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Lime application combined with complementary sustainable management practices increases crop yields, but liming is only modestly applied in Serbia. This study investigated the influence of liming (1000 kg/ha) combined with the common application of mineral fertilizers on maize yield and the chemical properties of pseudogley soil. The experiment was conducted near Kraljevo, Western Serbia, on the maize hybrid ZP 606 sown in a two-year monoculture. The experiment had three treatments: fertilizer, fertilizer + lime, and a control treatment. The soil is acid, poor in humus, and contains an increased content of mobile aluminum. There was a significant increase in yield under the fertilizer and lime + fertilizer treatments, compared to the control. The yield of maize in the limed treatment was 4.4–9% higher than in the fertilizer treatment. The positive effects of liming on soil are related to an increase in pH, base saturation, and available phosphorus, and a decrease in available aluminum. In the fertilizer treatment, there was a small decrease in pH and base saturation, whereas the amount of aluminum remained high, indicating that the further application of fertilizers without lime can increase aluminum content and foster its toxicity. The long-term sustainability of maize production in Serbia should include liming as a regular management practice on pseudogley soil, with the utilization of smaller doses of lime because of the potential CO2 effects. To improve soil health, food, and environmental security, and to incorporate new crops, developing a framework promoting liming as a sustainable management practice is of high importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes and classifies the soils of the foot and toe slopes of the Vukan Mountain, Central Serbia, the contact point of two distinct geomorphological units, with a focus on their spatial distribution and their main soil-forming processes. The Vukan Mountain is formed of Jurassic limestones and dolomites, whereas the foot and toe slopes are of fluviatile-colluvial origin. A total of 42 soil profiles were examined. Soil profile locations were determined with respect to elevation differences, accounting for a set of six profiles for every 5-m elevation increase between 175 and 210 m a.s.l. The area is characterized by the dominance of chernic and mollic topsoil horizons and the major part of the area is covered with Phaeozems. Five Reference Soil Groups were found in a very small area. Eleven soil profiles are Chernic Phaeozems, five are Cambic Phaeozems, and twelve are Rendzic Phaeozems. The central part of the study area is characterized by the accumulation of secondary carbonates and Chernozems were identified. The northern part of the study area is covered with Fluvisols, Calcisols, and Leptic Rendzic Phaeozems, whereas Chernic and Cambic Phaeozems and Eutric Cambisols cover the western part of the study area. The differences in the CaCO 3 content in the gravels, the differences in the gravel content, and the different lateral and vertical distribution of CaCO 3 are strong evidence of surface processes that occurred in the past. The presence of different geological layers and buried horizons suggests fluviatile processes. The spatial distribution of soils is related mainly to parent material occurrence, and colluvial and alluvial processes that occurred in the past. The soil map created in GIS has Reference Soil Group as central unit following Rule 1 for map legend creation, except in the case of Phaeozems, which are present as Phaeozems (Leptic) and Phaeozems (other) following Rule 5. This soil survey with approximately one soil profile per 4 ha has indicated considerable soil heterogeneity in the study area. Detailed surveys are therefore recommended for areas with pronounced heterogeneity of soil-forming factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of soil erosion rate and its spatial distribution in the hilly-mountainous Nisava River basin was conducted by Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) model through a GIS-based approach. A Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) image and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were used for the determination of crop management factor. The average annual soil loss was estimated at 13.1 t·ha-1 ·yr-1 , classifying the Nisava River basin under the high erosion rate category. About 44.1% of the watershed area was characterized by slight erosion rate (< 5 t·ha-1 ·yr-1), 15.5% of the area was found to be under moderate erosion rate (5-10 t·ha-1), 18.9% of the area was under high erosion rate (10-20 t·ha-1), while around 14.4% of the area was under a very high erosion rate (20-40 t·ha-1 ·yr-1). Severe erosion rates (40-80 t·ha-1·yr-1) were observed at 5.9% of the study area (168 km² ), whereas very severe erosion rate (>80 t·ha-1·yr-1) described about 1.3% of the watershed (35.9 km²). The highest erosion was found on a sloppy terrain with agricultural activity. The results of this work are in agreement with previous studies conducted in the watershed, which indicates the presented methodology could be applied with eventual further improvements for the evaluation of erosion factors on soil resources in Serbia when limited data are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbially mediated soil organic matter is an extremely sensitive pool that indicates subtle changes in the quality parameters. The calculation of different carbon pools (organic carbon—OC, labile carbon—PMC, light carbon—LFC and microbial carbon—MBC), their sequestration rate (Csr) and efficiency (Cse), as affected by 50 yrs. of mineral fertilization, was carried out. The C sequestration rates between the fertilized plots were not significantly different except for the control plot. The sensitivity index, which indicates the response of soil organic matter to changes in different carbon fractions, demonstrated a strong correlation with the amount of light-fraction organic matter (OM). The use of mineral N over 50 years resulted in increase of soil labile C, but did not result in greater C sequestration efficiency. The results give a deeper insight into the behavior of carbon pools and can serve as a reliable basis for further studies focused on neutral carbon emissions and effective C sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to compare soil particle density (ρs), soil total porosity (TP), liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL), and plasticity index, and their relations with soil organic matter (SOM), of non-carbonate silty clay Fluvisols under different land uses. Three neighboring land uses were studied: native deciduous forest, arable land, and meadow, managed in the same way for more than 100 years. Soil was collected from 27 soil profiles and from three depths (0–15, 15–30 and 30–45 cm). Land use caused statistically significant but different impacts on soil properties, particularly in the topsoil. The forest topsoil measured the lowest ρs and bulk density (ρb) but the highest SOM and soil water content at PL, compared to meadow and arable soil. Statistically significant linear relationship was observed with the SOM content and ρs (− 0.851**), ρb (− 0.567**), calculated TP (0.567**) and measured TP (− 0.280**). There was a nonlinear relationship between SOM and LL (0.704**) and PL (0.845**) at the topsoil. The findings suggested that SOM content strongly affected ρs, ρb, TP, LL and LP. This regional study showed that the conversion of forestland into agricultural land without appropriate measures to conserve SOM leads to the degradation of physical and rheological soil properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of water balance simulations on winter wheat production in the area around Bijelo Polje. Winter wheat production over three years and on two soil types has been simulated with the CROPWAT and ISAREG models. The simulated results have proved variations between the two models and the measured yield. Crop evapotranspiration ranges between 304.5 to 463.3 mm. The relative yield obtained after the simulations is very similar to the relative yield obtained on a measured basis, except in the 2008/2009 season. Net irrigation requirements (NIR) to obtain the maximum yield are higher at 49-116 mm in the simulations with the CROPWAT model. The total NIR to maximize yield ranges between 84-300 mm depending on the season and model. Water use efficiency ranges from 0.82 to 1.28 kg/m³. The obtained results verified both models as good tools for determining winter wheat water balance and indicated that winter wheat yields could be improved with irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorption behaviour of the herbicide clomazone on inorganic and organically modified montmorillonite from the Bogovina deposit in Serbia was investigated. Montmorillonite was modified first with NaCl and then with organic complexes such as hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA) and phenyltrimethylammonium chloride (PTMA). Changes in the surface properties and morphology of the montmorillonite before and after the modification with various concentrations of organic complexes were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Adsorption of clomazone on all examined samples was investigated using the batch adsorption method. Montmorillonite modified with HDTMA-bromide displayed greater uptake of the clomazone compared to the PTMA-montmorillonite, and both organically modified montmorillonites displayed greater uptake of the herbicide compared to the inorganic montmorillonite. Comparing the Freundlich coefficient and maximum adsorbed clomazone quantity values obtained by Langmuir model, the levels of adsorption of clomazone decreased in the following order: HDTMA-montmorillonite with 1.00 cation-exchange capacity (CEC) saturation > HDTMA-montmorillonite with 0.75 CEC saturation > PTMA-montmorillonite with 1.00 CEC saturation > PTMA-montmorillonite with 0.75 CEC saturation > HDTMA-montmorillonite with 0.50 CEC saturation > HDTMA-montmorillonite with 0.25 CEC saturation > PTMA-montmorillonite with 0.50 CEC saturation > PTMA-montmorillonite with 0.25 CEC saturation > Na-montmorillonite > raw sample. The type and content of an organic cation plays an important role in the behaviour of clomazone in a solid/liquid system. It is concluded that organically modified montmorillonite from Bogovina might be used as an effective adsorbent for clomazone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • High yield of soybean corresponds to actual evapotranspiration above 380 mm independently of precipitation. • A sum of precipitation and irrigation should be between 350 and 400 mm for high yield. • The I 65 treatment is recommended for soybean cultivation in a temperate climate. • In moderately dry years, irrigation of about 120 mm gives high yields, WP and IWP. • A significant quadratic relation between seed yield and crop ET was observed in non-wet years. Abstract In temperate climatic regions, agricultural production depends on precipitation amount and its distribution during the growing season. A 3-year field study was conducted to investigate the effects of different irrigation regimes on yield parameters and water productivity of sprinkler-irrigated soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.], grown under wet, semi-dry and dry conditions in a temperate environment. Four irrigation levels were applied: full irrigation (I 100 ), 65% and 40% of full irrigation (I 65 and I 40 ) and non-irrigated control (I 0 ). On average, the I 0 treatment resulted in the highest harvest index (HI) and I 100 produced the lowest HI. A significant quadratic correlation between seed yield and crop water use was observed in dry and semi-dry year. The irrigation regime significantly influenced seed yield and water use. I 65 treatment produced the highest seed yield (3.69 t ha–1) and showed the highest water productivity (WP) (0.90 kg m–3) and irrigation WP (1.08 kg m–3). The present study indicated that irrigation is necessary for soybean cultivation in semi-dry and dry years i.e., when seasonal precipitation is lower than about 300 mm. In wet years, with a favourable amount and distribution of precipitation during the growing season, yields are similar to those achieved with irrigation and high ET values of soybean are attributable to increased evaporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Vojvodina region, water deficit during the growing season is a major factor limiting maize production. Therefore, to achieve the ideal soil water content in this region, it is of crucial importance to optimize irrigation. The effects of different irrigation levels with sprinkler irrigation system on crop yield, yield components, water use, water (WUE) and irrigation water use (IWUE) efficiency of maize ( Zea mays L.) were investigated in Vojvodina (northern Serbia), on a Calcaric Chernozem soil in temperate environment for 3 consecutive years (2006–2008). Maize was subjected to four irrigation regimes, as follows: non-limited irrigation ( I 100 ), 75% of non-limited irrigation ( I 75 ), 50% of non-limited irrigation ( I 50 ), and rainfed (non-irrigated) as the control ( I 0 ). The irrigation treatments were arranged in a complete randomized block design with 4 replicates. Results showed that maize grown in rainfed conditions had high annual variability, mainly due to amount of rainfall and its distribution during the crop-growing seasons. A significant irrigation effect was found for yield, yield components and others investigated parameters under study. Water stress had significant impact on yield response: as an average of the three years, a grain yield increase of 47.8, 32.8, and 22.9% was observed in I 100 , I 75 and I 50 treatments compared to rainfed ( I 0 ) treatment, respectively. Yield increased linearly with seasonal crop evapotranspiration and irrigation amount. Furthermore, WUE is maximized with a moderate water deficit ( I 50 ), while IWUE is the highest in I 100 treatment. The deficit irrigation stress index, DISI, decreased with increasing irrigation rate. The results revealed that irrigation is necessary for maize cultivation because rainfall is insufficient to meet the crop water needs in Vojvodina. In addition, the study indicated that the irrigation regime of 25% water saving ( I 75 ) could ensure satisfactory grain yield of maize and increment of WUE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]