SUMMARY

 

In 2002, the first year of the project titled "Soil characterization and land management for production of high-value food from sunflower and soybean", we analyzed production plots of two large sunflower and soybean growers in the Vojvodina Province, AIC »Bečej« in Bečej and »Agrodunav« in Karavukovo. Soil samples taken from 16 profiles and 33 "average samples" of topsoil represented 158 ha of arable land belonging to the two combines. The collected samples were each analyzed for more than 30 parameters, i.e., physical properties, main chemical properties, total contents of microelements and heavy metals, contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the activity concentration of radionuclides.

 Regarding fertility, the analyzed soils were uniform (calcareous, alkaline, medium to well provided with humus and total nitrogen). Differences were registered only in the contents of available phosphorus and potassium which were non-uniform, ranging from low to high.

Regarding content of harmful and hazardous substances, non a single one of the 49 samples analyzed exceeded the maximum allowed concentration (MAC) as defined in the Rules on Hazardous and Harmful Substances in Soil (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia 23/1994).

The contents of PAHs were below the MAC. Activity concentrations of all artificial radionuclides except 137 Cs were below their respective detection thresholds. The registered activity concentration of 137Cs should not jeopardize food safety if we take into account the soil-to-plant transfer factor of this isotope.

 

          Key words: soil properties, soil fertility, harmful and hazardous substances, sunflower, soybean.