement.

This paper addresses the importance of using pedological data in assessing the suitability of land for major agricultural crops, in the current context of climate change and the need for sustainable natural resource management. The analysis of physical, chemical and biological properties of soil – including texture, pH, humus content and water retention capacity – provides a solid basis for classifying land according to its productive potential. The study combines traditional methods of mapping and pedological analysis with modern GIS technologies and spatial models, allowing the development of precise suitability maps for crops such as wheat, maize, sunflower and potato. The results indicate that chernozem soils represent the most favourable category, followed by luvisols and alluvial soils, which can be improved by soil improvement measures.Based on the data obtained and recent research in the field, the paper emphasizes the need for the permanent integration of soil information in agricultural planning and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices to preserve soil fertility. The use of these tools contributes to the optimization of agricultural production, environmental protection and ensuring long-term food security.The integrated use of soil data and GIS technologies supports agricultural decisions, contributing to the optimization of production and the sustainable management of soil resources.

The basic problems of Banat agriculture, as well as that of Romania and everywhere else, are related to increasing agricultural production and increasing soil fertility. The maximum utilization of the entire agricultural area of Banat requires a thorough knowledge of the natural conditions and, first of all, of soils, as a means of production in agriculture, which synthesize, through their properties, the influence of all natural and anthropogenic factors.In this context, I set out to review the main natural factors that contribute to the smooth development of agricultural activities in the southwestern part of Romania, especially plant production, with special reference to the soil, this huge „factory” for transforming energy and substances from the environment into plant biomass.In the complex of measures aimed at the intensive development of agriculture, an important place belongs to the rational use of land. However, given the limited possibilities for expanding agricultural lands, their prudent use and a permanent increase in soil fertility are required.

Research Journal of Agricultural Science