The possibilities of intensive field crop production on the Pseudogley type of soil using the complex amelioration measures

In Republic of Serbia the pseudogley type of soil outspreads on approximately 443.000 ha or 4,7 % of the total area. At the area of West and North-West Serbia this type of soil outspreads on approximately 360.000 ha or 20% of the total area. The main characteristics of Pseudogley are unfavorable chemical properties, heavy mechanical composition, compaction and low hydraulic conductivity, which result in an unregulated water-air regime. An ameliorative action that could regulate unfavorable water regime of these soil types is the implementation of the horizontal pipe drainage. On experimental drainage field Varna near Sabac, owned by Institute of Soil Science, on the pseudogley type of soil, it was established an experiment in order to follow the effect of different spaces of the horizontal pipe drainage on increase of the yields of main crops (wheat and maize) in relation to the undrained areas. The processing of data of the realized yields in the period 2004-2009 shows that on the plots on which the pipe drainage was implemented, compared to the undrained areas, the yield of wheat increased 8-60%, while the yield maize increased 6-43%. Regarding the areas at which this type of soil outspreads, by implementation of the complex amelioration measures this potentially productive soil would enable economically profitable agricultural production, especially crops for animal food. This will increase the opportunity for intensifying animal production.