Land Use Favourability Assessment Based on Soil Characteristics and Anthropic Pollution. Case Study Somesul Mic Valley Corridor, Romania

Abstract

The Somes, Corridor, located in the central Transylvanian region of Romania, is a territory characterised by favourable conditions for habitation and land use with agricultural purposes, offering suitable premises for the development of the settlements and the economic activities taking place in the area. This study aims to identify the parcels of land from outside the built-up area, which can be used as arable land, this particular use being pursued due to the favourability induced by the pedological resources, the morphometrical characteristics of the Somes, floodplain and, last but not least, the climatic conditions. GIS technology has been used, enabling the management of the databases representing soil, topography and climatic factors, and thus obtaining the classification of all land parcels using favourability classes for agricultural land use. In order to perform a correct favourability classification, the degree of soil pollution and groundwater pollution have been analysed, using chemical tests of water and soil profiles taken in the area of former abandoned industrial platforms, which are intended to be reintroduced in the local economic use. The highest degree of soil pollution with ammonium and sulphates has been identified in the industrial park from Dej city, on the territory of the former industrial platform of the paper factory, this pollution modifying the quality scores of arable land use, despite the fulfilment of favourable climatic and topographic conditions.