Evolution of Soil Tillage Practices: Current Status

and Strategic Perspectives in Romania

Elena Partal

National Agricultural Research and Development Institute Fundulea

Keywords: soil tillages, evolution, perspectives.

 Abstract: Soil is the most important resource in agriculture. The way we work the soil influences everything from water retention and fertility, to crop productivity and farm resilience in times of drought. Intensive use without conservation measures can lead to irreversible degradation of the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil, transforming a vital and apparently sustainable resource into a vulnerable and limited one. Intensive practices, such as repeated mechanical tillages, can accelerate degradation and reduce the microbial biodiversity essential for soil functioning. Without protective interventions, the fertile layer can be lost in just a few years, while its natural recovery takes centuries. The evolution of soil tillages in Romania indicates a clear shift towards conservation systems, due to economic pressure, the need for efficiency and climate change. In the context of climate change and soil degradation, traditional approaches need to be analyzed and, sometimes, reconsidered.