Central Moldavian Plateau Research Articles

A NEW REGISTRATION IN THE VASCULAR FLORA OF MOLDOVA (EASTERN ROMANIA): ALLIUM INAEQUALE

The presence of species Allium inaequale in the flora of Moldova (eastern Romania), has been reported in this paper, based on specimens collected by authors on the field, as well as on specimens stored in public herbaria. The species has been identified in arid grasslands of two nature reserves from the Central Moldavian Plateau (Vaslui County), namely: “Coasta Rupturile” Tanacu and “Movila lui Burcel” Miclești. This is a very rare plant species in Romania, found at the most western limit of its general range, and should be included, as vulnerable, in the Romanian Red List of Vascular Plants. We have also found that the registration of the species A. moschatum in the flora of Moldova was due to misidentification. Based on the current data, A. moschatum, should be replaced in the flora of this historical province by A. inaequale.

Growth variation of pedunculate oak trees (Quercus robur) in comparative cultures of different origin

At the age of 16, were analysed the comparative cultures of pedunculate oak, which have as seed sources the stands from the north, center and south of the Republic of Moldova. The provenances from the center area demonstrated a high adaptation capacity in the test site from the ,,Plaiul Fagului” reservation, having a signifi cant performance of growth in height than those from the south of the country. At the provenances studied, was observed the instability of the phenotypic variability, which resulted in the change of ranking regarding their growth in different years. This fact suggests that the genetic expression of growth in height occurs gradually, stadially, in the ontogenetic process of tree development. Also, is evident a strong hereditary infl uence of the oaks of origin on the growth rate of the descendants. The use of acorns within the limits of a forest body is risky with the reduction of the genetic diversity of the natural population. Under the conditions of climate change, the transfer of reproductive forest materials within the limits of the Central Moldavian Plateau can be admitted because the pedunculate oak has a vast genetic variability in terms of traits important for adaptation. The assisted migration within the limits of the center area to the oak, a species with a long life cycle and vast genetic variability, is justifi ed by the fact that natural selection will speed up the adaptation process of trees with the prediction of climate changes.

CUCUJUS CINNABERINUS (SCOPOLI, 1774) (COLEOPTERA: CUCUJIDAE) IN ROSCI0045 CORIDORUL JIULUI, ROMANIA

The protection of the Natura 2000 species Cucujus cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1774), protected by Romanian and European legislation, requires knowledge of distribution, threats and conservation status. In Romania the species is protected in only 9 Natura 2000 areas of the 442 SCI declared until 2021. All the protected areas in which the species is mentioned are located along the Carpathian Arch except ROSCI0135 Pădurea Bârnova – Repedea located in the Central Moldavian Plateau. The identification of the species in ROSCI0045 Coridorul Jiului brings new data about the distribution of the species and its conservation status. Observations on the species in larval stage were made by direct searches in specific habitats in the protected area. In the months of May, August and September 2022, Cucujus cinnaberinus was identified in several points along the protected area: Dăbuleni on poplar wood in the Danube River meadow, Foișor on poplar wood in the Jiului meadow, Bratovoești in ploplar wood of the former channels of the meanders Jiului River, Calopăr on ash wood from the Dâlga valley and Turburea on alder wood in the Gilortului meadow. The identification of Cucujus cinnaberinus Natura 2000 species requires further monitoring at the site and the implementation of appropriate protection and conservation measures.

Land Degradation and Soil Conservation Measures in the Moldavian Plateau, Eastern Romania: A Case Study from the Racova Catchment

Land degradation by soil erosion, gullying and landslides and reservoir sedimentation is a major environmental threat in the Moldavian Plateau of eastern Romania. The widespread development of these processes in the last two centuries was favored mainly by traditional agriculture focused on ‘up-and-down slope’ farming on small plots. However, soil conservation measures were actively undertaken between 1970 and 1989. More recent legislation (No. 18/1991 Agricultural Real Estate Act) includes two provisions that discourage maintaining and extending soil conservation practices. Hence, the former contour farming system has been abandoned in favor of the traditional, inadequate farming methods. Thus, this paper reviews the impact of land degradation and soil conservation measures in a representative 32,908 ha catchment located in the Central Moldavian Plateau. Based on field measurements, the results show that the estimated mean long-term (1973–2017) sedimentation rate reaches 4.7 cm y−1 in the Puscasi Reservoir at the catchment outlet, resulting in an associated sediment delivery ratio of 0.28. The initial area of the Puscasi Reservoir at normal retention level has decreased by 32% and the water storage capacity has decreased by 39%. Consequently, land degradation remains a serious problem in the study area and effective soil conservation is urgently needed.

Hailstorm risk assessment for crop areas in Moldova Region (Romania)

Estimating the impact of hail on agricultural land is needed in order to streamline damage reduction methods. In this regard, hail risk maps were prepared for the region of Moldova for the main types of crops (wheat and rye, corn, potato, sugar beet, sunflower, vegetables, orchards and vineyards). The methodology that we used consists in determining the risk map, as the product between the hazard map (average annual number of days with hail), the exposure map (agricultural crop value) and the vulnerability map (the percentage occupied by a certain agricultural crop in the administrative units). Areas with severe hail risk are in the eastern half of Vrancea County, the western part of Galati County and the northeastern part of Iasi County, where there are large areas cultivated with vines, orchards and vegetables. In Vaslui County, the most exposed ATUs are those in the vicinity of Bârlad, Fălciu Hills and the Huși wine area. Most AUs in Bacău and Suceava counties, in the southern part of Neamț County, are included in the medium and high-risk classes due to the suitable conditions for cultivating most plants and the higher frequency of hail. The ATUs from Botosani County are included in the low and medium risk classes. The lowest level of risk is registered in the case of AUs from the mountainous area, the Curvature Subcarpathians and the areas with higher altitudes from the Central Moldavian Plateau and Tutova Hills.

RESEARCH OF SOILS IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA FOR THE QUALITATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF SEA BUCKTHORN

Sea buckthorn cultivation in the Republic of Moldova represents a young but profitable branch with development perspectives due to the nutritional value of the products, to the protection qualities of eroded soils and to the accumulation of biosynthesized nitrogen in the soil by the plant root system. The current sea buckthorn plantations in the Republic of Moldova occupy a very wide spectrum of soils and their textural varieties, from typical chernozems in Balti steppe (Sangerei district - Dobrogea Veche), to the gray and brown forest soils in the Central Moldavian Plateau - Codrilor Plateau (Orhei district - Putintei and Clisova, Calarasi district - Leordoaia) and the carbonate chernozems of the terraces of the Dniester river (Dubasari district - Pohrebea). The morphological description and the physical-chemical analysis allowed to highlight some ecological factors determining the productivity of the sea buckthorn plantations: degree of compaction, porosity, structure, moisture, effervescence - for several types and subtypes of soil, textural varieties, complexity of the soil cover, slope exposure and others. It was shown that typical chernozem and light gray soil have more favorable agro-physical conditions for sea buckthorn cultivation, compared to the brown soils and typical gray forest soils, heavy by texture. The high loam content, especially in the drought periods of the year, causes the processes of swelling-contraction. Disorders in the optimal development of plantations - insufficient development or total drying can occur as a result of exceeding soil moisture above the field capacity limit for water or below the wilting coefficient of the plant. In order to optimize the moisture regime depending on the soil texture and type, it is recommended to irrigate the sea buckthorn plantations established on chernozems. Gray and brown forest soils are not suitable for drip irrigation. In some periods, depending on the climatic conditions, there may be a need to optimize soil moisture. AnaleleUniversităţii din Craiova, seriaAgricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture, Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. 51/1/2021 188 On the plantations with unsatisfactory development of sea buckthorn, it is recommended to monitor the bulk density, the soil penetration resistance depending on the hydro-physical constants and the accessibility of water for plants.

CONSIDERATION ON THE ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS IN THE CENTRAL PLATEAU OF MOLDAVIA

Atmospheric precipitation represents one of the important climatic parameters that characterize the individuality of the climate of the regions, by its decisive influence on the climatic characteristics, but also on the geographic landscape. Therefore, this parameter is important from a theoretical point of view, but also a practical importance through the direct impact and the modifications that they bring to the activity of some important fields such as agriculture, transport, construction, tourism etc. In the present paper is intended to contribute to the scientific knowledge of this important climatic element in the Central Moldavian Plateau. The average of thew annual, semestrial and monthly precipitation quantities from the Central Moldovan Plateau were analyzed. The average annual values of the atmospheric precipitation in the Central Moldavian Plateau are slightly lower than in other regions of Romania (except for the Iași Coast), due to the continental influence, which is also manifested by the high percentage of the average precipitation in the warm semester and by summer. June is the month with the highest average amounts of rainfall, and February (isolated January), the month with the smallest average quantities.

Land Degradation and Management within Upper Racova Catchment

Abstract Land degradation has been recognized as an important environmental threat in the Moldavian Plateau of eastern Romania. This study was designed to estimate the magnitude of land degradation and to review land management in a small catchment in the Central Moldavian Plateau. Several methods were deployed to estimate soil erosion losses, gully distribution, landslide inventory and reservoir sedimentation rates. Results obtained in the study area of 7,766 ha, of which 31% is arable and 32% native forest, show that the mean value of soil losses by water erosion on agricultural land is 19.0 t ha−1y−1. By adding the woodland contribution, this value significantly decreases to 12.8 t ha−1y−1. Then, a large proportion of land (58%) is covered by landslides. Most of them are shallow and dormant (stable), and the active ones form only ~2% of the total landslide area. Siltation rates determined using 137Cs reflect the impact of land management on deposition patterns in reservoirs. Proper conservation measures were applied over a 20-year time-span from 1970-1990. Since 1991 the contour farming system collapsed and returned to the traditional ‘up-and-down slope’ farming system on very small plots.

The influence of natural factors on the pathology of the locomotor apparatus on the upper course of Bârlad in the Central Moldavian Plateau

A cold microclimate will prompt a reaction to be triggered by heat generation and the effects on the body are decreased sweating, peripheral vascular constriction by increasing the excitability threshold of the Krause corpuscles, cold receptors that maintain the blood pressure control threshold. Hot climatization requires vasodilation and sweating, especially when the air temperature exceeds 29° C. Objectives: To evaluate and present the beneficial effect of the microclimate formed on the upper course of Bârlad from the Central Moldavian Plateau on the human body of the patients with advanced pathology of the locomotor apparatus. Methods: The study was performed on a group of 17 patients aged 63-98 with chronic pathology of the locomotor system, the clinical status being analyzed over a period of 5-10 months sanatorium treatment. The pain scale - Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) was used. Results: The analysis of the clinical status of patients with chronic pathology of the locomotor apparatus for a period of 5-10 months balneary-climatic sanatorial treatment indicated an important improvement due to the climate of the area (VAS Media at the beginning of the evaluation - 7.12, after 5- 10 months of treatment in sanatorium - 3.06, P Stewdent = 0.01). Recommendations: Modeling some limits of microclimatic parameters in order to increase the degree of multifunctional comfort of patients.

The Racova catchment. Geomorphological peculiarities

The Racova Catchment, located within the southern border of the Central Moldavian Plateau is stretching on 32,908 ha. From the range of sedimentary layers, specific to the Moldavian Plateau, the erosion outcrop Middle and Late Miocene (Sarmatian/Serravillian and Maeotian/Tortonian) formations plus the recent Quaternary ones. The sandy-clayey - clayey-sandy Kersonian (Upper Sarmatian) and clayey-sandy - sandy Maeotian strata lie in a general homocline (monocline) structure. The subsequent valley of Racova, through its almost cross orientation against the general S-SE tilt of the geological formations, clearly emphasizes the first order structural asymmetry. This lay down in the local topography by the large double and north-facing cuesta front of Racova developed on the right side of the catchment. At its turn, the left slope of the Racova Valley is pretty heavily dissected by tributaries which sculptured reconsequent or askew subsequent valleys. That’s why it is far away different from the classical shape of a gentle south-looking cuesta back slope. The reconsequent valleys, north-south oriented and some more developed, obsequent valleys, south-north oriented, from Racova cuesta front highlight the second-order morpho-structural asymmetry. That is marked by the presence of lower amplitude cuestas with their west-facing front and the east-looking back slope. The local landforms are typically hilly within this framework of noticeable cuesta extension and small structural-lithological platforms with peripheral position. The prevailing genetic relief type is represented by the sculptural (fluvio–denudational), followed from great distance by the fluvial accumulation and structural-lithologic relief. Besides the large extension of cuestas, the main peculiarities of the study area refer to the following: severe land fragmentation/dissection and almost the even distribution of slopes on both sides of the Racova Catchment, and noticeable prevailing of the valley sides (78.3% of catchment area). On the whole, the cuesta fronts amounts 62% of the slopes area, and two-thirds of the cuesta back slopes are heavily degraded. The structural-lithological plateaus have a reduced and peripheral incidence and the fluvial terraces are preserved on small patches. Based on field data, three compartments with distinct features have been separated. DOI: 10.15551/lsgdc.v45i0.09

Three Years of Observations on Global Solar Radiation at Mădârjac Weather Station (270 m) - Central Moldavian Plateau

Abstract This study is based on 3 years of hourly observations of global solar radiation (2014-2016), at a new weather station installed in the region of Central Moldavian Plateau, at Mădârjac (47.05°N, 27.25°E, 270 m). The main characteristics of annual, monthly and daily regime of global radiation were emphasized using for comparison similar data from Iașioficial weather station. Smaller annual amount of global solar radiation than those observed in previous studies were observed, reaching 4734 MJ/m2 in Iași and 4454 MJ/m2 in Mădârjac. An altidudinal gradient of global solar radiation close to 140 MJ/m2 was identified for the hilly region of Moldova. Despite the overall higher values in Iași, 30% of days indicates higher values of this parameter at Mădârjac weather station. These results can be used for the evaluation of the photo-voltaic potential in the region, but also to understand the altitudinal differences of solar radiation in the hilly region in Moldavia, since the only long-range actinometric stations from this part of Romania, Iași and Galați, are located at low altitudes.

Land Degradation Within the Bahluieţ Catchment

Abstract The Bahluieţ catchment, located in the Moldavian Plateau, at the contact between the Jijia Rolling Plain, the Suceava Plateau and the Central Moldavian Plateau, has 54,866 hectares in size. The sculptural landforms are prevailing, described by elongated rolling hills, and are underlain by the Bessarabian layers laid in marine brackish facies. In turn, the typical plateau relief (Coasta Iasilor and the eastern border of the Suceava Plateau) is developed in coastal facies also Bessarabian in age. This paper focuses on the spatial distribution and intensity of land degradation processes and associated controlling factors within the Bahluieţ catchment. The most characteristic geomorphological processes, playing an essential role in the morphogenesis of the landforms are soil erosion and landslides, while gully erosion and sedimentation have a reduced intensity. Soil erosion is ubiquitous, being the process with the highest extension. Therefore, the soils on the arable land, affected by moderate-excessive erosion, hold a weight of 38%. The slopes subjected to landslides are stretching on 19,040 ha, representing 35% of the studied area. Nowadays, most landslides show high degree of stability, due to the drier period of time since 1982. The gully erosion has a reduced incidence resulting from the prevailing Bessarabian clayey-sandy facies. The average rate of sedimentation in reservoirs, after the year 1986, is around 2 cm yr-1. Land degradation within the Bahluieţ catchment occurs on steeper slopes, mainly in the shape of cuesta fronts, usually northern and western facing, but also on some degraded cuesta back slopes.

Particularities of the Soil Layers in the Catchment of the Stemnic (Buda)

Abstract The Stemnic river (Buda) is a right side affluent of Bârlad river, with the surface of the catchment basin of 15,662.5 ha. Situated in the central part of the Central Moldavian Plateau, the catchment of the Stemnic (Buda) is characterized by an oblong form (30.5 km, respectively 8.5 km), having a lithologic homogeneity, but also by a diversity of the superficial deposits (eluvia, diluvia, colluvia and proluvia, alluvia). The fields in the catchment basin of the Stemnic (Buda) have been analyzed from the point of view of the soils’ quality, that have been classified into five quality classes. Besides the intrinsic characteristics of the soils, their classification included also the pedo-chemical properties of the lands, geomorphologic or climatic properties of the area. First, second and the third quality classes are predominant in the lower half of the catchment basin, less fragmentary, with prolonged cuesta reverses, corresponding to the distribution area of the chernosols. The lands that form part of the fourth quality class are distributed, in a great percentage, on the same types of soil, but represent greater constrains because of the abrupt cliffs. The fourth class is made up of the lands with severe limitations that reduce the range of agricultural crops or that need special measures or work in order to protect and ameliorate the soil’s resources. This class cumulates a percentage of 9%, being characteristic for the area affected by landslides, prevalent mainly in North-West part of the catchment of the Stemnic (Buda). In the fifth class there are included soils with major constrains for agricultural use. From this perspective, in the catchment, there are predominant the soils in the third quality class (37%), being followed by the second class (26%) and the first class (23%). The main limitative factors for the agricultural production of the lands in the catchment of the Stemnic (Buda) are the erosion in surface, the landslides, humidity excess and the small quantity of nutritive elements.

Characteristics of the Land Degradation in the Stavnic River Basin

Abstract Located in the Central Moldavian Plateau, the Stavnic catchment is associated to a left tributary of the upper Barlad River, and extends on 21,341 ha of which 39% is under forest. The typical hilly landforms, the alternation of permeable and impermeable rocks (clays, sands, loess-like deposits), the unrolling of wetted and dry periods, the sequence of freeze and thaw cycles, and the influence of the anthropogenic factor triggered the acceleration of land degradation processes. The present day geomorphic processes such as soil erosion, gullying, mass movements and silting of reservoirs represent a major threat to the local environment. Soil erosion on the agricultural land covers mainly the land with slopes of over 5%, and it highlights through different stages of intensity. By data processing, gained from the soil surveys undertaken by O.J.S.P.A. Iasi and Vaslui, it is obviously that moderate-excessive soil erosion extends on 52% of the surveyed area. The gully erosion apparently plays secondary role in the Stavnic catchment. However, there has been identified a total number of 330 gullies, most of them being included into discontinuous gullies class, often located on the hillslopes. Landslides are the most representative geomorphologic processes and they extend on 12,006 ha, which represents 56% of the Stavnic catchment. One mention must be made, that in the context of climate aridisation occurred during the last three decades, the landslides are almost all stabilized. The majority of the few active landslides have frequently formed through the reactivation of the old landslide diluvia. By using the Cesium-137 technique in dating the recent sediments from the Cazanesti accumulation, within the lower Stavnic catchment, the mean siltation rate of 4.5 cm yr-1 after the Chernobyl nuclear accident was estimated.

PARTICULARITIES OF THE SOIL COVER IN THE CATCHMENT OF STEMNIC (BUDA)

Stemnic (Buda) river is a right side affluent of Bârlad river, having a surface of the catchment basin of 15662.5 ha. Situated in the central part of the Central Moldavian Plateau, the catchment of the Stemnic is characterized by an oblong form (30.5 km, respectively 8.5 km), having a lithologic homogeneity, but also by a diversity of the upper deposits (eluvia, diluvia, colluvia and proluvia, alluvia). The fields in the catchment of Stemnic have been analyzed from the point of view of the soils’ quality that have been classified into five quality classes. Besides the intrinsic characteristics of the soils, their classification included also the pedo-chemical properties of the lands, geomorphologic or climatic properties of the area. First, second and the third quality classes are predominant in the lower half of the basin, less fragmented, with prolonged cuesta reverses, corresponding to the distribution area of chernosols. The lands that form part of the fourth quality class are distributed, in a great percentage, on the same types of soil, but present greater constrains because of high slopes. The fourth class is made up of lands with severe limitations that reduce the range of agricultural crops or that need special measures in order to protect and ameliorate the soil resources. This class cumulates a percentage of 9%, being characteristic for the area affected by landslides, mainly in the north-west part of the catchment. In the fifth class are included soils with major constrains for agricultural use. From this perspective, in the catchment are dominant the soils in the third quality class (37%), being followed by the second class (26%) and the first class (23%). The main limitative factors for the agricultural production of the lands in the catchment of Stemnic are surface erosion, landslides, humidity excess and the small quantity of nutritive elements.

Suitability of Wind Potential in Some Areas of Central Moldavian Plateau

Abstract In the contemporary period, the most important element in sustaining and developing the society, under all its aspects, is represented by energy. Due to the fact that in society consumption is increasing, the actual preoccupation is to reduce the energy consumption and also to find clean, alternative sources to produce energy. The theme of this article is directed towards the concepts of increased availability and energetic independency and concerns estimations over the wind potential in certain areas of Central Moldavian Plateau. For this purpose there were analyzed genetic factors of the wind in the analyzed area and those parameters of wind speed, useful to the justification of the wind potential study. The obtained results confirm the fact that in Central Moldavian Plateau, in many areas, especially those of high altitude, are favorable conditions to use wind energy. Along with the remoteness from the Eastern Carpathians and the proximity of the Black Sea, the conditions become more and more favorable. Unfortunately, the lack of meteorological stations on the top of hills (besides the Barnova station, situated in the woods). Increased wind speed in the meaning of what was stated, was approved only on high valleys and upper terraces in the main valleys, especially on the Prut.

The Contribution of Agricultural Research and Development Station Secuieni, Neamţ County, Romania, to the Supply of Soybean Seed

ABSTRACT In the 2008-2012 period, in the Seed production laboratory from Agricultural Research and Development Station (A.R.D.S.) Secuieni, Neamţ county, Romania, were cultivated three varieties of soybean, Granat, Eugen and Onix, created at A.R.D.S. Turda, Cluj county. These varieties were well adapted to the climatic conditions of A.R.D.S. Secuieni, obtaining yields of up to 3000 kg/ha. During 2008- 2012, the following amounts of seeds were produced: PB1(pre-basic seed 1): 11000 kg in 2008, 8700 kg in 2009, 6500 kg in 2010, 5600 kg in 2011 and 3800 kg in 2012; PB2 (pre-basic seed 2): 45900 kg in 2008, 39000 kg in 2009, 67000 kg in 2010, 32000 kg in 2011 and 27000 kg in 2012. The amount of seed from the biological category PB2 ensure, annual, the required for sowing 300- 700 ha of basic biological category, which is delivered to farmers for the sowing of about 5000-12000 ha. Both in the field of seed production as well as in the ecological testing field (comparative cultures of contest) Onix variety presented the greatest adaptability to the pedoclimatic conditions from the Central Moldavian Plateau, achieving the highest yields

Assessment of Soil Erosion and its Impact on Humus Spatial and Temporal Dynamics.

The purpose of this study is to quantify soil surface erosion using the Universal Soil Loss Equation in GIS environment and to assess its impact on soil humus reserve. The quantifying of soil surface erosion was performed by integrating in GIS the thematic raster representations of the erosion control parameters which exhibit spatial variability within the limi ts of the study region (Dobrovăţ Basin, The Central Moldavian Plateau, eastern Romania). Soil erodibility was computed according to ICPA (1987) standards, on the basis of soil type, texture and erosion degree, using a soil map of the basin at scale 1: 5000. Slope length was derived from a 20m resolution digital elevation model using SAGA-GIS software, while slope factor was determined according to the Romanian methodology by raising the slope values at the power of 1.5. Finally, the vegetation factor was computed on the basis of the normalized difference vegetation index derived from a 2001 Landsat image, using the equation proposed by Van der Knijff et al. (1999). Subsequently, we derived the potential soil erosion, controlled exclusively by soil-relief factors and the effective soil erosion, by integrating the effect of vegetation. The potential soil erosion show a mean value of 15.6 t/ha yr and a standard deviation of 16.6 t/ha yr. The integration of the vegetation effect decreases the mean value to 5.4 t/ha yr and the standard deviation to 6.7 t/ha yr. Most of the basin’s surface (48.7%) falls into the reduced erosion risk class (2-8 t/ha yr), while the high and very high erosion risk classes group 7.3% of the basin. The assessment of the erosion impact on soil carbon stock was performed by coupling the USLE model with a Hénin -Dupuis mono-compartmental humus evolution model. The simulation was performed for the first 20cm of the soil profile, using a database of 224 soil profiles. The results of the simulation show that 76% of the soil profiles display a regressive evolution of the humus reserve under the impact of the soil erosion. The mean humus loss for these profiles is 36.3 t/ha for 100 years of simulation.

Morphometric features of the river network from the Bârlad catchment

After a brief presentation of the Bârlad catchment, the hydrographic network is analyzed using the HortonStrahler classification system. From the amount of morphometric parameters, the drainage and the slope patterns are taken into consideration for the entire Bârlad catchment and for the 13 hydrometric stations in the catchment that have data on water flows and suspended sediments. From those there were chosen the Vaslui hydrometric station as representative for the geomorphologic units of the Bârlad catchment and the Feldioara hydrometric station for the Berheci catchment. Based on the analyzed patterns there were determined a series of morphometric parameters specific to the river network for all the 13 analyzed stations and from their comparison one can see obvious differences between the obtained values for the basins in the Central Moldavian Plateau and the ones in the Tutovei Hills.

Spatial prediction of soil qualitative variables using logistic regression and fuzzy techniques. Study region: Dobrovăţ basin (Central Moldavian Plateau)

The present study attempts to test the performance of two statistical approaches, namely the binary logistic regression and fuzzy techniques for spatial prediction of soil types. The study area is Dobrovaţ basin, located in NE Romania, within the Central Moldavian Plateau. The input parameters are the digital elevation model, slope, topographic wetness index, mean annual temperatures and precipitations. The logistic regression approach proved successful in estimating the spatial probabilities of Aluviosols, Chernozems, Preluvosols and Luvosols and generally failed in predicting the locations of Phaeozems. The fuzzy approach, implemented through SoLIM software, proved successful in predicting the occurrences of Aluviosols and Luvisols. On the whole, both methods managed to assign the same soil type as in the soil survey map for 55-56% of the basin. Though it is clear that the approaches need to be further improved, they do present, in the authors opinion, potential for the purpose of predicting soil qualitative variables