To understand soil management and to maintain soil quality, we need to know about the chemical aspects of the soil, such as:

soil pH, Soil texturecation exchange capacity, organic matter soil nutrient content.

The soil texture from the researched points, in the first 40 cm, is medium clay loamy (soil sampling 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10), medium loamy (soil sampling 2), loamy clay (soil sampling 4, 7) for the hungarian samples and medium clay loamy (soil sampling 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10), loamy clay (soil sampling 2) , silty clay (soil sampling 4) for the romanian samples.

Soil pHpH is probably the most commonly measured soil chemical property and is also one of the more informative.

Soil pH values in Hungary – Romania border area

HumusHumus provides soil with a number of very important benefits:

It enhances a soil's ability to hold and store moisture.

It reduces the eluviation of soluble nutrients from the soil profile.

It is the primary source of carbon and nitrogen required by plants for their nutrition.

It improves soil structure which is necessary for plant growth.

Soil humus values in Hungary – Romania border area

Phosphorus (P)Phosphorus (P) is essential for plant growth. It stimulates growth of young plants, giving them a good and vigorous start. Phosphorus management and nutrition has both economic and environmental implications.

Soil phosphorus values in Hungary – Romania border area

To fulfill its many roles in plants, potassium K potassium K is absorbed in rather large quantities, even exceeding the amount of nitrogen

Soil potassium values in Hungary border area

Soil potassium values in Romania border area

Heavy metal Normal valuesalert

thresholdthreshold for intervention

CdCd 1 3 5CuCu 20 100 200PbPb 20 50 100ZnZn 100 300 600MnMn 900 1500 2500NiNi 20 75 150

Total zinczinc content in soil is ranged between 4040 ppm and 140140 ppm in Hungary, and between 3030 ppm and 7575 ppm in Romania. CopperCopper content in soils vary in a large domain, being ranged betwwen 2020 ppm and 130130 ppm for Hungary, and respectively 7171 ppm for Romania. Highest manganesemanganese content was determined in Romanian soils, maximum value was 967967 ppm. Hungarian soils are richer in nickel,nickel, highest value being determined in Mako area, 50,150,1 ppm. Soils from Hungary – Romania border area have a low cadmiumcadmium content, non of the values exced maximum admitance levels.Lead content of Romanian soils are relatively low (2 – 30 ppm), but in Hungary in Mako and Forest are, at depth of 0 -20 cm, lead content exceded admitance level of 50 ppm. In Ujszeged and Othalom this value is exceded at depth of 20 – 40 cm, perhaps because of lead levigation.

Considering all determined chemical indicators, we can conclude that the soils of the Hungary - Romania are quality soil, with pH from acid to slightly alkaline, medium humus content and well supplied with phosphorus and potassium.

To maintain quality in terms of soil chemistry, is required:

•Enhance organic matter•Manage nutrients and pests efficiently•Prevent soil compaction•Diversify cropping systems