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In this paper was performed a thorough analysis of the effects of the conservative system of mechanized works, minimum-till (hard disc and scarifier) and no till (direct sowing), compared to the classic system (ploughing), highlighting the influences on soil and plants, the ways to reduce the technological costs, the improvement of soil quality indices, by accumulating organic matter and increasing humus supply, the need to reduce the traffic of mechanical equipment and opportunities to reduce fuel consumption, the improvement of conditions for retaining and capitalizing water reserves in the soil, the reduction of working hours and labour requirements. REZUMAT În lucrarea de fata s-a realizat o analiză aprofundată a efectelor sistemului conservativ de lucrări mecanizate, minimum-till (disc greu şi scarificat) şi no till (semănatul direct), raportat la sistemul clasic (arat), evidenţiindu-se influentele asupra solului si plantelor, modalitatile de reducere a costurilor tehnologice, ameliorarea indicilor calitativi ai solului, prin acumularea materiei organice şi creşterea aprovizionării cu humus, necesitatea reducerii traficului utilajelor mecanice şi posibilitatile de reducere a consumului de carburanţi, îmbunătăţirea condiţiilor de reţinere şi valorificare a rezervelor de apă din sol, reducerea timpilor de lucru şi a necesarului de forţă de muncă. INTRODUCTION It can be considered that at present humanity is facing great difficulties that profoundly affect the food supply of agriculture, climatic conditions that undergo brutal changes, with sharp increases in air temperature, reduced rainfall with natural implications on plants. The current climate changes are taking place in the sense of expanding the aridisation of large agricultural areas. All these unfavourable impacts occur in the conditions of an emphasized demographic explosion (Baltag G., 2020). In this context, in addition to expanding the irrigation areas, in order to ensure food security, efforts must also focus on combating the effects of drought and desertification by other means (Dabney et al, 2001). Working systems for soil conservation are considered the main components of the agricultural technology for soil water conservation and soil carbon sequestration strategies and are part of Sustainable Agriculture (Li and Chen, 1999). Working systems for soil conservation involve reducing the number of mechanical works to direct sowing and keeping plant debris at the soil surface in a proportion of at least 30 % (Crismaru I., 2006; Stelian et al, 1983). The working systems for water conservation in the soil have as objective the assurance of an aerohydric regime corresponding to the intensification of the biological activity and the balance in the solubilization of the nutrients (Vlăduţ et al, 2014). Thus, it is necessary to mention the initiation of afforestation and reforestation actions in many states of the world, the use of agroforestry practices adopted by farmers in some countries, in order to protect their crops and pastures, the construction of drainage networks for reduction of excess moisture and salinization (Cooper et al, 2017). Even when irrigation is applied on large areas, it is and will be necessary to store and retain all the water from rainfall (Toma et al, 1981; Scripnic and Babiciu, 1979). Storing and retaining a single millimetre of rainfall in the soil means a saving per hectare of 10 m 3 (10 tons) of irrigation water (Deng et al, 2005). Conservation and management of soil water is done through specific techniques among which the proper working of soil plays an important role (Farcas N., 2019). Rising temperatures, melting of glaciers, increased droughts and floods are signs that climate change is intensifying over time, due to human activities, which lead to an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (Chen et al, 2008). Drought and its associated phenomena, namely aridification and desertification, are, after pollution, the second biggest problem that humanity is facing in the last half century (Shi et al, 2006). The global expansion of Vol. 61, No. 2 / 2020 INMATEH – 324 these destructive phenomena is highlighted by climatic data that reveal a progressive warming of the atmosphere and a reduction in rainfall, which lead to the occurrence of drought (Croitoru et al, 2015; Dobre et al, 2017). In addition to global climate change, increased drought and desertification are also due to anthropogenic pressure. Excessive logging, expanding agricultural areas and poor land management, rapid population growth and, last but not least, poverty are being considered (Bronick and Lal, 2005; et al, 2010). In our country, the climatic changes are manifested by the decrease of the annual rainfall level, by an uneven distribution of them both in time and in space and especially by an outphasing of the water supply compared to the critical periods of the plants, by an increase of daytime temperatures and an intensification of spring winds. Climate change taking place in the North Bărăgan area manifests by expanding of the aridisation of large agricultural areas. Climate analyses carried out by SCDA Brăila predict an unfavourable evolution in the perspective of 2025 and 2050. It is estimated a decrease in the average multiannual rainfall from 445 mm currently to 440 mm in 2025 and 435 mm in 2050, an increase in the multiannual average temperature from 11°C currently to 11.3°C in 2025 and 11.5°C in 2050, an increase in the potential multiannual average evapotranspiration from 715 mm currently to 730 mm in 2025 and to 750 mm in 2050. There is an increasing pressure on agriculture to find remediation solutions to ensure, through soil works, the increase of capacity to access and store water, preservation and increase of soil quality indices, finding and applying the technologies to ensure these requirements, establishing of crop structures with increased drought resistance and with the best agricultural yields (Vlăduţ et al, 2015; Wang et al, 2003). Starting with the combination of different working methods, conservative tillage works include a wide range of methods, with and without furrow turning (chisel, paraplough, “goose foot” tools, disc harrows, etc.), which ends with the formation of the layer of mulch at soil surface, until the cessation of soil mechanical works according to the No-till type (zero tillage, direct sowing). (Șandru et al, 1983; Dragan G., 1969). Farmers must be prepared for lifelong learning and have information on all achievements in the field. Sources of knowledge can be very diverse, starting with European farmers which apply this system and ending with the most advanced scientific papers (Garnett et al., 2013). Today, it is difficult to convince that one can change the concept of farmers to switch to new unknown technologies if there are no calculations regarding the yield of sales that they will be able to argue their economic reasoning. High costs, the need for knowledge of farmers and the uncertainty of yield (green bridge effect and oscillation of crops) have led to indecision among farmers (Toma et al., 1981). Innovative approaches for soil maintenance are constantly being analysed and improved. The limitation of conventional tillage works may include soil aggressive mechanical reversal, which leads to high losses of organic carbon (C), disturbance of soil biology and erosion caused by wind and water (Reicosky D., 2015). Many agrotechnical works were unjustly considered conservative (Gumovschi A., 2019). In recent years, the importance of sustainability in intensive agriculture has grown in prominence (Crotty et al, 2017). Conservation techniques can preserve a limited amount of organic residue on soil surface and can create a good environment for the growth and development of agricultural crops. Conservative agriculture is beneficial as it can stop soil degradation, expand soil fertility and ensure the efficient application of natural resources, increase the productivity and help ensure food security (Derpsch R., 2008; Ceretto C., 2007). Soil structure has a direct impact on several aspects of soil functioning, including: the transfer of water, solutes, fine particles and gas within the soil; the development and activity of root systems; the biological activity (Bronick and Lal, 2005). Stability of soil structure, often assessed by the degree of soil aggregation, strongly determines a soil’s ability to resist and recover from disturbances (e.g., tillage, erosion). MATERIALS AND METHODS The research works were carried out to preserve soil fertility and to increase yield quantity and quality to the main species of cultivated plants, between 2014-2018. The research was carried out in Brăila area (Brăila county) and Dăbuleni area (Dolj county) and aimed at establishing the technological elements with impact on plant cultivation and on growth of agricultural yields in dry areas and quantifying the influence of new mechanized agricultural works systems on crops as well as for preserving and conserving soil fertility. To achieve a complete picture of the approached problem, the experiments were performed in both irrigated and non-irrigated dry areas. Also, the researches aimed to highlight the influence of different technological elements (soil works, sowing, fertilization, irrigation) performed with the classic and modern working techniques, for different crops, on agricultural yields in order to highlight and promote the works with favourable technical and economic impact on drought-affected soils. It was aimed to specify the influence of microclimate modifying solutions by creating forest curtains for agricultural protection. Vol. 61, No. 2 / 2020 INMATEH – 325 The synthesis of the results of the paper can contribute to the influence of the production costs in the sense of their decrease, to the promotion of the conservative systems for soil

THE EFFECT OF CONSERVATIVE AGRICULTURAL WORKS ON SOIL AND FIELD PLANTS AND OPTIMIZED MECHANIZATION TECHNOLOGIES