Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to establish the associated effect of ameliorative works and soil tillage on the field capacity
and on water distribution of the main soil units represented by cambic (i), cambic-coluvic (ii) and cambic-clinogleic (iii)
Chernozems. The study of the capacity of soils to retain water was carried out on a slope with North-Eastern exposure
of the Ezareni farm from geomorphological unit of Rolling Jijia Field where the mean annual temperature is 9,5 oC and
the mean annual precipitation is 544 mm. Soil samples were taken in the spring and summer of 2018. The first soil
sampling was done immediately after the snow was melted, from 10 cm to 10 cm and on the depth range 0-100 cm. Soil
samples were taken from the plowed strips of ground and strips of grass. During this period, it is considered that the soil
moistening takes place up to the level of the field capacity, and losses of water through direct evaporation to the soil
surface are insignificant. Soil sampling was also done during summer, one month before harvesting of sunflower. Study
of soil water distribution at the end of vegetation is useful for highlighting the lateral movement of water and hence the
heterogeneity of improved soil units. The main criteria of sampling sites selection were based on the slope category of
the land. The obtained analytical data showed that under the same climatic characteristics, soils from slope land retain a
smaller amount of water than those found on flat or low slopes lands. The data analysis revealed that following the
processing of the obtained results it was seen as the retention of the water in the soil was influenced by the land use and
soil characteristics such as soil texture and state of compaction. Two or more water accumulation peaks recorded on soil
profiles are well correlated with the changes of size particles of soil horizons and lithological deposits.