Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture, Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLIII 2013 243 SOIL DEGRADATION IN OLT COUNTY BY THE PROCESS OF HYDRIC EROSION NIJLOVEANU DANIEL, BOZGA ION, TITA VICTOR , VÂNĂTORU (RĂDULESCU) DIANA Keywords: soil erosion mapping, fertility degradation. ABSTRACT This paper presents some problems related to soil erosion, which are today among the most studied and researched topics issues soil specialist institutes the country and abroad. Soils in the studied area are specific to the climatic regime and soil and are numerous and vary from one place to another, each floor having its personality. There are some areas of particular soils located on slopes that are highly exposed to erosion and even landslides. Comparing the two erosion models shows that the best results against the erosion process were given by the cultivation model of annual grasses and perennial plants. Soil protection against erosion can be achieved by agricultural crops and agricultural technology specific as described before. Knowing of crops, depending on the level of protection that they provide to the soil erosion models and knowledge of land with slopes leading to the choice of different culture systems to prevent their erosion. INTRODUCTION Hydric soil erosion represents “a physical phenomenon” resulting from the destruction or disposal of soil and rock particles from the action of water, wind, ice and gravity forces. Soil erosion is one of the most negative phenomena, whatever it comes from the wind (wind erosion) or from water (hydric erosion). As it is known, one of the most important components of the biosphere is the soil which is the loose, soft and reliable layer, that is found on the surface of crust and together with the atmosphere constitute the living environment of the plants. Water erosion is a complex phenomenon of degradation which affects the productivity of agricultural land and involving participation of several processes that change discrete or violent the physiognomy landscape. In the last period of history, the natural conditions that favor the emergence of such a process or added the massive deforestation were carried out at present. Only 26,7% of Romanian’s surface is covered by forest and about 43% (6,4 million hectares) of total agricultural land is subject to soil erosion and associated processes, and as the amount of sediment that is eroded on the surface of agricultural land amounts to 106,6 million tons per year. As it is known, one of the most important components of the biosphere is the soil which is the loose, soft and reliable layer, that is found on the surface of crust and together with the atmosphere constitute the living environment of the plants Soil, as a natural body which is formed after long pedogenetic processes, represents a real and effective complex laboratory for remediation, neutralization, recycling of waste. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the process of erosion by water and measures to be taken for control and combat this phenomena erosion, which develops on agricultural territory in Olt County, regarding the following issues: - knowledge of the natural conditions in which the land degradation by water erosion and landslides. brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture, Montanology, Cadastre Series