THE USAGE OF SEA BUCKTHORN (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) FOR IMPROVING ROMANIA’S DEGRADED LANDS

An important percentage of Romania’s agricultural area is represented by degraded agricultural lands that can no longer be used for agriculture but can be ecologically and economically improved. One such method, respectively the use of shrubs, is supported by research conducted in Valea-Sării and Bârseşti experimental perimeters from Vidra Experimental Forest District, Vrancea County. Sustained by the concept of agroforestry, this method is used for the improvement of the degraded lands. In comparison with the ecological exigencies of forest species, there is a great diversity of degraded lands that are suitable for the culture of some species of shrubs. The most affected and unproductive lands (eroded land or landslide) can be improved and enhanced by using sea buckthorn plantations (Hippophae rhamnoides L.). The objectives of this article were to identify the categories of degraded fields that are suitable for the culture of sea buckthorn together with the used forestry amelioration technologies and to emphasize the ameliorative effects and the sea buckthorn culture’s efficiency in regard with site conditions. The research has shown that mixtures of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and European black pine (Pinus nigra Arn. ssp. nigra) with sea buckthorn or pine plantations on consolidated lands with sea buckthorn, led to significant increases growth of pines compared to pure cultures of pine, as a result of enrichment in soil nitrogen due to the symbiosis with the mycorrhizal fungus (Frankia). The investigations realized on parcels created especially for the study of leakages and installed on pine and sea buckthorn cultures (Bârseşti perimeter) have proved that the precipitation water leakages is of 4 up to 10 times lower in the degraded pastures and the erosion’s quantum is of 0.05-0.5 mc/year/ha in comparison with over 50 mc/year/ha, in pastures and empty fields. Beside their soil improvement and field stabilization role (by reducing leakages and erosion), the sea buckthorn cultures have also important economic benefits, as their fruits that are highly valued in the pharmaceutical and food industries.