The influence of soil management practices on biochemical characteristics of soil in plum orchard

Soil management practices such as low or no tillage, mulching and grass cover significantly influence the biochemical characteristics of soil in plum orchards, generally by increasing soil organic carbon, humus and nutrients, enhancing soil aggregation, and improving water infiltration and storage. Research on the application of eco-schemes regarding permanent crops in fruit orchards in the context of ensuring biodiversity and environmental conservation was carried out in a plum field trial located at ICDP Pitesti-Maracineni. The following experimental variants were established: 1. For the interval between the rows of trees, three variants (V1 – clean soil; V2 – spontaneous grass cover; V3 – artificial grass cover (Lollium perenne, Festuca rubra, Medicago sativa, Lotus corniculatus); 2. On the row of trees, four variants (V1 – clean soil; V2 – grass cover with clover „Nanissimo”; V3 – herbicide; V4 – mulching). The following biochemical indicators were determined in 2024 and 2025 years: pH, organic carbon, humus, total nitrogen, mobile phosphorus and mobile potassium content. Compared with the results of soil chemical analyses performed before the installation of the experimental variants, it was observed: an increase in pH values, the soil going from an acidic reaction to a neutral one; an increase in soil content in humus, total nitrogen, mobile phosphorus and mobile potassium in the grass cover and mulching variants.