Buletinul USAMV-CN, 62/2006 ISSN 1454-2382 IDENTIFICATION STUDIES AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AREAS VULNERABLE TO DESERTIFICATION IN THE WESTERN PART OF ROMANIA Popa Veronica, I. Borza U.S.A.M.V.B.Timisoara, Calea Aradului, nr. 119, email: [email protected] Key words: desertification, soil, precipitations, temperature, identification SUMMARY The meaning of desertification is the diminution of the ecosystem’s biological productivity, resulting the extension of the soil and vegetation desert conditions and their intensification on the basis of the global climate changes. Through the study of the factors inducing the phenomenon followed by their superposition on the real conditions in the western part of Romania, there had been identified the areas vulnerable to desertification. The western zone is part of the territory with moderate risk of desertification, also having insular areas intensively affected by drought.[2] The amount of rainfall in this part of the country is the smallest in the most western point (Beba Veche-521,0mm), increasing towards East and South (Periam- 530,3mm; Sânnicolau Mare-541,4mm). [4] The multiannual average temperatures are over 10 0C, being registered the values 10,5 0C at Sânnicolau Mare and 10,7 0C at Jimbolia and Banloc. [1] The vulnerability to drought of some soil types on the basis of the climatic warming and of the unfortunate anthropic influence (drainings, deforestation, overgrazing, bad agricultural activities) leaded towards the soils salinization, the lost of their fertility and also their compaction and crusting. With the help of some pedological maps [3] it had been established the distribution of these soil types. Thus, the arenosols are present in the zones Periam-Pesac, Teremia Mare, and around Dude ştii Vechi, Sânnicolau Mare and Comlo şu Mare there are sandy soils of the fluvisols, cambisols and chernozems types. The intensively clayey soils can be found around Cherestur, Cheglevici and Beba Veche. The solonetzs are insulary present between Foeni and Gr ăniceri and also at Beba Veche. The salty cambisols, chernozems and vertisols are grouped near Banloc, Sânnicolau Mare, between Valcani and Ner ău, and between Periam and Varia ş. In conclusion, the most vulnerable areas to desertification in the western part of the country are around the locations Beba Veche, Sânnicolau Mare, Periam- Pesac, followed by Banloc, Dude ştii Vechi, Comlo şu Mare and Ner ău. 1. Mircov, D.V., Eugenia Stanciu, F.Imbrea, Z.Fekete, Laura Unipan, J.Marincovic, Antoanela Cozma, 2005, - Climatic characterization of western regoin of Romania , Eurobit, Timi şoara, vol. XXXVII, p.95-97; 2. Munteanu, I., 2000,-Despre unele aspecte privind rele Ńiile dintre secet ă, pedogenez ă şi degradarea terenurilor (de şertificare), in Ştiin Ńa Solului, nr.2, vol. XXXIV,p.127-141; 3. Rogobete, G., D. łă rău, 1997,-Solurile şi ameliorarea lor, Marineasa, Timi şoara; 4. Stanciu Eugenia, 2005, -Precipita Ńiile atmosferice din Banat, Eurostampa, Timi şoara; .