For many years, agricultural land was considered an abundant resource. However, due to its conversion to construction purposes and the decline in soil fertility, concerns about this growing issue have become more prominent. The negative trend in both the quality and quantity of agricultural land has been ongoing for some time, and it will require significant effort and determination—not only from farmers but from society and the government as a whole—to halt this process and turn it in a positive direction. Degradation processes remain widespread, from the loss of organic matter content, which is the most significant problem and affects the largest area, particularly in Vojvodina, to other forms of degradation such as the expansion of urban areas, industrial zones and road construction. While these developments are positive for society, they inevitably take away Serbia’s most valuable resource: quality agricultural land, says Vasin.
When discussing soil fertility analysis, one of the key factors for soil sampling and its components is the timing of sampling, which should occur after the previous crop is harvested. There are essentially two main periods for sampling and collecting data: after the wheat harvest in the summer and in the autumn after harvesting summer crops. Now is the time to take samples if the planting of summer crops is planned. Of course, the timing of sampling must align with other agronomic activities, primarily soil preparation. If plowing is planned, soil samples should be collected in advance, as a significant part of the fertilization recommendations depends on so-called basic fertilization, which is carried out before plowing. The goal is to incorporate into the soil the necessary nutrients indicated by the analysis, at the plowing depth, to ensure that the active root zone receives optimal fertilization for plant nutrient uptake, explains Vasin.
