Abstract
Agriculture of Moldova is at a crossroad. The technological approach to farm intensification based on increased inputs of nonrenewable sources of energy (mineral fertilizers, especially nitrogen, and pesticides) accompanied by reduced biodiversity in agroecosystems has led to many negative consequences in agriculture. Agriculture needs systemic changes at the level of the landscape and individual farms. Evidence is presented from long-term experiments carried out in Moldova since the 1960s at the Research Institute of Field Crops. “Selecţia” These results show the energy intensive nature of our agroecosystems and their longterm impacts in depleting soil organic matter. The use of fertilizers has covered up negative effects associated with intensive rotations on the productivity of crops. Gains due to breeding intensive varieties winter wheat have been less than expected. The use of crop rotations that include perennial forages, organic + mineral fertilizers can reduce the need for intensive agrochemical inputs. Only such changes can help to prevent, but not to control pollution and degradation of the environment. The key for a new approach to an intensive agriculture on a sustainable basis is the recognition of the soil as being a living organism and the crucial role of enhanced rotations and soil organic matter management.
Access provided by Autonomous University of Puebla. Download to read the full chapter text
Chapter PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
B.P. Boincean (2005), The fundamental role of crop rotation and soil fertility for sustainable farming systems. International workshop “Fate and impact of Persistent Pollutants in Agroecosystems” Book of abstracts, 10–12 March, 2005 IUNG — Pulawy — Poland p. 73–74.
B.P. Boincean (2005), Ecological soil management in Moldova. The Third International Conference, May 20–21, 2005 Chişinău, Ecological Chemistry, 2005 pp. 278–279.
B. Boincean, John Doran (2006), Toward sustainable farming systems in the Republic of Moldova, 18 World Congress of Soil Science, July 9–15, 2006, Philadelphia, PA (Poster presentation) pp. 167–174.
B. Boincean, L. Nica (2007), Productivity, fertilization and fertility of cernoziom soil in the steppe zone of Moldova, mineral versus organic fertilization. Conflict or synergism? Proceeding of the 16th International Symposium of the International Scientific Centre of Fertilizers (CIEC), 16–19 September, 2007, Gent, Belgium, pp. 102–109.
G. Duca, S. Toma, B. Boincean (2007), Natural ecosystems as models for modern sustainable agroecosystems. Meeting of the Union of European Agricultural Academies, Yalta, Ukraine, 16–17 May, 2007.
B. Boincean (1999), Ecological farming in the Republic of Moldova (crop rotation and soil organic matter). Chisinau, Stiinta, 269 p. (Russian).
W. Goldstein, B. Boincean (2000), Sustainable agriculture in the forest steppe and steppes zones of Moldova, Ukraine and Russia, Moscow, Econiva, 267 p. (Russian).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer Science + Business Media B.V.
About this paper
Cite this paper
Boincean, B. (2009). Farming Practices in Moldova for Preventing Pollution and Degradation of the Environment. In: Bahadir, A.M., Duca, G. (eds) The Role of Ecological Chemistry in Pollution Research and Sustainable Development. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2903-4_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2903-4_17
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-2901-0
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-2903-4
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)