The purpose of this work is to determine and analyze the current state of soil quality and fertility in Bihor County, in order to support decisions on the sustainable use of agricultural land and the improvement of land management practices. The purpose of this work is to determine and analyze the current state of soil quality and fertility of agricultural soils in Bihor County. The judicious use of soil resources is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration between local authorities, farmers, researchers and civil society. By developing rigorous studies and implementing evidence-based policies, we can ensure not only environmental protection, but also long-term sustainable economic development. The long-term viability of Bihor agriculture depends on a holistic approach: research, environment and the transposition of knowledge into agricultural practice.

The paper was conceived out of the desire to provide an analysis that would explain how climate changes in the western part of Romania, in the Banat area, influenced the production of maize and soybeans, for a period of five years, between 2020-2024, in the town of Buziaș, located near the city of Timișoara. This area offers an interesting setting for this study not only through its geographical positioning, but also through its climatic specificity. The analyzed region benefits from fertile soils and favorable conditions for agriculture, but at the same time, it faces risky climatic phenomena, which can put producers in difficulty. The general conclusion of the present sufy highlights the fact that, during the years 2020-2024, aside the climate factors considered (rainfall amount and temperature) some other aspects have impacted the yield too, as: the exact moment in which these conditions manifest themselves, the type of soil in each plot, but also the adaptive capacity of each hybrid or variety.

The sustainable management of urban pruning residues is increasingly important for promoting circular bioeconomy practices and reducing green waste disposal. This study evaluated the composting potential of pruning biomass from 18 urban tree species (11 deciduous and 7 coniferous) and assessed the effects of biomass type and feedstock ratio on compost quality. Plant residues were composted with fresh cow manure using two compost ratios: V1 (700 g manure + 100 g plant biomass) and V2 (700 g manure + 700 g plant biomass). Compost quality was evaluated through pH, macroelement (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) and total microelement (Mn, Cu, and Zn) and heavy metal (Pb, Cd, and Ni) concentrations. The composting ratio was the primary factor controlling compost properties. V1 produced alkaline composts (pH 7.96–9.42) with higher nutrient concentrations, whereas V2 generated composts with pH values closer to neutrality (7.39–9.44). Increasing the proportion of plant biomass reduced macronutrient concentrations, with total N ranging from 2.23% in V1 to 0.72% in V2, and potassium decreasing by 50–80% relative to V1. In contrast, micronutrient concentrations increased in V2, reaching 1142.7 mg·kg−1 Mn and 481.1 mg·kg−1 Zn. Total heavy metal concentrations also increased with greater biomass incorporation, although values generally remained low; the highest Ni concentration (15.77 mg·kg−1) was recorded in Paulownia tomentosa compost. Species-specific responses were observed for nutrient release and metal accumulation, highlighting differences between deciduous and coniferous feedstocks. The findings demonstrate that compost quality is primarily determined by the manure-to-biomass ratio, while tree species influence nutrient dynamics and trace element accumulation. Composts with higher manure proportions are suitable for nutrient enrichment and acidic soil amelioration, whereas biomass-rich composts provide enhanced micronutrient contents but require monitoring of heavy metal accumulation.

The basic problems of Banat agriculture, as well as that of Romania and everywhere else, are related to increasing agricultural production and increasing soil fertility. The maximum utilization of the entire agricultural area of Banat requires a thorough knowledge of the natural conditions and, first of all, of soils, as a means of production in agriculture, which synthesize, through their properties, the influence of all natural and anthropogenic factors.In this context, I set out to review the main natural factors that contribute to the smooth development of agricultural activities in the southwestern part of Romania, especially plant production, with special reference to the soil, this huge „factory” for transforming energy and substances from the environment into plant biomass.In the complex of measures aimed at the intensive development of agriculture, an important place belongs to the rational use of land. However, given the limited possibilities for expanding agricultural lands, their prudent use and a permanent increase in soil fertility are required.

In this paper, we have made an interpretation of how climate changes and certain risk factors have influenced the evolution of the climate in the western part of Romania. With the help of meteorological data provided by the representative stations in this part of the country, the influence of abiotic factors was analyzed for different study intervals. The first part of the paper presents a period with a normal multiannual evolution of the thermal regime, the pluviometric regime and extreme phenomena, and in the second part, the years with significant deviations are interpreted. The analysis of meteorological parameters was carried out for the representative stations in the western and northwestern areas of the country, stations belonging to the Banat Crisana Regional Meteorological Center, respectively those in the counties of Timis, Arad and Bihor. The results obtained led to the formulation of some conclusions regarding the influence that these climate changes have on the crops in the analyzed counties.

Apples, Malus x domestica Borkh., are the third most produced fruit in the world after bananas and watermelons (FAO Statista, 2023) and the most consumed fruit in Romania. The fruit market in Romania is invaded by apple varieties imported from Turkey, Poland, Italy, or Hungary. In recent decades, hybrid varieties obtained in Europe or the United States have also influenced domestic production. For this study, five varieties of apples with different origins were studied, which were purchased from the supermarket (in the year 2024). The varieties studied were Starkrimson, Jonaprince, Jonaprince, Idared, and Golden Delicious. In these varieties, the biometric and biochemical characteristics of the fruits were studied, such as the average weight of the fruit, the height and the diameter (large diameter, small diameter) of the fruits,thefruit firmness,thecontent in soluble dry matter, the percentage of sugar,thefruit acidity and vitamin C. This research focused on the comparisons and linear relationships between the biometric and biochemical characteristics of the studied varieties, followed by principal component analysis ( PCA) and cluster analysis.

Coal mining leaves behind extensive tailing dumps that pose long-term ecological and soil degradation challenges. This study evaluates the restoration potential of vegetation on coal mine tailings in the Jiu Valley, Romania, focusing on soil nutrient dynamics and the heavy metal distribution. Field sampling was conducted across three vegetation types—unvegetated (UV), herbaceous (HV), and arboreal (AV, Robinia pseudoacacia)—at two intervals: three and six years post-plantation. Soil samples were analyzed for their pH, organic carbon, macronutrients, micronutrients, and heavy metals using standardized spectrometric and titrimetric methods. Between 2021 and 2024, AV plots showed a 9.5% increase in total nitrogen and a 5.2% rise in organic carbon, alongside a 6.9% reduction in soil pH. HV plots exhibited a 10.6% increase in magnesium availability and a 2.8% decrease in copper concentrations, indicating active nutrient cycling. In contrast, UV soils retained 68% higher total potassium and 24% more zinc than vegetated plots, likely due to limited biological uptake. Lead concentrations remained below the EU threshold of 60 mg kg−1, while nickel levels exceeded recommended limits across all variants, peaking at 76.08 mg kg−1. The vegetation type significantly influenced nutrient mobilization and metal stabilization, with arboreal cover demonstrating the most consistent ameliorative effects. These findings underscore the role of targeted revegetation—particularly with Robinia pseudoacacia—in improving soil quality and mitigating ecological risks in post-mining landscapes.

This study presents an integrated evaluation of soil fertility, bonitation scores, and crop suitability in two representative agricultural localities from the Western Romanian Plain: Periam and Sânnicolau Mare (Timiș County). In Periam, representative soil profiles were analyzed at two depths (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm), and laboratory determinations focused on key agrochemical parameters (pH, humus, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and potassium), physical properties (bulk density, texture), and hydrophysical indicators. Data from Sânnicolau Mare were integrated comparatively based on regional pedological reports and scientific literature. Results highlighted the predominance of chernozems in both localities, accompanied by gleysols in poorly drained microdepression areas, where lower pH values and higher bulk density were recorded.Statistical analyses revealed significant relationships between pH, humus, and nutrient availability, emphasizing the role of organic matter and water regime in determining the actual fertility of soils. PCA clearly differentiated samples by soil type and locality, confirming the superior fertility of well-drained chernozems in Sânnicolau Mare compared to those in Periam. Bonitation scores placed the soils predominantly in quality classes II–III, with potential decreases to class III–IV in gleysols affected by temporary water excess. Applying ameliorative practices (drainage, deep loosening, liming, legume-based rotations) may increase bonitation scores by 5–10 points, thus improving productive capacity.Overall, the study provides a robust scientific basis for adopting sustainable land management practices, demonstrating that combining pedological analyses with bonitation evaluation and modern statistical tools is an effective approach for optimizing agricultural land use in the Western Romanian Plain.

The study analyzes the efficiency of vineyard land use in the Recaș Wine Center (Timiș County) over the last decade, under the influence of accelerating climate change. Using climate data from 2013–2022 and local agrometeorological observations, recent trends of warming, aridization, and increased frequency of extreme events—droughts, heat waves, late frosts, and hailstorms—are highlighted. The main soil types in the area (preluvosols, eutric cambisols, chernozems, and weakly gleic soils) ensure a high natural suitability for viticulture, generally classified in creditworthiness classes I–II when optimal management practices are applied.Land-use efficiency was evaluated based on grape yields (t/ha) recorded for five representative varieties—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Fetească Neagră, and Chardonnay—during two contrasting years: 2023 (cool, rainy spring and balanced summer) and 2024 (severe drought and extreme summer temperatures). Results indicate yield reductions of 20–30% in 2024, particularly for drought-sensitive red varieties, emphasizing the vulnerability of the viticultural system to water deficits in the absence of irrigation.The findings are discussed in relation to soil productive potential and compared with studies documenting climate-induced yield fluctuations in European viticulture. Existing adaptation strategies in Recaș—canopy management, crop load regulation, inter-row mulching and grassing, night harvesting, and digital monitoring—are assessed alongside future measures such as drip irrigation, diversification with drought- and heat-tolerant varieties, and the use of oenoclimatic indices in vineyard planning.Overall, the study concludes that sustainable vineyard management increasingly requires not only the optimization of yields and quality but also the long-term protection of soil and water resources under rapidly evolving climatic conditions.