Soil Suitability Assesment for Plum (Prunus domestica) Production in the Municipality of Bužim

Authors

  • Mirsad Ičanović University of Bihać, Biotechnical Faculty, FBiH
  • Husnija Kudić Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry, FBiH
  • Mihajlo Marković University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Agriculture, Republic of Srpska

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7251/AGREN1801041I

Abstract

Amateurish and unprofessional handling of agricultural resources has lasting und unprecedented consequences for plant production, manifesting itself through the loss of soil quality, reduced crop yields, soil erosion, etc. The main focus of this research was to establish the characteristics of the agricultural soil within the municipality of Bužim, applying the FAO method AEZ (Agro-ecological Zoning), (FAO, 1978), and based on the achieved results, to assess the soil suitability for plum (Prunus domestica) cultivation. The assessment of the soil suitability has led to the conclusion that a significant part of land (classified S1 to N in quality), out of the total 13.026,27 ha of agricultural area belonging to the municipality of Bužim is well suited for fruit production. The following has been observed: areas with the best rated S1 class make up a total of 1.23% (159.52 ha), the S2 class takes up a total of 5.51% (717.24 ha), the S3 suitable class makes up a 2.29 % (298.24 ha) in total, and the largest area totaling 36.68 % (4.772.60 ha) is classified as N - meaning unsuitable soil. The main restraints imposed on intensive plum cultivation within the examined area are lack of nourishment, tilt, depth, rock-strewn soil and soil reaction.

Published

2018-06-04

Issue

Section

Articles