Study of the effects of soil and irrigation water quality on more efficient agricultural crop production and environment protection

Solving the problem of soil and water pollution should be based on ecological principles. Soil requires maximum protection from degradation and taking measures for preservation, remediation and rational use. Serbian soils vary in their origin and substratum they were formed on. Their characteristics stem from this fact, i.e. their physical, chemical and microbiological properties that make them differ in types and varieties. As the future of Serbia is agriculture-oriented, its main task is to evaluate and increase agricultural soil productive capacity. The project anticipates critical comparative analysis of the existing classification of Yugoslav soils, international and national classifications of countries in the region, aiming to propose the first national classification of Serbian soils, adapted to contemporary classifications and novel computer techniques. Research will observe and determine the factors affecting soil fertility reduction. Studies using pot vegetation experiments on polluted soils, such as the ones around the mining-energy basins Kolubara, Kostolac etc., and on experimental fields, would evaluate the effects of applied meliorative measures. Within the project framework, selection will be done for highly efficient nitrogen-fixing bacteria (free-living and symbiotic) and phosphate solubilizers to increase N and P content in soil and plant. The use of these biofertilizers would improve soil quality and yield and quality of certain field and vegetable crops