PROJECT SUMMARY

Research of conservation systems in agricultural soils management, as well as the positive results of their application, in light of present time's rise of environmental, climate, economic and other challenges, presents the utmost imperative for successful and sustainable agricultural production. The soil is increasingly being emphasized as the center of events and the source of numerous environmental-anthropogenic intertwined interactions. Due to soil degradation, one of the primal environmental integrators, the proper functioning of the agro-ecological system becomes unstable and questionable. The aim of these studies is to determine the level of degradation of selected components of the physical, chemical and biological soil complexes by comparison of conventional and conservation soil tillage systems. Also, defining positive measures and procedures for stopping, preventing and mitigating anthropogenic and natural degradation processes in the soil at different agro-ecological research sites will be of great pertinence to environmental protection, agricultural producers, scientific and professional community, decision-makers, and will certainly serve as a basis for further scientific research.

 

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND AND THE SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTION OF THE PROJECT

Increasing degradation of agricultural soils caused by a number of natural and anthropogenic factors puts the role of conservation soil tillage as a measure that is able to cope with these problems, following the principles of sustainable soil management. Conservation soil tillage as one of the fundamental postulates of conservation agriculture represent an approach to managing agro-ecosystems for improved and sustained productivity, increased profits and food security while preserving and enhancing the resource base and the environment. Applying the conservation soil tillage principles improves soil quality, optimizes crop yields and reduces investment costs in agricultural production. Adopting the conservation soil tillage principles agricultural activity can significantly reduce the negative impact on physical, chemical and biological complex of the soil, as well as other natural processesl. Previous research carried out these issues and in the ways of the proposed implementation, in Croatia are largely unsystematic, inconsistent and in any case insufficient, with the study only of the segments implemented by conservation soil tillage. Previous research not included a complex approach to conservation agriculture research, with the integration of its basic postulates, as proposed by this project.