engleski

Pavlomir karst field drainage and irrigation

Agricultural production in the coastal and island area of the northern Adriatic Sea in its greatest part unfolds within small (10 - 300 hectares), mostly enclosed karst fields. Favourable climatic conditions and a pedologic soil composition of relatively high quality create preconditions for successful production. Total annual precipitation quantity (1000-1500 mm/year) would fully meet agricultural production needs, but its distribution in regard with production cycle demands systematic drainage measures in spring and autumn months, and accumulation of the surplus water for irrigation purposes in summer months. Transition to market conditions of agricultural production in Croatia (after the break-up of the social structure in former communist countries) brought about the transformation of constructed drainage system users, and need to build irrigation systems was newly actualised. This work analyses conditions for agricultural production within Pavlomir melioration system, located in the immediate vicinity of the sea, not far away from the town of Novi Vinodolski. The analysis was conducted &om the standpoint of a new system user and possible introduction of new crops, hydrotechnical-expert criteria necessary for successful maintenance and improvement of existing drainage network, and possible hydrotechnical solutions to accumulate surplus water and their utilization to irrigate the crops within the system. In addition to 'that, soil erosion problem is expounded on in detail and erosion map presented for given area, since the erosion is in a long term view an important factor with unfavorable impact on agricultural production in karst areas. The enhancement manner of the production and functioning of this melioration system is a good example for future measures and activities on other agricultural surfaces, within karst fields of the Adriatic Sea coastal belt and islands.

karst fields; drainage; irrigation; agriculture improvement; soil erosion

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