ROMANIA
AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION CONTROL PROJECT
Assessment of Land Use Suitability
and
Programs for Testing/Demonstration of
Environment-friendly Agricultural Practices
and Agroforestry
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION: ORIGIN AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT ...................................... 8
1.1 BACKGROUND................................................................................................................................ 8
1.2 OBJECTIVES................................................................................................................................... 8
2. PROJECT BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................... 9
2.1 GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION..................................................................................................... 9
2.2 LOCAL CLIMATE........................................................................................................................... 9
2.3 SOILS ............................................................................................................................................ 10
2.5 FLORA .......................................................................................................................................... 10
2.6 FAUNA ......................................................................................................................................... 11
2.7 SUMMARY OF LAND USE SYSTEMS.............................................................................................. 11
2.8 INFORMATION ON CROPPING AND LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS.......................................................... 12
3. EVALUATION OF AVAILABLE DATA AND MAPS......................................................................... 16
3.1 LIST OF AVAILABLE DATA AND MAPS......................................................................................... 16
3.2 RESULTS OF FIELD VERIFICATION ............................................................................................. 17
3.3 DESCRIPTION OF LAND USE SUITABILITY SUPPORTED WITH MAP(S) ..................................... 18
3.4 LAND USE SUITABILITY MAP(S) AT 1:10 000 .............................................................................. 20
3.5 ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS.................................................................................................. 21
3.6 COLLATION AND MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION.................................................................. 22
4. RECOMMENDATION FOR TRIAL AND DEMONSTRATION OF ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY
AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ................................................................................................................ 25
4.1 EVALUATION OF EXISTING PRACTICES AND CONSTRAINTS TO ADOPTION OF IMPROVED
PRACTICES ......................................................................................................................................... 25
4.2 RECOMMENDED PRACTICES BY SUB-ZONE................................................................................ 26
4.3 CRITERIA FOE SELECTING SITES FOR TESTING AND DEMONSTRATING PROGRAM................ 28
4.4 FIRST YEAR PROGRAM ................................................................................................................ 28
4.5 INDICATIVE 2 5 YEAR PROGRAMME ........................................................................................ 29
4.6 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS TO EVALUATE IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND
THE ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................................................... 30
4.6.1 Indicators for Soil Quality Evaluation..................................................................................30
4.6.2 Indicators for Farming Systems Productivity Evaluation ..................................................30
4.6.3 Indicators for water quality evaluation ................................................................................30
5. RECOMMENDATION FOR TRIAL AND DEMONSTRATION OF AGROFORESTRY
PRACTICES .................................................................................................................................................. 32
5.1 EVALUATION OF EXISTING PRACTICES AND CONSTRAINTS TO ADOPTION OF IMPROVED
PRACTICES ......................................................................................................................................... 32
5.2 RECOMMENDED PRACTICES BY SUB-ZONE................................................................................ 33
5.3 CRITERIA FOR SELECTING SITES FOR TESTING AND DEMONSTRATING.................................. 34
2
5.4 FIRST YEAR PROGRAM ................................................................................................................ 34
5.5 INDICATIVE 2 - 5 YEAR PROGRAM .............................................................................................. 35
5.6 INDICATORS TO EVALUATE AGRO-FORESTRY PRACTICES ON ON AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTIVITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT......................................................................................... 35
6. ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................ 36
6.1 THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ..................................... 36
6.2 THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES..................................... 37
7. TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL WORK DEEMED NECESSARY TO
IMPROVE LAND USE SUITABILITY DATA ......................................................................................... 38
7.1 BACKGROUND.............................................................................................................................. 38
7.2 OBJECTIVES................................................................................................................................. 39
7.3 REQUIREMENTS........................................................................................................................... 39
7.4 DELIVERABLES ............................................................................................................................ 39
3
ANNEXES
Annex 1 Judetul Calarasi Pilot area
Annex 2 Soils of pilot area
Annex 3 Code of good practice for the protection of polder waters and soils
Annex 4 Questionnaire
Annex 5 - Diary
4
ROMANIA
AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION CONTROL PROJECT
Acknowledgements
The consultants team expresses it's appreciation for the professional and kindly support provided by the
Preparation Project Unit team - Stefan Nicolau, Dana Velicu and Gabriel Vulpe, managers of DGA engr.
Aurel Dobre , OJCA engr. Anton Magearu, OSPA engr.Elena Marin, and farming companies Dr.
Constantin Necsulescu, engr. Gabriel Radulescu, engr. Vasile Bogatu and engr. Maria Dragomir, as well as
by the mayors team - Pavel Petre, Iancu Florian, Toma Gheorghe, Iliuta Vasile, Anghel Constantin, Sultan
Gheorghe and Vaideanu Cornelia, of the individual project communes Ciocanesti, Gradistea, Cuza Voda,
Vilcele, Independenta, Al. Odobescu and Vlad Tepes. Without their serious work the preparation of this
report would not have been possible.
November 2000
5
Executive Summary
The relationship between agriculture and the environment is a close one with agricultural activities having
both positive and negative impacts on the environment. The challenge is to minimise negative
environmental impacts and enhance positive ones, whilst still ensuring a livelihood for the farmer.
The overall project development objective of the Agricultural Pollution Control Project (APCP) is to
increase significantly the use of environment-friendly agricultural practices in the project area and thereby
reduce pollution from agricultural sources in Romania to the Danube River and Black Sea. In support of this
objective, the project will assist the Government of Romania to: (i) promote the adoption of environment-
friendly agricultural practices by farmers' associations, family farms and individual farmers in seven
communas of the Calarasi Judet (county); (ii) promote ecologically sustainable land use in the Boianu-
Sticleanu Polder including a conservation management plan for the Iezer Calarasi water body; (iii) strengthen
national policy and local regulatory capacity; and (iv) promote regional level collaboration. The project,
envisaged as a pilot activity in the Calariasi county in the southern part of Romania, along the lower Danube,
will be replicated in similar sites in Romania which will, in the long term, reduce the discharge of nutrients
and other agricultural pollutants and yield substantial benefits in terms of improved quality of Romanian
surface and ground waters and the Black Sea.
Concerning the project area 87% of the total territory is agricultural, 3.5 % is water land and 1.9% woodland.
In the last decade, the Romanian Governments have promoted the privatisation of agriculture. However, this
privatisation has been accompanied by damaging effects on the environment. In fact, the agriculture systems
associated with the project area are mainly characterised by monocropping or short crop rotation, intensive
tilling, straw burning and forest vegetation clearing which have negative effects on soil, water quality, bio-
diversity and the landscape as well as on farm productivity.
In the project area, it is arguable that the most significant impact on the environment, caused by agricultural
activities is soil degradation and the decrease of soil organic matter. Historically, intensive tillage of
agricultural soils (e.g. mouldboard ploughing and straw burning) has led to substantial losses of soil carbon
(C), frequently over 50% in the 20-30 years. Soil erosion appears to be minimal, although water erosion
occurs on some of the gentle slopes associated with the riparian zones of the terrace area and wind erosion is
a localised problem in some zones of the polder and terrace areas.
Water quality has seriously deteriorated due to poor management of livestock and human wastes. Run off
and drainage of nutrients from livestock waste platforms and latrines are by far the most important
contaminants of surface and ground waters.
The bio-diversity is reduced and unbalanced by substitution of flora and fauna with crops, domestic animals
and associated pests and diseases. Indeed, the agricultural landscape of the project area has been
significantly denuded, particularly with the development of the polder area. No longer is there a mosaic of
wetlands associated with the polder which in the past would have provided a rich habitat for flora and fauna
and, acted as a biological filter to nutrient pollution and sediment transport. Associated with the polder is a
unique micro-climate that is quite different to that of the former natural habitat. The landscape is typically
flat with a patchwork of depressions of various sizes in polder area and sloping lands leading into ephemeral
or permanent drainage areas. The landscape is dominated by agriculture that is mainly arable with some
grassland areas to support livestock. Bisecting this landscape is poorly maintained irrigation and drainage
canals and un-metaled farm tracks, as well as a multitude of plots, some windbreaks, and a number of 21
villages in terrace area. The desertification risk is significant for this area, since agroforestry and other
environmental friendly agricultural practices does not be used.
Environmentally-friendly agricultural and agroforestry practices refer to several practices which enhance the
soils fertility, improve the waters quality, recover of bio-diversity, reduce desertification risk and increase
farms productivity. These conservation practices include management of crop rotation, nutrients and pests,
conservation tillage soil and mulch tillage, narrow vegetative barriers or hedge rows, riparian buffers, tree
6
planting and other specific practices as filter strips in polder area, windbreaks in terrace area, as well as land
reclamation, wellhead protection, home garden and management of livestock and human wastes in village
areas.
The success of the project depends on financial support to design a crop rotation, fertiliser and manure
management regime, and pest and diseases control that will enhance the area environmentally, whilst
creating and maintaining the livelihoods of farmers. Associated with this is a requirement to afforest parts
of the project area thereby creating new habitats and landscape elements. In addition, and perhaps most
importantly, will be the need to communicate to the rural population of the project area, and other
stakeholders the benefits of integrating environmental actions into the farming systems through
demonstration farms and publicity campaigns. Allied to this will be the need to engage the farming
community in testing and applying new techniques and practices in a fully participatory manner thereby
ensuring rapid take-up of appropriate technologies. This will partly be achieved by testing and
demonstrating conservation tillage, manure management and specific agroforestry practices in four places
located in on the polder (2) , agricultural terrace and village areas.
An environmental information system will be developed, based on geographical information system (GIS)
technology that will integrate much of the data collected throughout the duration of the project. The system
will provide the scope to manipulate and analyse the data and provide a tool for effective communication to a
variety of stakeholders based on maps and associated tabular data.
7
1. Introduction: Origin and Objectives of the Assignment
1.1 Background
Agriculture can have a positive and negative impact on the environment. The principle negative effects of
agriculture on the environment include:
- poor water quality due to contamination by sediment, nitrates, and pesticides;
- soil degradation including soil erosion, compaction, crusting and organic matter depletion;
- landscape degradation; and
- loss of bio-diversity and habitats.
The essential goal of the project is to reduce the discharge of nutrients and other agricultural pollutants into
the Danube River and Black Sea through improved land and water management, whereby the negative
impact of agricultural activities on the environment are reduced. The pilot project, will be implemented in
southern Romania in the Calarasi county, and will be replicated in similar sites in Romania resulting , in the
long term, in the reduction of agricultural pollutants and yield substantial benefits in terms of improved
quality of Romanian surface and ground waters draining to the Black Sea.
1.2 Objectives
The project will assist the Government of Romania to:
- promote the adoption of environment - friendly agricultural practices by agricultural companies,
farmers associations, family associations and individual farmers;
- promote ecologically sustainable land use of rivers meadow area, including a conservation
management plan for the waters body;
- strengthen national and local policy and regulatory capacity; and
- promote regional level collaboration.
The project aims to significantly increase the use of environmentally friendly agricultural and agroforestry
practices in the pilot area and other similar areas.
The objectives of this report are to:
(a)
briefly outline the important environmental problems caused by agriculture in pilot area;
(b)
prepare a land use suitability map for this area and;
(c)
recommend testing / demonstration programs for introducing environmentally-friendly
agricultural and agroforestry practices.
8
2. Project Background
The background information is based on primary and secondary data collection. Most data were collected
through observations and interviews with individual farmers and other important informants from
communes, farming associations and agricultural companies. In addition local government and government
agencies were consulted for example the Environmental Inspectorate of Calarasi. The data collection and
analysis was carried out over a period of less than one month and in the absence of up to date reports or
information concerning climate, farming systems, soil quality or condition, land use change or land
suitability. Consequently, this report reflects expert opinion and informed judgement based on the rapid
rural appraisal of local stakeholders and available data and is presented here as a geographical description of
the pilot area, summary of land use systems, information on cropping and livestock systems, evaluation of
available data and maps and recommendations concerning agriculturally practices that will enhance the local
environment.
2.1 Geographical description
The pilot area is situated in South-eastern part of Romania, in the Calarasi county and includes the territory
of 21 villages in seven communes: Ciocanesti (4), Gradistea (4), Cuza Voda (3), Independenta (3),
Alexandru Odobescu (3), Vlad Tepes(2) and Vīlcele (2).
The pilot area covers two distinct landscape elements (see Annex 1 for detail):
- A water meadow in the south (part of the Danube floodplain) and abutting the River Danube
and;
- plain in north , on the terrace of Danube.
The southern part of the pilot area, formerly a flood plain area that was drained and transformed in the
1960's to productive agricultural land. This area, know as the Boianu - Sticleanu polder falls within the
Ciocanesti, Gradistea and Cuza Voda communes, as well as the Dorobantu commune and Calarasi
municipium. The landscape is typically flat and uniform with a patchwork of depressions of various sizes.
The land is drained, although this system is not well managed and frequently these depressions become water
logged. At the northeastern end of the polder area is a large expanse of freshwater, the Iezer Calarasi,
providing an important habitat for water birds. The immediate area around the southern part of this water
body is grassland. Along the edge of the Danube River, and at the southern extremity of the polder, is an
area of natural vegetation and wetlands including forest areas. The landscape is bisected be an extensive
network of poorly maintained irrigation and drainage canals and unmetaled farm tracks. Field size is large (>
50 ha), with few physical field boundaries or natural areas of vegetation. There are no villages associated
with the polder area and only some farm buildings.
The northern part of pilot area, the terrace area, falls within the Ciocanesti, Gradistea, Cuza Voda,
Independenta, Al.Odobescu, Vlad Tepes and Vilcele communes. The terrace area has a uniform topography
being largely flat with sloping lands leading into ephemeral or permanent drainage canals. The southern 'tail'
of the terrace slopes gently down onto the floodplain of the Danube. The landscape is dominated by
agriculture that is mainly arable with some grassland areas to support livestock. Fields vary in size some are
very large (> 50 ha) whilst others, mainly associated with farmers growing vegetables or potatoes for their
own consumption, are small (< 0.5 has). , There are few physical field boundaries creating a landscape that
should be considered as 'open' and therefore exacerbating problems such as wind erosion. Bisecting this
landscape is artificial irrigation and drainage canals (poorly maintained), an irregular network of windbreaks,
and a number of small villages. The transport network is well established, although not dense, the major
roads sealed with a high density of unmetaled farm tracks.
2.2 Local climate
The climate of the project area is temperate - continental with average air temperature of 110 C. Yearly
rainfall is about 520 mm of which 67 % falls in the growing season of crops (April - October). Also, during
9
the growing season the sun shines from 190 to 316 hours/month, and air humidity falls below 80 % (table
1). Average annual frequency and velocity values indicate predominant winds from North and West.
Table 1 Average monthly climate parameters
Parameters
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
Air temperature (C0) -
2 1 6 12 17 21 23 22 17 12 7 1
Rainfall
(mm)
31 32 32 34 64 68 54 53 42 32 39 35
Sunshine ( hours)
65 91 138 195 253 280 316 299 231 190 93 50
Air
humidity
(%)
86 84 78 71 70 69 68 69 73 78 84 87
Source: Calarasi climate station
The data indicates that there are four seasons associated with the project area:
a long winter (~120 days);
two normal seasons - spring (~ 90 days) and summer (~100 days) and:
a short autumn (~ 45 days).
In this area the crops and livestock productions are limited by drought and intense heat in summer time, as
well as by frost and snow and cold north-westerly winds in the winter.
2.3 Soils
The soils of pilot area are mainly uniform characterised in general by alluvial soils in the polder area and
chernozems in terrace area (see Annex 2).
More specifically the polder area is characterised by three alluvial soils:
chernozems (~ 5%) associated with higher lying land;
gley soils (~ 27 %) associated with the former Boianu and Sticleanu lakes;
and typical alluvial soils (~ 68 %) covering the remainder of the area.
Agricultural yields of this area are limited by soil salinity, occasional flooding and moisture, alkalinity, low
organic matter content, crusts, compaction and, some times, wind erosion.
The terrace area is characterised by two chernozem like soils:
typical chernozem (~ 40 %);
and cambic chernozem (~ 60 %).
These soils, generally, have a high production potential with few limitations for arable production although
they do suffer from compaction and depletion of organic matter content.
2.5 Flora
The flora is determinated by the relief and pedo-climatic characteristics associated with the project area. For
the polder area, the representative species of natural flora are the sedge (Carex sp.), the reed mace (Typha
sp.), the reed (Phragmites communis), the couch grass (Agropyrum repens), dutch rush (Blysmus sp.), the
duckweed (Lemna sp.), the willow (Salix sp.), the poplar (Populus sp.) and algae in canal ditches.
Poa bulbosa, the brome grass (Bromus inermis), Hordeum murinum, hair grass (Festuca pseudovina), the
feather grass (Stipa pennata), beard grass (Andropogon ischaemum), meadow sage (Salvia pratensis), vetch
(Vicia sp.), crown vetch (Coronila varia), Astragalus cicer, the chicory (Cichorium sp.), burdock (Xanthium
10
spinosum), motherwort (Artemisia sp.), thistle (Cardus sp.), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), wild rose (Rosa
canina), blackberry bush (Rubus sp.) and Robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia) are the main flora species of the
terrace area.
For both area the natural vegetation has been mostly replaced by agricultural crops - barley, wheat, oilseed
rape, peas, soybean, bean, sunflower, vegetable, forage crops and typical agricultural weeds including
Sorghum halepense, bristle grass (Setaria sp.), thistle (Cirsium arvense), bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis),
volunteer oilseed rape and burdock (Xanthium).
2.6 Fauna
The pilot areas fauna can be grouped, more or less, by zones according to each species characteristics.
Therefore, the polder is dominated by aquatic fauna - 13 birds sp., 7 mammals sp., 3 reptiles sp., 2
amphibians sp., 7 fish sp. and 4 mollusc species. The terrace area is mainly associated with domestic
animals - cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, dogs and poultry, as well as by wild animals typical of the steppe
including hares, fox, deer, wild boars, ground squirrels, mute, mice, rats, crows, magpies, wood - peckers,
starlings, skylarks, sparrow, ringdoves, pheasants, partridges and other many woodland birds.
2.7 Summary of land use systems
The study area covers a total area of 78371 ha (approximately 15 % of the total area of the Calarasi county)
of which 70 % is the terrace and 30 % the polder area (Table 2). The land of the pilot area is divided by
seven administrative areas or communes, 3 Danubian communes (Ciocanesti, Gradistea and Cuza Voda),
placed in close vicinity to the polder area.and another four communes associated with the terrace.
The land of the pilot area is mainly used for agricultural production. The remaining area (6 - 17%) is
covered by waters and ponds, forest vegetation, buildings, and roads.
The agricultural area is almost arable. The other agricultural land categories are insignificant in terms of land
area (although they may have a significant impact in terms of agricultural pollution sources e.g. manure
platforms, livestock units) except vineyards which cover 1.3 - 2.8% of the agricultural area. There are few
natural pastures and meadowsand perennial and annual forage crop area is also very low comparative with
livestock needs.
There are three different types of land property rights (i) state land, located mostly on the polder; (ii) public
land situated around communes and (iii) private land mainly associated with the terrace area.
More specifically for the polder area:
- the state land is covered by field crops (21449 ha), natural pastures (20 ha), vineyards (21 ha),
forest (14 ha), waters and ponds (1391 ha), roads and buildings (311 ha) and unproductive land
(139 ha);
- The agricultural land is managed by three state farming companies - CERES Ciocanesti (6048
ha), AGROSERVCOM Gradistea (4254 ha) and AGROZOOTEHNICA Mircea Voda (6055 ha);
- the forest land is managed by the National Forestry Organisation and;
- land associated with Iezer Calarasi by Piscicola Calarasi.
For the terrace area:
- the public land is covered by natural pastures (366 ha) and roads and it is managed by
mayoralties;
- the private land is, generally, arable land and it is managed by farming companies, farming
associations and individual farmers. Every commune has at least one farming association
constituted on former agricultural co-operative frame, one farming company constituted by
former agricultural mechanisation station and a great number of small family associations and
individual farmers. This land is not merged, each farming enterprise having many plots of
11
different sizes and spread over a large area. Land ownership is becoming increasingly
fragmented as a result of inheritance.
2.8 Information on cropping and livestock systems
This section summaries the characteristics of the farming systems associated with the project area and
includes information on crop rotation, soil tillage, fertilisers and fertilisation, crop protection, irrigation and
crop yields, and livestock systems, feeding systems, manure management and so on.
In general the crop rotation differs for State managed farms compared to privately owed enterprises, for
example:
-
State enterprises: wheat + barley - wheat + peas (rape) + sunflower - soyabean - maize;
-
Private enterprises: wheat - wheat - maize - (maize) - sunflower.
Field cultivation practices are similar for both farming systems i.e. mouldboard tillage and disk harrow.
Table 2 Existing "LAND USE" in pilot area
Land use
Communes
(hectares)
Total
Ciocanesti Gradistea Cuza Independenta Al. Vlad
Vilcele
Voda
Odobescu
Tepes
1. Agricultural area
10832 14984 12433
5507
5775 6468 5720 61719
- in polder
3795
8161
2747
0
0
0
0
14703
- in terrace
7037
6823
9686
5507
5775
6468
5720
47016
1.1 Arable area
10547 14752 12108
5435
5432 6233 5560 60067
- in polder
3790
8148
2747
0
0
0
0
14685
- in terrace
6757
6604
9361
5435
5432
6233
5560
45382
1.2 Pastures
19 13 0
1 238
105 0
376
- in polder
5
13
0
0
0
0
0
18
- in terrace
14
0
0
1
238
105
0
358
1.3 Meadows
8 0
0
0 0
0
0
8
- in polder
0
0
- in terrace
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
1.4 Vineyards and
256 219
322
71 0
130
160
1158
nurseries
- in polder
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
- in terrace
256
219
322
71
0
130
160
1158
1.5 Orchard 2 0
3
0
105
0
0
110
including nurseries
- in polder
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
- in terrace
2
0
3
0
105
0
0
110
2. Forest and other
520 371
125
1 5
323
167
1512
areas with forest
vegetation
- in polder
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
- in terrace
520
371
125
1
5
323
167
1512
3. Waters and ponds
405 166
1156
49 133
256
151
2316
- in polder
405
166
409
0
0
0
0
980
- in terrace
0
0
747
49
133
256
151
1336
4. Other areas
1355 2218 336
299 351
395 419
5373
- in polder
108
85
18
0
0
0
0
211
- in terrace
1247
2133
318
299
351
395
419
5162
TOTAL area
13112 17739 14050
5856
6264 7442 6457 70920
- in polder
4308
8412 3174
0 0
0
0
15894
- in terrace
8804
9327
10876
5856
6264
7442
6457
55026
12
b. Existing land in polder area uses by Dorobantu commune and Calarasi municipium
(hectares)
Locality 1 1.1
1.2
1.3 1.4 1.5 2 3 4 TOTAL
Dorobantu 2254 2254 0 0 0 0
14
91
33 2392
Calarasi 4533
4510
2 0 21 0 0 320 206 5059
TOTAL 6787
6764
2 0 21 0 14 411 239 7451
Crop nutrition is exclusively chemical based on complex fertilisers (22:22:0) and ammonium nitrate. The
fertiliser rate is 44 - 50 kg P2O5/ha and 110 - 120 kg N/ha. These fertilisers are applied, usually to wheat
before sowing, as complex fertilisers and during the winter season as ammonium nitrate. Occasionally
sunflower is fertilised too. Crop residues may be incorporated into the soil, but may also be used for animal
feed (maize stalks and soybean steams) or bedding (straw), however, the majority is usually burned.
Crop protection includes weeds, pest and disease control and is usually undertaken chemical seed treatments
and herbicides. Herbicides are usually used to control weeds in wheat, barley, soybean and sunflower crops.
Maize is protected against weeds by mechanical and manual means.
Nutrients (N, P) from fertilisers and pesticide residues are the main sources of diffuse pollutants. Nutrient
pollution is evident from the indicator species prevalent in aquatic areas. Over the last decade there has been
a decline in the use of fertilisers due to a down turn in the economic status of many of the farming
enterprises. Although practices of spreading fertiliser during the winter is likely to result in N emissions to
air and water. Certainly, a lot of the diffuse nutrient pollution observed in the area is historical in nature and
associated with the farming systems pre-1990. On the polder area high nitrate concentrations are likely to be
associated with the radical change to the whole ecosystem and the release of nitrates through breakdown of
organic matter previously associated with the wetland ecosystem. However, a significant problem today is
the leachate and runoff associated with the manure platforms which are poorly constructed and afford little
protection to surface or ground waters. In addition, there is a concern that as agriculture becomes more
profitable in the area then rates of fertiliser application will increase, and if poorly applied may exacerbate
the situation. Similarly, it is likely that livestock production will pick up with the resultant generation of
excessive manure production that will careful management if, unlike in the past, leaching of nitrate is to be
minimised.
There is not a lot of scientifically published data describing the fate of pesticides in the project area, however
it is likely that there is some contamination of water bodies from pesticides.
An extensive irrigation system is associated with the project area, and in particular the polder. Today
irrigation is only used by AGROSERVCOM Gradistea. The irrigation system is in a very poor state of repair
with leakage of water from many of the canals and many of the pumps and associated infrastructure failing to
work. Consequently the management of the whole irrigation system has broken down resulting in many of
the problems associated with irrigation including:
-
Soil salinity and alkalinity;
-
Water logging;
-
Low crop yields and poor crop quality.
Table 3 gives an indication of the variability in crop yield for the three farming enterprises on the polder.
13
Table 2.3 Crops production in different farming systems
kg/ha
Crops Year
AGRAS
Rasa AGROMIMAR
AGROZOOTEHNICA
Gradistea
Cuza Voda
Mircea Voda
1996 1002
2875
2514
1997 4620
3050
3728
Wheat
1998 2785
3780
3900
1999 3380
3800
4628
2000 2930
4660
3378
1996 -
-
3607
1997
3120 -
4817
Barley
1998 4070
5850
-
1999 -
-
4185
2000 4000
-
4835
1996 928
1930
1771
1997 1040
1875
1224
Sunflower
1998 1530
1800
-
1999 1212
1850
931
2000 1238
1300
732
1996 1835
4625
2870
1997
Landowners
5500
5036
Maize
1998 Landowners
6175
-
1999
Landowners
6900
2900
2000
Landowners
3150
2000
1996 -
(1860)
2052
1997 -
2180
2116
Soybean
1998 -
-
-
(Peas)
1999 -
-
2314
2000 -
-
1710
There are two different livestock systems associated with the pilot area, (i) a household system and (ii) large
farm. Many households or small farmers keep livestock, usually only one or two animals to supplement their
income. The larger farms tend to specialise in either cattle, sheep or pig production. As it is showed in
tables 4 and 5, the main livestock species of this area are cattle, horses, sheep and goats, pigs and poultry.
Table 4. Total livestock numbers
Commune Cattle
Horses
Sheep
and
Pigs Poultry Total
goats
LU/ha
Ciocanesti 955
294
9,338
5,993
52,469
0.60
Gradistea 1,820
637
3,556
6,336
48,700
0.43
Cuza Vodć
1,151
341
7,173
1,549
38,159
0.35
Independenta 1,406
328
865
2,695
34,780
0.69
Al. Odobescu
676
587
3,644
1,725
23,006
0.53
Vlad Tepes
452
390
2,018
1,763
27,000
0.41
Vīlcele 649
350
2,331
2,364
68,108
0.83
Total stock
7,109
2,927
28,925
22,425
292,222
0.51
LU Livestock Units
14
Heads number of each livestock species is different for each commune and livestock systems. The stocking
density of animals is very low (0.35 - 0.83 LU/ha) particularly when compared with photosyntetic potential
(2 - 3 LU/ha) of the area.
The animal load (LU) was estimated by formula:
(Cattle X 0.80 + Horses X 0.85 + Sheep X 0.15 + Pigs X 0..30 + Poultry X 0.04)
LU = ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arable land + pastures + meadow areas (ha)
The photosyntetic potential of area is covered by animals only in household systems from Al. Odobescu,
Ciocanesti and Independenta communes (table 5).
The principle problem with livestock production in the study area is how animal waste, manure, is
effectively managed to minimise gaseous emissions and loss of nutrients to surface and ground waters. The
problem is covered in more detail in TOR 3 of the Project Preparation phase of the APCP.
Table 5: Number of stock households
Commune Cattle
Horses
Sheep
and
Pigs Poultry Total
goats
LU/ha
Ciocanesti 955
294
9,224
5,993
52,469
2.68
Gradistea 1,820
637
3,468
6,336
48,700
1.19
Cuza Vodć
1,067
341
4,005
1,408
29,240
0.67
Independenta 1,232
328
865
2,695
34,780
2.75
Al. Odobescu
646
587
3,644
1,725
23,006
2.17
Vlad Tepes
452
390
2,018
1,736
27,000
1.04
Vīlcele 457
350
2,331
2,264
68,108
1.43
Total stock
6,629
2,927
25,555
22,157
283,303
1.42
LU Livestock Units
15
3. Evaluation of Available data and Maps
This section of the report reviews the existing and available data that can be used to faciliate the
implementation of the project. In addition, data collected in the field is presented and, recommendations are
given as to what additional data might be collected during the project and how this can be stored and
analysed using geographical information system (GIS) technology.
Existing data collected from reports and maps, and especially, the primary data collected direct by field
observations and interviews with individual farmers and other key informants from communes, and farming
associations and private companies (a copy of the questionnaire used to collect some of the data is annexed
to this report) was used extensively in compiling this report. The landusemaps were not possible to fully
evaluate or assess since this type of information, and allied data such as soil, land cover and hydrology was
not readily available, or was at too large a scale (e.g. 1:250 000 whereas 1:25 000 is a more appropriate
scale).
3.1 List of available data and maps
Existing data sources were reviewed based on four levels of hierarchy:
National level
There are many national organisations and institutes which have collected data covering the project area:
-
Research Institute for Cereals and Industrial Crops (ICCPT) Fundulea has a lot information
and experience with environmentally-friendly agricultural practices grass based crop
rotation, conservation tillage, fertilisers and fertilisation, crops protection, irrigation and
windbreaks;
-
Research Institute for Soil Science and Agro-chemistry (ICPA) maintained and managed a
large volume of soil databases. The convertion of this data into digital databases, stored on a
Geographical Information System (GIS), would provide a significant asset to the project;
-
Institute of Study and Design for Land Reclamation (ISPIF) has undertaken a number of
studies on the project area, most notably on the polder area. Two reports, published in the
1990's document in detail the reclamation of the polder and the associated impacts of
agriculture on the environment, changes to soil and potential for irrigation. Both reports
include a number of maps (mainly at 1:100 000 scale) which serve as a useful indication of
the land suitability of the area. The reports are comprehensive and give a useful description
of the environmental conditions of the polder area, the limitations and potential;
-
The Romanian Centre for Remote Sensing Applications in Agriculture (CRUTA) has
developed a number of agricultural and climate databases covering Romania under the EC
MARS (Monitoring Agriculture with Remote Sensing) programme. The Romanian MARS
project was undertaken in the late 1990's and included the whole of Romania. A detailed
archive of SPOT and NOAA satellite imagery is held by CRUTA covering this period.
CRUTA has also undertaken work funded by WHO (World Health Organisation) to map
waste dumps and areas posing a risk to human health including those associated with
Agricultural Pollution Control Project. This data is held on the GIS at CRUTA. Additional
digital data may also be available at such as transport networks. The databases are mainly at
the scale of 1:100 000.
County level
Most of these data spring from secondary sources - soils, climate and hydrological data, county council and
organisations reports, maps, registers, agricultural production statistics, etc.
In Calarasi county there are many organisations which are responsible for agriculture and environment -
DGA, OCAOTA, OSPA, APM, DSP etc. In principle this would mean that there are enough secondary data
sources for any farming and environmental study, or to support the implementation of this project, however,
and this is an important point, access to this data is frequently limited. Such poor access, witnessed during
16
the preparation phase of this project, could severely hamper the design and implementation of the
demonstration and test sites, as well as the development of land use suitability plans.
Commune level
Important sources of secondary information are the office of the Mayor, churchs, schools, health centres,
police offices and their workers. Much of the data used in this report was sourced from secondary data
collected from registers maintained by the mayors office, as well as on mayors and others key informants of
authority.
Farm level
Many of the farming enterprises, particularly those owned and run by the state, large private or association
farms collect and maintain basic farm information such as yields, inputs, gross margins and so on. Many of
these farms also have plans of the arms showing field layout, road access and irrigation and canal network
and, in some cases there are also detailed (1:10 000) soil maps. The farm there fore is an important source of
information, not only for this tangible data but also the knowledge embodied in the farm manager.
3.2 Results of field verification
Wherever possible the data collected from secondary sources was verified by field observation. Follows is a
brief description of the land use of the pilot area, and should be considered in conjunction with the previous
chapter describing the farming systems.
The polder area, formerly part of the Danube floodplain, is a fragile agricultural habitat that is particularly
important for water birds. This area, having been reclaimed by draining the wetlands, was intensively
managed for arable agricultural production although livestock enterprises on the three former state farms
were also significant. Over the last decade (post-1989) there has been a general decline in the intensity of
management of this area largely due to financial constraints rather than lack of know how (although it is
important to note that the intention is to maximise the outputs from the land following intensive farming
practices, and that generally there is little concern regarding the environmental impact. This may in part be
due to a lack of understanding of alternative farming practices that minimise the impact of agricultural
practices on the environment). Consequently, much of the pollution (nitrates, phosphates and pesticides)
associated with the polder is historic in nature, and despite the preponderance of area down to arable land
pollution levels are likely to be generally low. The vegetation bordering the canals along the urban fringe
with the polder area (e.g. Gradistea) are indicative of high levels of eutrophication and this was confirmed in
many places by the high levels of algae in these canals. It is likely though that much of the pollution causing
these problems is associated with the gardens of properties that back right onto the canals. In the majority of
these gardens it was observed that maize stalks, straw and animal waste were deposited along the banks of
the canal. Run-off high in nitrates and other pollutants into the canal is likely to be high and be a significant
contribution to the pollution of these waterways rather than agricultural activities per se. There was no
evidence of soil erosion from water, although wind erosion may be a localised problem in some areas.
There is a concern that with the decline in the irrigation and drainage network that water logging is occurring
in places and that the soil is becoming more saline (and alkaline) in nature. This will effect yields. Indeed,
on the AGROSERVCOM farming company over 150 ha of cereals had been lost due to water logging
(equivalent to $30 000).
The state farms on the polder area will be privatised. There is concern that following privatisation there will
be greater access to credit or funds to rehabilitate the irrigation and drainage network and purchase non-farm
resources such as pesticides and inorganic fertilisers leading to a more intensive form of agricultural
production. Many of the current farm managers of these farms also expressed a desire to start livestock
farming as well (on two of the state farms about 400 sheep are managed). These investments and access to
non-farm resources should result in greater productivity however, these foreseen changes will also pose a
considerable risk to the environment.
17
There is now an opportunity to influence the development of the polder area and the type of agricultural
practices. Consideration should be given in identifying areas on the polder that can revert to wetlands or
extensive grassland to encourage water birds. The application and timing of inorganic and organic fertiliser
will require careful management to minimise the loss of nitrate to surface and ground waters. The
introduction of agroforestry and shelter-belts will reduce the risk of wind erosion encourage bio-diversity.
Informing the managers of these enterprises about the impacts of farming activities on the environment, and
giving them alternatives that still generate comparable incomes or show savings in use of inorganic fertilisers
will be important.
The land use of the terrace area is almost entirely agricultural, with the exception of some large water
bodies and village areas. The agriculture practised here is generally intensive in as much that it is largely
mechanised (although the machinery is small relative to field size) and agro-chemical based. The farms
associated with the terrace are under capitalised and consequently the inputs in terms of pesticides and
fertilisers are relatively low. Agricultural pollution associated with the terrace area is mainly historical and
attributed to practices pre-revolution (pre-1990's). Current application rates of pesticides are low and
fertiliser use conservative. Soil erosion appears to be minimal, wind erosion apparent in some of the large
fields where there are no or poorly maintained shelter belts. Water erosion occurs on some of the gentle
slopes associated with the riparian zones although this is not wide spread. The rates of soil erosion do not
appear to be greater than the accepted natural rate of 11 t/ha.
Also, other important issues posing an environmental risk include latrines pollution, manure bridges (manure
that has been piled into canals to form a bridge across which people and animals pass) and pollution from
urban human waste of polder drainage canals These sources of pollution are likely to be significant but are
not addressed in this project.
There appears to a shortage of fuel wood in the local vicinity and consequently people have to travel
considerable distance frequently relying on crop residues as an alternative. There is considerable scope to
develop community wood lots to supplement the source of fuel wood and timber and the land around villages
appears quite suitable for this. Fast growing species such as Robinia, popular and willow would be
appropriate.
3.3 Description of Land Use Suitability supported with map(s)
This section deals with the limitations to agricultural productivity, identifies the main land units of the
project area and assesses the suitability of the land to the major crops currently grown. Recommendations
are given to the management of the land and possible changes in land use to meet the wider objectives of the
project.
The polder and terrace areas are distinguished by a number of land forms of which there are three associated
with each area (see fig. 1).
The land elements of polder area are freshwater alluvium, reclaimed polder and micro-depressions.
Freshwater alluvium
Although not falling in project area, this is nonetheless important in terms of its relationship to the
polder. This 'strip' of land extends along the northern embankment of the Danube and is a remnant of
the former floodplain. The strip of land is effectively a buffer between the reclaimed polder area and
Danube river. The vegetation associated with this area is a mixture of wetland grasses, reed beds and
trees (e.g. various willows). The alluvial soils occur with various textures and stages of siltation and
are generally waterlogged.
This area is suitable as a natural habitat providing an important haven for wildlife and in particular
water birds. The area also acts as an important buffer zone between the agricultural area acting as a
biological filter trapping silts, toxic compounds and diffuse pollutants. The area could be more
18
actively managed to improve the bio-diversity of the surrounding area i.e. where it borders the
reclaimed polder (i.e. establishment of wildlife corridors into the polder area) and may also benefit
from the development of agro-tourism.
Reclaimed polder
A reclaimed floodplain bordering the Danube this substantial agricultural area is characterised by a
range of alluvial soils including chernozems, mollic alluvial soils and alluvial protosoils with large
areas which are either waterlogged and / or salinised. Irrigation and drainage is widely practised in
this area, although in the last decade the overall management and infrastructure has declined
significantly, so that today only one of the farming enterprises of the polder undertake irrigation
regularly.
The productivity of this area is mixed and highly dependent on appropriate irrigation and drainage
practices. According to the ISPIF reports about 60% of the land area in the polder area is considered
as suitable for irrigation, and only 26% as good or very good land suitable for irrigation. The crops
grown (typically wheat, barley, maize, sunflower and soya bean) give low to medium yields
receiving low inputs of inorganic fertiliser and pesticides. The scope to improve yields is significant
but it is important that this is not at the expense of the environment. The increase in the area affected
by alkalinity is a concern as is the threat of salinity.
Nutrient management for the area will be critical to minimise diffuse pollution, Nitrate levels
associated with the polder are recorded as low. Practices in the past have not been conducive to low
nitrate levels e.g. irrigation using waste water from livestock enterprises and poor manure
management on the terrace area giving rise to run-off onto the polder.
Micro-depressions
There a number of areas that forms lower lying areas or depressions that are commonly waterlogged.
These would generally have been wetland areas or small lakes and the soils of these features are of a
low productivity and difficult to manage.
Given the current decline in irrigation and drainage capital these areas would be more suitable for
agroforestry (e.g. willows), extensive grassland production (for grazing purposes) or to be left to
revert to a natural habitat (mixture of reeds and grasses). Wildlife corridors could be established
from Calarasi lake to the freshwater alluvial area to encourage bio-diversity and generally enrich the
habitat.
The terrace area has, also, three minor elements agricultural terrace, village area and riparian zone.
Agricultural terrace
Agriculture is the dominant land use of the terrace area that is composed of largely uniform and
fertile soils, typically chernozems and cambic chernozems. Crop productivity is low to medium, the
main hindrance being soil moisture availability particularly in dry years, and lack of inorganic
fertiliser and pesticides. Concern at the decline in fertility has been expressed and greater use of
organic fertiliser and introduction of soil moisture conservation practices (these will be addressed by
the project) could address this.
Village area
The intra-village environment is affected by households and farms waste, as well as by village waste
platforms. The wastes arising from the households are: animal urine and manure; straw and other
vegetal residues; inorganic wastes (plastic, glass, metal and cardboard materials), as well as latrine
waste. The waste arising from large farms (i.e. animal urine and manure), is not as great a problem
as it used to be since livestock numbers have declined.
The waste platforms are the major source of pollution from livestock waste, both as direct pollution
by run off to water courses, and diffuse pollution by leaching into the water table and gaseous
19
emissions to the atmosphere. These platforms will continue to pose a threat to the environment
unless the waste is managed and contained more effectively.
In some areas, particularly in close proximity to communes, the establishment of agroforestry or
community forestry as a source of fuel wood may be considered as a more suitable land use.
Riparian zone
These areas are associated with the water bodies and ephemeral drainage networks of the terrace
area. These areas may be prone to water erosion since they are associated with sloping land and will
also be potential hot-spots for diffuse sources of agricultural pollution such as run-off carrying
sediments, nitrates or pesticides. The banks around water bodies are also prone to collapse in places,
particularly where cultivation is taking place right up to the edge of these banks.
For sloping land associated with natural drainage networks agricultural practices are acceptable as
long as measures are taken to minimise the risk from water erosion (e.g. cultivation across the slope).
Buffer strips, particularly at the foot of slopes, would minimise the sedimentation of water courses
and act as a filter thereby improving water quality.
3.4
Land use suitability map(s) at 1:10 000
The development of a detailed land suitability assessment within the scope of this report is not feasible due
to the lack of readily available information. Nonetheless, based on the indicative land units described
ipreviously an indication of the land suitability for the predominant crops gown in the project area has been
described in table 6. Crucially, for the polder area, agricultural productivity and land suitability will depend
on the viability of the irrigation and drainage infrastructure, and the careful management of waters and soil.
Whilst irrigation and drainage are not so significant for the terrace area (although would certainly improve
yields during dry seasons), the maintenance of soil fertility will be crucial.
Alternative crops are not discussed in this report, although the land is suitable for growing vegetables, root
crops such as sugar beet, and sorghum. However, a more detailed study into the economic viability of
establishing these crops would be required and are outside the scope of this report.
Livestock production is not as significant now as it was in the past (i.e. pre-revolution). A more mixed
farming system could play an important role in terms of enhancing the environment via the recycling of
organic manure and the use of rotational grasslands to improve soil structure and maintain or increase
organic matter. However, such an approach does suppose the careful management of livestock waste and
appropriate stocking densities to ensure overgrazing does not occur.
In the polder area the introduction of extensively managed grassland breaks in the rotation could contribute
to minimising the amount of nitrogen leached. The use of cover crops during the autumn, such as mustard,
may also reduce the amount of nitrate leached. Livestock production is suitable for the polder area, although
not in water logged areas, but the associated manure management will be critical to ensure the loss of nitrate
to the environment is minimised. A summary of suitable crops for the project area is given in table 7.
20
Table 7 Suitable crops for project area
Land Unit
Natural Erosion
Crop Suitability
fertility
risk
(Small holder or commercial production)
Wheat Maize Sunflower Barley Soya
Grass
Agro-
Beans
Forestry
Polder area
Riparian
plain
Low
Low
* * *
* *
****
*****
Reclaimed
Medium
Low **** **** ****
**** ****
****
**
plain
Micro-
Low Low *** *** ***
*** ***
****
*****
depressions
Terrace area
Riparian
zones
High Medium
**** **** ****
**** *** ****
****
Terrace
High
Low
***** ***** ****
***** *** **** ***
Key to crop suitability
***** Highly
suitable
**** Suitable
*** Marginally
suitable
or partially unsuitable
** Largely
unsuitable
* Totally
unsuitable
3.5 Additional considerations
Land is well suited to agricultural production within the project area, however, there are a number of other
related issues that should be considered to enhance the environment and rural community and a brief
description of them follows.
Agri-environment schemes
Agri-environment schemes are an increasingly important part of the EU's Common Agricultural
Policy (CAP) to which Romania will have to comply before joining the EU. The overarching
objective of the agri-environment programmes implemented by Member States is to minimise or
reduce the impact of agricultural activities on the environment. The SAPARD (Special Accession
Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development) pre-accession instrument provides opportunities
to introduce and develop appropriate agri-environment schemes. Consideration for a SAPARD
programme in the project area would seem appropriate since the objectives are mutually beneficial.
Environment legislation
Important EC environmental legislation relevant to the project area include the Nitrates Directive
(EC 676/91) and Habitats and Birds Directive (EC 43/92 and EC 409/79 respectively). Allied to
these latter Directives is the international Ramsar convention.
The Nitrates Directive, address both nitrate pollution in surface and ground waters through the
designation of nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZ's). The Directive requires that a set of rules are put in
place in NVZ's to reduce existing nitrate pollution from agricultural land and to prevent further
pollution from arising. The rules are known as Action Programme rules or measures. Compliance
with the rules is a legal requirement within those areas designated by the government as NVZ's
21
The Romanian Government Resolution nr. 964/13 October 2000 concerning Action Plan for Waters
Protection Against Nitrates Pollution Resulting from Agricultural Sources promote the same
international rules to reduce existing nitrate pollution from agricultural land and to prevent further
pollution from arising.
The Birds Directive seeks to conserve all species of naturally occurring birds in the wild state in the
European territory of the Member States. Whilst the Habitats Directive seeks to contribute towards
ensuring bio-diversity through the conservation of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna in the
EU. The Ramsar convention addresses the stemming of loss of wetlands and to ensure their
conservation and wise use.
Iezer Calarasi as an important habitat for water birds. The Iezer Calarasi wetland is about 3200 ha
and the waterbody itself about 400 ha and is an important migratory passage. There is a risk that
increasing agricultural activity in the area will threaten this important habitat and therefore the site
has been put forward to be gazetted as a protected area by the government, the 400 ha forming the
core area and the remainder making up a buffer zone. A detailed management plan will be required
to ensure that the objectives of the proposed protected area are fully met. Consideration must be
given to getting the co-operation of local farmers and farms in the implementation of the
management plan and cross compliance with other agri-environment measure and programmes
should be fully explored and developed to ensure maximum benefit. The Environment Inspectorate
of Calarssi has an important role to play in the development of a management plan
Fuel wood
Fuel wood is an important supplement to heating during the winter months for the village
population. There appears to a shortage of fuel wood in the local vicinity and consequently people
have to travel considerable distance frequently relying on crop residues as an alternative. There is
considerable scope to develop community wood lots to supplement the source of fuel wood and the
land around villages appears quite suitable for this. Fast growing species such as Robinia, popular
and willow would be appropriate.
3.6
Collation and management of information
Mapped data for preparation of land suitability and to assist in monitoring and selection of demonstration
sites for the project activities is available although the distribution is disparate and not readily accessible nor
in a format (i.e. digital) that enables easy manipulation or analyses. Much of this data, as already described
is available at DGA in one form or another however during the early stages of the project (year 1) it will be
necessary and important to capture the appropriate data digitally. These digital geographical databases can
then be stored in a geographical information system (GIS).
A GIS is computer-based software that stores digital map data and associated attribute data. A PC based GIS
is recommended for the project serving as a database of mapped data and other monitoring data collected
during the project. The PPU and DGA will be able to easily produce colour maps (up to A3 size) to
communicate monitoring results and progress. In addition, as this capability strengthens DGA will be able to
develop value added and new services to its existing products.
Additional data, to assist in project monitoring and planning, should include land cover / land use (see
chapter eight for detail). This should be collected at least twice in a growing season (autumn and spring
since these are critical times during which nitrate leaching will occur). This data can be easily collected from
satellite data at a suitable scale (1:10000 or 1:50000) from a variety of platforms including:
· Landsat TM
· SPOT XS
· IKONOS
· IRS - C or IRS - D;
· KVR 1000
22
Additional data will be collected during the project (soil and water quality data). Using a global position
system (GPS) accurate (± 10m in x and y) geographical information can be quickly and easily collected
including point (e.g. monitoring stations, wells, spot heights etc.) and line data (e.g. boundaries, networks
etc.). The data can then be uploaded into the project GIS database. Such data can be used to facilitate
project monitoring including areas planted under agro-forestry, converted to grassland or natural areas.
The project should establish close links with the Romania institute responsible for implementing the Corine
Land Cover program and MARS (Monitoring Agriculture using Remote Sensing). These data will prove
useful additional data sources for the project. In addition the GIS unit should forge working links the
Danube Delta GIS at Tulcea.
The investment in a geographical information system is justified on the added value it will bring to the
project as a means of storing and analysing mapped based data and information and the ability to produce
quality cartographic products for stakeholders of the project.
The benefits to the project and DGA are listed below:
· Storage of project data;
· Improved efficiency in handling and manipulating geographical data;
· Improved access to geographical data;
· Functionality to combine databases to derive new information;
· Spatial analyses functionality enabling interpolation of database to derive new information e.g.
spot height information interpolated to derive a slope or aspect database;
· Ability to produce quality map and cartographic products;
23
Low lying depressions
Some wind breaks or
Water body or
Natural area along
(micro-depressions)
small forested areas
drainage chanel
bank (freshwater
Irrigated /
Village
alluvium)
drained area
Irrigated /
Village
Dan
ube
(reclaimed
drained area
polder)
(reclaimed
polder)
High water table
Irrigation / drainage
canals
Approximately 14 km
After Ion Toncea, (2000)
Polder area
Terrace
Soils
Chernozems ( ~ 5%)
Typical chernozems ( ~ 40%)
Gley soils ( ~ 27%)
Cambic chernozems ( ~ 60%)
Typical alluvial soils ( ~ 68%)
Crops
Wheat
Wheat
Barley
Barley
Maize
Sunflower
Sunflower (Rape)
Maize
Soya beans
Pea
Key issues
Poorly maintained irrigation and drainage infrastructure (mixture of
Poorly maintained irrigation and drainage infrastructure (soil
soil moisture problems, i.e. water logging or draughtiness in dry
moisture problems in dry years)
years)
Soil erosion (water erosion on sloping land,, wind erosion
Wind erosion
elsewhere)
Soil compaction
Soil compaction
Soil salinity
Decrease in organic matter
Soil alkalinity
Soil contamination (isolated and largely associated with manure
Decrease in organic matter
platforms)
Eutrophication
Lack of fuel wood for communities
Fig. 1 Schematic transect of the project area
24
4. Recommendation for trial and demonstration of environment-friendly
agricultural practices
Based on the previous observations and critical environmental problems as described the following
environmentally friendly practices have been identified as set out in this chapter.
Practices were selected that can be applied by farmers using inexpensive material and labour. The
environmental effects for all recommended practices are beneficial, but quantifying the effects will require
long-term monitoring of the ground and surface water within the project area. The overriding natural
resource concern that prompted development of this project is pollution of the Danube river and Black Sea
from water leaving Romania through groundwater lateral flow, and runoff into tributaries. Addressing this
primary concern will provide spin-off effects that will benefit other natural resources and social concerns
identified by stakeholders during our field review. Those expressed concerns are:
-
Pollution of water caused by leakage of pollutants into the water system
-
Unsuitable drinking water and associated diseases throughout much of the project area
-
Moisture conservation on cropland
-
Declining soil tilth
-
Inadequate forage for current and planned increases in livestock production
-
Lack of community pride and economic stability
-
Uninformed citizens concerning environment - friendly agricultural technologies
In meetings with the citizens within the communes, it was notable that they expressed full support and gave
first priority to waste management, land use improvement and sustainability of the cropping and livestock
systems within the project area.
4.1 Evaluation of existing practices and constraints to adoption of improved practices
Existing practices are almost exclusively crop production oriented with very little consideration for higher
technology related to public benefits.
Practices currently being applied are cultural practices characteristic of farmers who keep themselves
informed concerning agronomic principles, but lack financial resources to invest in environmental-friendly
practices that have mutual public benefits. These practices include:
1. Crop Rotation - consisting of cereals and industrial crops traditionally cultivated in the local area.
They are grown in various rotations to break disease cycles, and for other traditional and economical
reasons. Very few farmers manage a grass based rotation. Research Institute for Cereals and
Industrial Crops located at Fundulea reports a favourable yield response from grass based crop
rotations, and with fewer inputs. This would be a very beneficial practice. In most areas of the
project no particular objections to high level crop rotations was expressed and due to current interest
in increasing livestock there appears to be potential for increasing forage crops including grasses for
inclusion in crop rotations.
2. Soil Tillage - is applied with the traditional mouldboard plough and heavy disk-harrow during the
summer or fall. The soils apparently receive intensive tillage for weed control and seedbed
preparation. This is generally considered sustainable for deep soils. However, there is clear evidence
that soil tilth needs improvement. The only way to significantly increase soil organic matter and
subsequently improve soil tilth is to perform tillage operations designed and timed to leave crop
residue on or near the soil surface consistently for many years. A long term objective for agriculture
in Romania should be elimination of the mouldboard plough. Excessive tillage, particularly
mouldboard ploughing, causes rapid loss of organic material needed for humus formation, and
25
accumulation. There are constraints to immediate adoption of conservation tillage. However, the
many of the farmers are familiar with the practice, but do not believe it is feasible under current
economic conditions. If funds are made available to provide tillage tools for a proper long-term
demonstration of reduced tillage, a gradual increase should occur over a ten to twenty year time
period. This would represent the normal adoption of new agriculture technology.
3. Fertilisation - is exclusively chemical: The fertilisers are applied, usually before sowing as
complex fertilisers and during winter or spring time as ammonium nitrate or urea. The main
constraint to increase the efficiency of nutrients is not existing of a Crop Nutrient Management Plan,
especially not including of all nutrient sources manure, crop residues, fertilisers, previous crops,
irrigation etc, and specific nutrient management practice: soil and manure testing and variable rate
technologies.
4. Weed and Pest Management - involves the use chemical seed treatments, herbicides and
mechanical and manual means. The low efficiency of these practices is laid to the lack of weeds and
pest management strategies.
5. Irrigation is the key of the farming system successes in this area. However, the existing irrigation
systems need a substantial investment for restoration, and this effort should be correlated with the
public awareness programme.
4.2 Recommended practices by sub-zone
There are many environmental - friendly practices used on cropland in various location to help solve natural
resource problems. The practices included in this section of the report were selected for the following
reasons:
-
No adverse environmental effects;
-
Cost effectiveness/low-input;
-
Ease of installation using farm labour and local material;
-
Technology is readily transferable;
-
Aesthetic appeal;.
-
Acceptable to the farmers;
-
Positive social effects;
-
Effective as a stand-alone practice if necessary;
-
Low or no secondary side effects.
With the exception of conservation tillage, practice that are expensive to install and maintain are not
considerate candidate practice for this project: This portion of the report will discuss the list of candidate
practices :
1. Conservation Tillage is any tillage system that leaves about 1/3 of the soil covered after the crop
is planted. To accomplish that objective only very limited tillage can be performed as follows
inverting to 15 cm depth and loosening to 30 cm depth, non-inverting, loosening to 30 cm depth.
Several residue management techniques are also, necessary to apply this practice. Straw spreaders
must be attached to the combines or any accumulations of straw must be evenly distributed to allow
proper operation of the planter. Conventional corn planters can often be converted for conservation
tillage by installing coulters (disk blades) that run ahead of the seed placement part of the planter.
The more sophisticated planters plant the seed, apply starter fertiliser and pesticides in one operation.
2. Narrow Vegetative Barriers are rows of stiff-upright-tall grass (about 1 meter wide) that
provide benefits similar to windbreaks. They are very easy and inexpensive to install and become
effective within the first year. They may be installed on the contour to help control small gullies, and
reduce sheet and rill erosion. They may also be used in conjunction with other practices such as
26
filter strips to prevent excessive amounts of sediments from entering the filter strip area. In this
project area their primary purpose would be to trap winter snow for moisture management purposes.
3. Crop Rotation is following a planned rotation of crops designed to improve soil quality, break
pest cycles, and satisfy other crop production requirements.
4. Grasses and Legumes in Rotation is a crop rotation that includes grasses and/or legumes in the
rotation to increase organic matter content, break pest cycles, and satisfy other crop production
requirements.
5. Crop Nutrient Management is utilizing available plant nutrients by developing and following a
nutrient budget designed to prescribe correct field applications.
6. Weed and Pest Management is using pesticides only when necessary after considering more
environmentally acceptable alternatives for pest control.
7. Filter Strips are strips of perennial grass established along the lower portion of a field to filter
out potential pollutants.
8. Land reclamation is need to reduce pollution from water runoff and deep percolation of
polluted water. The land should be cleaned of garbage, shaped and vegetated to restore aesthetics,
provide fuel wood, grazing, wildlife food and cover, and possibly recreation areas for the public
benefit.
9. Wellhead Protection is designing and installing structures to reduce the risk of pollutants
entering the water system at or near the wellhead. The structures, for this project, would generally
consist of a concrete or asphalt apron that prevents water accumulation around the wellhead.
10. Grazing management - demonstrates how rotation grazing can improve land fertility and
productivity.
The practices will function as stand-alone practices but field application has proven the benefits of applying
systems of practices that benefit each other in synergistic ways.
The selected environmentally-friendly agricultural practices are acceptable to most of the farmers in the
project area:
Polder area
-
Conservation tillage - soil and mulch tillage
-
Crop rotation
-
Crop Nutrient Management
-
Weed and Pest Management
-
Narrow Vegetative Barriers
-
Filter strips - for micro-depressions areas
-
Grazing management
Terrace area
-
Conservation tillage - soil and mulch tillage
-
Crop rotation
-
Crop Nutrient Management
-
Weed and Pest Management
-
Narrow Vegetative Barriers
-
Manure management
-
Grazing management
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Villages area
-
Organic gardening - Crop rotation & Nutrient and Pests Management
-
Land reclamation
-
Wellhead protection
4.3 Criteria foe selecting sites for Testing and Demonstrating program
The sites selected for testing and demonstrating (T/D) practices were chosen for the following reasons:
· Site adaptation for the specific practice - Each practice has specific soil and site requirements for
proper testing and demonstration. However, most of the practices chosen for demonstration are adapted
to almost any location within the project area. Site selection was, therefore, based more on geographic
and strategic locations than soil and site characteristics.
· Enthusiasm expressed by commune representatives - It is imperative that practices be located on sites
where stakeholders are ready, willing, and able to apply and manage the conservation practice. The field
review indicated a lot of enthusiasm exists for testing and demonstrating the practices.
· Technical abilities of the stakeholders - Most of the practices will require training to assure the
practice is planned, applied, and managed to assure project objectives are met. Practices range from low-
tech to very high-tech and care must be taken to assure the proper people are selected to apply and
manage the practices.
· Logistics for public display and monitoring activities - It is important to locate the practices where
people can see them and visit the sites efficiently. It is also advantageous to locate many of the sites in a
central location to improve efficiency during the monitoring phase of the project.
4.4 First year program
The following is the first year (2001) practice recommendations, and rational for selection. Each individual
project will require a detailed plan of work prepared by participants specifying each individual necessary
task, the person responsible, and the deadline date for successful completing of each step.
1. Crop rotation - will provide a suitable crop rotation. This project will be installed during summer
and fall of 2001 in both polder and terrace areas. The crop rotation should be established to the
adapted field crops, including annual crops and perennial grass.
2. Manure management will provide the farm and commune waste management plan for reducing
the risk of waters and land pollution from handling, storing and land spreading systems. A waste
composting training course and assistance will be required too.
3. Crop nutrient management will increase nutrient efficiency to maximize economic return
while maintaining or improving the environment. To increase nutrient efficiency, growers apply
plant nutrients at the right time and place to achieve their estimated yield. This approach helps
reduce potential pollution of surface and ground water for whole project area.
4. Weed and Pest management will involve the use of various management practices that either
prevent or reduce economically harmful weed, insect, disease and other pest population. Specific
practices will include scouting fields, rotating crops, planting resistant crops, encouraging beneficial
insect and, when necessary, using crop protection products herbicides, insecticides and fungicides.
28
5. Narrow Vegetative Barriers - will demonstrate how grass strips can trap snow and increase
available moisture between the strips. The strips should be established to an adapted tall growing
species. This will be established during fall 2001, within fields with existing tree windbreaks and
drainage channels as part of the total system including conservation tillage, crop rotation & nutrient
and pests management. Narrow vegetative barriers will provide a good comparison of the farming
practices and be a decision tool for area farmers who observe performance of these practices. It will
also enhance credibility of yield data collected by the farmer.
Training of farming managers from the project area is also part of the first year program. Also, up to ten
participants may be identified for a study tour hosted by the USDA or a university located within the corn
belt area of the United States.
4.5 Indicative 2 5 year programme
1. Soil conservation tillage - will provide the best alternative to conventional soil tillage by
implement chisel or paraplow and a high tech tillage - planters plant the seed, apply starter fertiliser
and pesticides in one operation or tillage attachments to make existing planted suitable for minimum
tillage
2. Mulch tillage - high residue drill necessary for drilling of the field crops residue. This tillage
system usually includes straw spreaders. Also, any accumulations of straw must be evenly
distributed to allow proper operation of the planter.
3. Filter strips - will improve agricultural quality of the polder land by slow water runoff from the
micro-depressions, as well as the water quality by filtering action of grass or other vegetation and
increased opportunity time for decomposition, de-nitrification and other chemical processes that
cleanse the water intercepted by the strips of vegetation.
4. Land reclamation - will be demonstrate on the current manure platform areas. Land reclamation
is need to reduce pollution from water runoff and deep percolation of polluted water. The land
should be cleaned of garbage, shaped and vegetated to restore aesthetics, provide fuel wood, grazing,
wildlife food and cover, and possibly recreation areas for the public benefit.
5. Wellhead protection is needed for many wells in the 7 communes. An inventory will be
conducted by the local people and unprotected wellheads will be improved to drain water away from
the wellheads by planting vegetation around public and private wells. The project will provide
material and local people will install the improvements.
6. Organic gardening will be develop in village area as alternative to traditional gardening. The
householders will discover the satisfaction of recycling their house waste, of choosing a fine
diversity of vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants and ornamental flowers, or of eating fresh,
health and substantial fruits, grapes, vegetables, etc.
7. Grazing management - will demonstrate how grazing plan can improve grass and livestock
yields. It should be implement in village grazing areas to reduce the soil erosion too.
Practice application schedules will need to be reaffirmed following site planning activities with local farmers
and community leaders. The above application schedule is based on discussions and tentative plans for
project planning purposes.
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4.6 Performance indicators to evaluate impact on agricultural productivity and the environment
Measuring the environmental impacts of agronomic practices requires a long-term evaluation. Impacts that
occur beneath the soil surface are insidious and require very precise data collection. The practices included
in the total system will have additive benefits a multitude of performance indicators. Soil improvement will
be significant within 5 years. Crop yields can be documented as soon as the vegetative strips are effective.
Wildlife food and cover will increase significantly and a more diverse animal inventory should be
documentable within a few years. Earthworms and other soil organisms are depleted in the soil and changes
in this soil parameter will be significant. Any runoff water will be significantly cleaner, and groundwater
quality may improve where it is currently polluted.
4.6.1 Indicators for Soil Quality Evaluation
The soil quality indicators are important to guide land use decisions, evaluate the effects of the
agricultural practices and to focus conservation efforts on maintaining and improving the soil quality.
Indicators of soil quality can be categorized into four general groups: visual, physical, chemical and
biological parameters.
Visual indicators may be obtained from observation or photographic interpretation. Exposure of
subsoil, topsoil and subsoil colour, ephemeral gullies, ponding, runoff, plant response, weed
species, blowing soil and deposition are the main locally determinated indicators.
Physical indicators are related to the arrangement of solid particles and pore. Examples include
topsoil depth, bulk density, porosity, aggregate stability, texture, crusting, fissuring and
compaction. Physical indicators primarily reflect limitations to root growth, seedling emergence,
infiltration, or movement of water within the soil profile.
Chemical indicators include measurements of pH, salinity, organic matter, phosphorus
concentrations, cation-exchange capacity, nutrient cycling, and concentrations of elements that
may be potential contaminants (heavy metals, radioactive compounds, etc.), those that are
needed for plant growth and development. The soil's chemical condition effects soil-plant
relations, water quality, buffering capacity, availability of nutrients and water to plants and other
organisms, mobility of contaminants, and some physical conditions, such as the tendency for
crust to form.
Biological indicators include measurements of micro- and macro-organisms, their diversity and
activity. Earthworm or nematode populations have been suggested for use in some parts of the
project area. Respiration rate can be used to detect microbial activity, specifically microbial
decomposition of organic matter in the soil. Ergosterol, a fungal bio-product, has been used to
measure the activity of organisms that play an important role in the formation and stability of
soil aggregates. Measurement of decomposition rate of plant residue in bags or measurements of
weed seed numbers, or pathogen populations can also serve as biological indicators of soil
quality.
4.6.2 Indicators for Farming Systems Productivity Evaluation
The main indicators of farming systems productivity are the yields, resource efficiency and farm income.
Important for farmers, also, are soil covering rate, stocking rate, is growth rate and monitoring of hot farming
activities crop rotation and management of waste, crop nutrients, water and weeds and pest.
4.6.3 Indicators for water quality evaluation
Standardized water quality indicators are needed to provide reliable data on problems and trends in water
quality of the Danube River and its tributaries and the Black Sea.
30
A water quality monitoring program should be included and the following parameters recorded:
- pH, turbidity, odour, suspended solids, electric conductibility;
- nitrates (NO3), ortho and total phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na),
carbonates (CO3), sulphates (SO4), and pesticides content;
- faecal coliform and streptococus bacteria infestation;
- observation on algae in canals.
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5. Recommendation for trial and demonstration of agroforestry practices
Agroforestry is a distinct land-use system, which may include combinations of tree production with other
crops and/or animals on the same land at the same time, with the main objectives of reducing risk and
increasing total productivity as results of efficient use of sunlight, moisture and plant nutrients. Between
rows of trees, food crops, forage crops, vineyards, fruits and a number of specially crops may be grown and
harvested or grazed by the domestic animals. This is a relatively new concept that is becoming accepted as a
cost effective way to produce income from land partially devoted to tree production. During field trips, the
farmers expressed interest in planting windbreaks, and using other agroforestry technologies to improve the
environment in the project area. Those expressed concerns are:
-
Deforestation and subsequent effects;
-
Global warming;
-
Wind and water erosion in a few areas;
-
Lack of fish and wildlife food and cover;
-
Lack of recreational opportunities for citizens and tourists;
5.1 Evaluation of existing practices and constraints to adoption of improved practices
The existing agroforestry practices include tree planting in the polder area and windbreaks in the terrace
area including home gardens in village areas. A number of different reasons for agro-forestry practices are
evident in the project area and these are summarised as follows:
1. General tree planting is undertaken soil fertility, and to restore natural plant cover, as well as
provide a source for fuel wood and timber. Inter-cropping with 'food' crops is widely practised for
the first 4 - 5 years after planting tree seedlings. Following this period the forest stand is managed as
a mono-culture by the Forestry Service and inter-cropping is not permitted. Along the bank of the
river Danube afforestation has been supported by the Forestry Service. The vegetation associated
with this area is a mixture of wetland grasses and willows trees. In general afforestation is not widely
practised by the rural population of farmers because of the high costs of tree seedlings and the lack
of saplings to meet the demand that exists.
2. Windbreaks are used to protect soils and modify the microclimate associated with crops,
orchards, livestock, settlements and transport networks . Windbreaks, comprising of trees, are
located in Cuza Voda and Marculesti communes but have been seriously denuded by the local
population largely to satisfy fuel wood needs. These windbreaks were established in the 1960's
throughout the terrace area and supported with State intervention. Despite the presence of
windbreaks, and the support in the past to establish them, there has been little or no development in
recent times in their establishment partly due to poor economic circumstances and the confusion
between the role of the Forestry Service in providing this service on privately owned land.
3. Home gardens are a traditional source of agroforestry practices in the project area, and these
have been developed without State intervention. These systems are characterized by the intensive
use of multipurpose tree species, shrubs, food and fodder crops and animals on the same piece of
land at the same time. In a home garden, the rear part of the garden often comprises of tree species
that produce fuel wood, fruits, fodder, flowers and shade. The middle area may be planted up to
produce grapes and vegetables. The front area of the garden is the place of buildings (house, animal
stables) and of herbs and medicinal and ornamental plants. Often undervalued are the many benefits
of home gardens including amenity functions, reduced wind speeds, shade, privacy and the source
of income.
The development of agro-forestry in the project area may in part be attributed to:
32
-
the lack of quantitative data which prevent a rigorous cost-benefit analysis. Therefore,
adopting agroforestry systems is something of a gamble, particularly when a long-term
tree component is involved;
- no obvious way of fully recovering of investment costs because some agroforestry
benefits (e.g. extension of wildlife habitat; improving of life for society as a whole, etc.)
are not marketable, although this provides scope for government to under right these
investment costs with grants for example or to support the development of new
opportunities such as agro- or green-tourism;
5.2 Recommended practices by sub-zone
Most of the stakeholders in the project area expressed interest in planting tree and using buffer technologies
to improve the environment because these practices are effective even if installed as a single practice, and
can be applied by the farmers with labour and tools readily available.
The project provides a number of opportunities to introduce agro-forestry practices that will enhance the
local environment, and contribute to control agricultural sources of pollution. These practices include:
1. Hedge rows are shrubs planted along field or plots edges (usually a single row) to provide
environmental benefits such as soil protection from wind erosion, crop protection from wind
damage, control drifting snow, enhance soil moisture, habitat for beneficial insects and food and
nesting cover for wildlife.
2. Tree planting is combining fuel wood, timber and fruit trees production with other crops on the
same land at same time. Between rows trees, annual field crops, forage crops, vegetables and
other special crops may be grown and harvested. This is a relatively new concept that is
becoming accepted as a cost effective way to produce income from land partially devoted to tree
production,
3. Windbreaks are rows of trees and shrubs planted for the purpose of reducing wind surface,
protection of crops from the desiccating winds, providing food and cover for wildlife and,
recently, human food and animals feed. They are usually 5 to 50 meters wide and 2 4 meters
spacing between tree rows.
4. Riparian buffers are streamside plantings of trees, shrubs and grasses that can intercept
pollutants from both surface and shallow groundwater before they reach a river or stream.
Riparian buffers stabilise lake and river banks and provide habitat for wildlife and enhance fish
habitat by, among other things, reducing water temperature.
5. Shelterbelts are rows of shrubs (usually two or three rows) planted for protection gardens,
livestock and farm buildings from harsh weather and for livestock sheltered and fencing of trees
plantations and grazing areas.
According to the problems associated with the project area (described in previous sections), it is
recommended the follow specific agroforestry practices are applied as follows:
Polder
area
-
Hedge rows - for reducing wind erosion;
-
Tree planting - for suitability land use;
-
Riparian buffers - for protection Iezer Calarasi, an important habitat for water birds.
Agricultural
terrace
area
33
-
Hedge rows for protection crops and wildlife habitat;
-
Tree planting - for fuel wood and timber;
-
Windbreaks - for improving field microclimate and wildlife habitat;
-
Riparian buffers for protection Galatui lake banks
Villages area
-
Shelterbelts for fencing trees plantation, grazing areas and home gardens.
5.3 Criteria for selecting sites for Testing and Demonstrating
The selection of sites for testing and demonstrating Agroforestry Practices should satisfy three basic criteria:
Adoptability, Sustainability and Productivity.
1. Adoptabilty
Adoption of agroforestry practices has to be in the citizen's and farmer's own interest. Full support
expressed by householders, farmers and mayoralties must be carry out by involving the intended
users directly in the technology development process from the beginning as active participants in the
design, trial, evaluation and redesign of agroforestry practices. Agroforestry is not the answer to
every land use problem, but the range of agroforestry options is extremely broad, and every
agroforestry user has his or her favourite practices. What is needed is a systematic way of matching
agroforestry practices to the actual needs and potentials of existing land use systems.
2. Productivity
The agroforestry systems have to improve the rural welfare through a variety of direct production
roles (food, fodder, fuel, fibre, and many industrial products), as well as through a wide range of
indirect service roles within land use systems (soil and water conservation, fertility maintenance,
microclimate amelioration, etc.). Productivity improvements can be achieved not only by raising or
diversifying yields of useful products, but also by reducing the costs of production inputs fertilisers
and pesticides.
3. Sustainability
Most farmers often have short time horizons when it comes to the planning of agroforestry practices,
particularly if they have secure tenure over the plots they cultivate. Therefore, in agroforestry there is
ample scope to the combination of long-term benefits with short and medium-term productivity
gains. Also, incentives are often required to encourage the adoption of these conservation farming
practices.
5.4 First year program
1. Hedge Rows - will demonstrate how shrubs can alter micro-environment to increase production
and overall environmental quality. The shrubs will be planted within fields with existing terrace
windbreaks and polder drainage channels as part of the total system including environmental
friendly agricultural practices.
2. Tree planting - will restore natural plant cover on the vulnerable polder land and on the bench
terraced areas. This practice will help increase land suitability and the sources of fuel wood and
timber, as well as will reduce soil erosion and waters pollution risks. The project will result in about
65 hectares (about 10 hectares in each commune) cropland converted to native tree species.
Training of agroforestry practice users is a compulsory part of the first year program because agroforestry is
very new for most of them.
34
5.5 Indicative 2 - 5 year program
The remainder of the programme is intended to assist the farmer's and villages in tree planting, and an area
of about 1400 hectares is envisaged. Also, it is planned that an additional three new testing and
demonstrating projects will be established for:
1. Tree windbreaks will be planted on the terrace farms to alleviate the desertification effects
through moisture conservation, to improve local landscape, to create favourable wildlife food and
cover conditions, to increase the crop yields and to diversify the human activities.
2. Riparian buffers - will be settled for bank stabilisation and buffering for water quality around the
perimeter of Galatui lake and Calarasi Iezer.
3. Shelterbelts - will be planted on the village gardens, pasture areas and/or vegetable farms. This
project will demonstrate how shrubs and three vegetation can protect crops, livestock and buildings
from harsh climate conditions and biotic enemies.
5.6 Indicators to evaluate agro-forestry practices on on agricultural productivity and the
environment
Assessing the impact of agro-forestry practices on agricultural practices and the environment are presented
here:
The impacts of tree planting could be evaluated by measuring changes in selected bio-
diversity indicators, water quality, area of land afforested changes in crop and tree productivity.
The increase in afforested area should also improve the supply of fuel wood for the communes
and improving recreation opportunities for people.. The effect on wildlife habitat food and cover
are measurable effects can also be described.
Windbreaks/Shelterbelts should result in increased yields by modifying the micro-climate and
improving moisture management. Wildlife habitat will be enhanced and measurable changes
should be the result when the practice is widespread over the landscape.
Shrub rows will provide the same impacts as windbreaks but possibly to a smaller degree.
Riparian buffers should control the spatial spread of many pollutants and inorganic ions and
prevent down-hill soil run-off through the water erosion. The filter of the surface flow, as well as
the lateral spring flow and tie up potential pollutants. The pollutants may be harvested in
biomass removed from the site or stored in the organic form within the biomass. They also
provide an opportunity for bacterial action to decompose harmful compounds back into
elements. Therefore, the main impact of riparian buffers will be on the environment, and it will
be evaluate through specific indicators concerning water quality, land use and flora and fauna
diversity.
Careful thought should be given to the selection of appropriate indicators, since it is likely that some of the
benefits of associated with agro-forestry practices will not be evident during the life of the project. This may
be further confounded by the interaction of project measures that all contribute to improving the project
environment, for example improvement in water quality may be associated with improved agricultural
practices such as manure management as well as increase in forest area along riparian zones.
35
6. Environmental
Assessment
The agricultural and agro-forestry practices described earlier and designed to be implemented during this
project have no significant adverse environmental effects, and will have many positive socio-economic
impacts. The following environmental impacts are summarised below:
6.1 The environmental assessment of agricultural practices
Crop rotations will be designed so as to minimise negative impacts on the environment, including
the introduction of cover and break crops to maintain and enhance soil fauna and flora, organic
matter, soil structure and reduce the loss of agricultural nutrients to surface and ground waters. The
introduction of grass and legumes into the rotation will reduce the susceptibility of soils to
compaction and erosion.
Improved manure management is fundamental to reducing agriculture pollution in the project
area. Ensuring the correct stocking rate, improving manure management (timing and methods of
disposal), better manure storage and handling facilities will ensure that the risk of surface and
ground water pollution is minimised.
Crop nutrient management will maximize farms profit, conserve or enhance soil organic matter
and improve surface and ground waters pollution.
Improved weed and pest management particularly through the introduction of techniques such as
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Crop Management (ICM) will contribute to less
reliance on pesticides and herbicides and the associated risk of environmental degradation. Research
has shown that gross margins can be maintained or improved by applying such integrated
techniques.
Narrow Vegetative Barriers improves fields microclimate, landscape diversity and wildlife habitat.
Soil conservation tillage benefits are: increasing humus contents in whole crumb profile,
augmentation of earthworm population density and raising up of soil infiltration capacity. Research
shows, also, soil conservation tillage can reduce fuel consumption.
Mulch tillage obvious effect is 90 % erosion reduction. Also, this practice increases organic matter
content in the arable layer of soil about 0.1% each year, optimizes soil moisture and improves
wildlife habitat.
Filter strips provides a suitable land use, good wildlife habitat and an opportunity for water
pollution control.
Land reclamation aims introduction of former waste platforms land in the farming circuit,
decreasing of waste odour and punctiform soil and waters pollution.
Wellhead protection benefits are wells protection from domestic contamination and clean and
healthy drinking water.
Organic gardening is a new challenge to conserve and improve waters and soils quality by using of
the local resources and traditional means. Also, the recreational and pleasure values of gardening
will be much improved.
Grazing management could play an important role to minimise soil erosion and amount of nutrients
leached, and, indirectly, to improve soil structure and organic matter content.
36
Improvements in irrigation practice, and the associated infrastructure, would almost certainly result in greater
agricultural productivity and, given favourable market conditions, returns on investment and profitability.
Although, soil quality is likely to be improved it will be important to monitor closely the impact of such
practices on the environment, both in terms of water quality but also biodiversity. The authors of this report
would recommend that guidelines be drawn up regarding a Code of Good Irrigation Practice that addresses
the efficient use of water for irrigation and how to minimise impacts on the environment.
6.2 The environmental assessment of agroforestry practices
Hedge rows have similar environmental effects with narrow vegetative barriers. Moreover, they can
be an additional source for fuel wood and healthy fruits, lives and flowers.
Tree planting main environmental effects are: enhancing the value of marginal or abandoned
agriculture land, improving the micro-climate, creating wildlife habitat, providing a source of local
fuel wood and timber, and increasing of recreational and pleasure values.
Tree windbreaks reduce wind erosion, protect field crops, decrease (by up to 34 %) evapo-
transpiration, provide a source of fuel wood and timber , and offer a niche for wildlife.
Riparian buffers has positive effects in order to control leaching of nutrients and wastewaters to
Calarasi Iezer and Galatui lake, to stabilise the banks of lakes and to provide new or enhanced
habitats for flora and fauna.
Shelterbelts prevent wind and water erosion and protect crops, trees, livestock and buildings against
harsh weather.
37
7. Terms of reference for any additional work deemed necessary to improve land
use suitability data
7.1 Background
The wider objective of the Agricultural Pollution Control Project is to reduce agricultural sources of
pollution to the river Danube and Black Sea. There is considerable evidence of poor water quality arising
from agricultural activities such as fertiliser and pesticide application and poor manure management and a
decline in the drainage and irrigation infrastructure resulting in water logging, saline and alkaline soils
particularly in the polder area. In some years farmers have witnessed algae blooms, an indicator of poor
water quality, in some of the larger water bodies associated with the project area.
The reduction of agricultural sources of pollution will be achieved using a number of techniques including
the introduction of improved land practices and environmentally friendly farming practices, such as
integrated crop management, the introduction of agroforestry measures and wind breaks. Associated with
these new practices a large area falling within the project will be designated a nature reserve affording a
degree of protection from agriculture activities and other forms of economic activity. The core nature area,
which includes lake Calarasi, will be protected by a substantial buffer zone within which there are
anticipated land use changes, for example forestation with native tree species and less intensive forms of
agriculture.
Monitoring these changes will be an important part of the project. Although there will be an extensive field
campaign to collect soil and water quality data and to assess and measure (using GPS equipment) changes in
land use it is unlikely that a comprehensive assessment of the whole project will be achievable.
Therefore to supplement the data collected via the soil and water monitoring campaign, and ancillary data
alluded to above, the use of remotely sensed information is deemed appropriate to the overall scheme of
monitoring. The remotely sensed information will be stored and managed by the project GIS which will
include other thematic layers of information such as soil type, hydrological network, topographic
information, elevation, slope and so on. It is anticipated that the general scale of the digital geographical
databases will range from 1:10 000 - 1:50 000 and will be projected on the standard national co-ordinate
system.
At this stage it is not clear what imagery will be most appropriate for the project, although it is likely to be
SPOT XS or panchromatic or IRS - C or D since these provide sufficient spatial accuracy to derive 1:10 000
- 1:50 000 geographical databases. However, it may be appropriate to utilise the high resolution KVR 1000
imagery from the Russian space mapping system, Kometa, which although only providing panchromatic
images are of high resolution (1 metre) and would enable mapping of small features such as manure
platforms, wind breaks, community forest lots and so on.
The land use of the project area is primarily agricultural and therefore in deriving land cover information the
agricultural growing season must be accounted for. In terms of assessing the impact of agricultural activity
on the environment an assessment of land cover at the beginning of the agricultural season (i.e. drilling or
sowing of crops), that is the autumn period coinciding with September - October, will be important. This
information combined with land cover information in the spring (when the crops are emerging and when
spring cereals are drilled (April - May) would also be preferable. Naturally, obtaining suitable imagery for
these windows in the growing season will depend on a number of variables particularly weather.
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7.2 Objectives
The purpose of the contract will be to meet the needs of the GIS unit at DGA with remotely sensed derived
information.
The primary objective of the contract is to:
1. provide advice and procure the most suitable imagery to monitor land cover within the project
area;
2. acquire the imagery and process to derive a geo-rectified image (corrected and filtered for any
geometric and atmospheric distortions) of the project area (if necessary the image should split
into a number of tiles to facilitate data management and manipulation within the project GIS)
and to
3. derive a geographical database describing land cover of the project area. The exact attributes
will be agreed with DGA, but should include the principle crop types and natural vegetation
types of the project area, water bodies, wet lands, urban and village areas. The land cover
database should be supplied in a format that can be stored on the project GIS, and include full
documentation.
The secondary objective of the contract will be to provide more general advice concerning remotely sensed
information anticipating future or additional information products that may complement or enhance the basic
land cover information and monitoring programme of the project.
7.3 Requirements
The contractor should be well informed of the different remotely sensed imagery available covering the
project area and with anticipated developments of the technology.
The contractor should have considerable experience in the acquisition of satellite and remotely sensed
imagery. They will have already gained experience in undertaking the processing of this imagery to derive
land cover information suitable for GIS databases. It would be desirable if they were familiar with the
CORINE land cover mapping programme and the associated typology since there may be synergies between
ongoing national land cover mapping programmes. Ideally, they will be familiar with the associated land
cover and vegetation types peculiar to the project area and, since the area is predominately a agricultural
landscape, with the associated agricultural practices and crop rotations.
The contractor will be expected to liase closely with DGA, the Project Management Unit (PMU) and, if
necessary the EPA to determine the most appropriate land cover types that can be derived from the chosen
satellite sensor. Since this is only a small component of the overall project the contractor should assume that
they would be limited to a maximum of two images a year (although this may be negotiable subject to
budget). Therefore they must be confident that what they are recommending in terms of derived land cover
information will be achievable.
7.4 Deliverables
The project is planned for five years and at least one comprehensive land cover database should be produced
per agricultural season (five in total), based on two remotely sensed images season. However, it is expected
that an intermediary land cover database will be derived at the start of each season (i.e. autumn). This will
be based on the first image acquired for that season (and using supplementary knowledge from the previous
seasons land cover database combined with an understanding of the crop rotations and allied agricultural
practices).
Therefore two land cover databases will be produced a season, an intermediary and final product.
In summary, and based on the above, the deliverables from the contractor will include:
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1. GIS compatible (geo-rectified and processed for atmospheric and geometric distortions)
remotely sensed imagery of the project area (two images a season is anticipated) on CD-ROM or
preferred media as specified by the PMU;
2. GIS land cover database with complete attribute database, based on agreed land cover typology,
minimum mapping unit and agreed scale (likely to be 1:10 000 - 1:50 000 depending on selected
satellite sensor) to be supplied on CD-ROM or preferred media as specified by the PMU;
3. Full documentation of the methodology, description and limitations of the land cover database.
The contractor will be expected to undertake some field checking of the classified remotely sensed data and a
break down of this with budget should be specified in the proposal.
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ANNEXES
41
Romania - APCP
Annex 1
Romania - APCP
42
Annex 2
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Annex 3
Code of Good Practices for Protection of Waters and Soils in Boianu Sticleanu Polder
This Code of Good Practice sets out the minimum standards that farmers should seek to adhere to when
undertaking their agricultural activities in the Boianu - Sticleanu polder.
1. Extension of agroforestry systems such as windbreaks/shelterbelts, hedgerows, filter strips and narrow
vegetative barriers on land deemed as inadequate for agricultural purpose (e.g. with periodic
waterloging, soils rich in soluble salts or exchangeable sodium or with low fertility potential).
2. Cultivation of 25 30% of the arable area with annual and perennial legumes.
3. Reduction of tillage depth by 5 10 cm and gradual replacement of the traditional mouldboard plough
with conservation tillage and reduced tillage systems.
4. Combined utilization of existing drainage schemes, both for draining surplus water and for the
completion of crop water demand.
5. Crop irrigation using conventional clean water and application rates in correlation with the soil moisture
storage capacity. For the case of applying irrigation prior to sowing, the tilth depth would be of
maximum 25 cm.
6. Crop fertilization using solid organic and chemical fertilizers. Liquid fertilizers, with the exception of the
foliage-targeted ones, are forbidden from use.
7. Allowed organic fertilizers are: semi-digested manure, compost, composted vegetable matter, green
fertilizers and bacterial fertilizers.
8. The application rate for semi-digested manure and compost should be a maximum of 10 t/ha and year.
For a 4-5 year rotation, the maximum rate is 40 50 t/ha. Manure would only be applied during July
October interval, as the main fertilizer, by even spreading on the land, immediately followed by soil
incorporation using the disk-harrow, after which the land is ploughed.
9. Leguminous seed treatment using specialized bio-products (e.g.NITRAGIN) for peas, beans, soya-bean,
alfa-alfa, etc. Dosage: 4 bottles (200 250 ml each) for the amount of seed required for one hectare.
10. Growing green fertilizers and incorporating them into the soil, together with the entire residue (straw,
sunflower stems, weeds, etc.). Field burning of various straw, stems and other vegetal residues is
prohibited.
11. Accurate chemical fertilizer dosage application, in accordance with the requirement of each crop,
correlated with the soil's agro-chemical indices and the previous agricultural practices .
12. The use on nitrogen-based (urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate,etc) and foliage-targeted
should only occur in the spring and summer (during the vegetation season) and phosphorus & potassium-
based fertilizers should be applied during summer and autumn, prior to ploughing. Complexes of NP and
NPK type fertilizers would be applied before or during sowing, the maximum rate being 50 kg/ha.
Organic and chemical fertilizers would only be spread using terrestrial mechanized means, localized and
in an even manner.
13. Reduction by 10-20% of the chemical fertilizer's amount, for the case of localized application using the
F6-8 fertilizing machine.
14. Unilateral nitrogen fertilization is forbidden and no un-wrapped organic or chemical fertilizer amount
should be allowed to be stored on the soil, not even on a temporary basis.
15. Only authorized pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides) should be used in the way specified in
their authorisation. Field spreading only using terrestrial means is advisable too.
16. All chemicals, including their wrappings should only by deposited in specially designated places,
previously approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
17. Grazing should be performed in dry soils conditions and over winter. It is preferable to graze only with
sheep and young cattle. The desired range of stocking rate is of 1.5 2.0 livestock units per hectare.
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