Moldova is the unique world country that possesses the most fertile soils – chernozems
that occupy 75% of its area. Negative processes, which lead to soils` degradation and
destruction, increase together with the intensification of exploitation. The soil structure damage,
increasing compactible degree, dehumifivation, erosion, hydromorphism, landslide processes,
pollution are developing more intensely. Moldova`s chernozems and wood soils are shrinking
and litterarum, which is also a negative influence on their characteristics. Erosional processes are
one of the main causes of soils degradation in the Republic of Moldova. Erosion is a real
„cancer” of Moldovan soils. On average, about 26 million tons of fertile soils are lost annually
from agriculture lands. This causes major economic losses by diminishing the agriculture
productivity. The indirect damage from erosion refers to: siltation of water bodies; pollution of
soils and groundwater with agri - chemicals washed out from the field; destruction of roads and
hydrotechnical works, etc. Soil erosion is attributed to a combination of factors, namely: natural
factors, institutional factors and land use, management factors. Water erosion in Moldova`s
conditions is the most wide-spread soil destructing process. Averagely and strongly washed-off
soils make more than 275 thousands of hectares. Torrential rain affects about 80% of agricultural
land, that located on slopes and covering roughly 2 million ha are situated on hillsides > 2º.
These (mostly arable) areas are susceptible to erosion. According to last evaluations, the area of
lands affected by erosion exceeds 850 000 hectares or approximately 35% of agriculture land.
The heavy rains often occurring during the warm period of the year, which are specific
for this region, increase the risk of erosion. The main soil degradation processes in Moldova are:
soil destructuring, compaction, dehumification, landslides, salinization, alcalinization, waterlogging.
In present for soils fertility restoration agrochemists recommend introducing 10-12 tons
of manure in soil per hectare or 18-20 million of tons yearly.
The Republic of Moldova is affected by desertification. One of the factors of
desertification is the general ecological disbalance. Soil erosion and landslides are other major
driving forces of desertification along with factors of political, social, ecological and economic
origin. Hills areas have been impacted by the greatest sedimentation. This regional
differentiation is consistent with the decrease in clay and increase in sand content of substratum
layers as moving from the North to the South.