RENDZINAS OF THE NORTHERN MOLDOVA FOREST-STEPPE

Abstract

Purpose. On the territory of Moldova the rendzina soils are developed on the toltrel ridges and on exposed limestone surfaces in valleys of the Dniester and Prut rivers and its numerous tributaries. The aim of the study was to assess the some sub-typical features of rendzina soil-forming in conditions of the Dniester-Prut interfluve in the northern part of Moldova.Methodology. Digging soil pits, its morphological and morphometric description, sampling for laboratory analysis, as well as the determination of physical and chemical properties were performed using approved standard methods.Findings and Results. Rendzina as a special type of intrazonal soil is developed on eroded limestone rocks. The total area of these soils is 14656 hectares, or 0.43 % of the country of Moldova. It is a very shallow soil with a dark horizon A, rich in humus, directly overlying the horizon C of very calcareous parent material.Typical rendzina are widely distributed in the northern part of Moldova on multiple sites under petrophytic steppe, while leached subtype occurs only under petrophytic forests on the slopes of the valleys.