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Water soil erosion is a phenomenon in which soil particles are separated transported and translocated by the action of rain water. Removal of topsoil by water flow leads to a decrease of humus in the soil, deterioration of soil structure, compaction, and reduction of microbial activity.Developed and tested have been number of methods and technologies for soil protection from the effects of water erosion. Such technology is vertical mulching, and straw or compost applied as mulching material.This work is a study of the changes that occur in some soil chemical properties and soil microbiological activity, as a result in the implementation of anti-erosion measure vertical mulching with different mulching materials for growing corn and wheat grain on carbonate chernozem, on sloping agricultural lands.

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The application of technology for water erosion control plays an essential role in development of sustainable agricultural systems. The paper presented observes the study results from a period of six years in terms of losses of mineral nitrogen and available forms of phosphorus and potassium in the cultivation of wheat and maize on sloping terrains (on calcic chernozem soil type) under the influence of water erosion processes. The impacts of four different types of technology (conventional technology performed along the slope; conventional technology applied across the slope; surface mulching; and minimum tillage with vertical mulching) on nutrient losses were tested. On average, the annual losses of mineral nitrogen, available forms of phosphorus and potassium in wheat production along the slope utilizing conventional technology were 6.0 kg·ha−1y−1, 1.6 kg·ha−1y−1, 5.9 kg·ha−1y−1, and 11.3 kg·ha−1y−1, 2.1 kg kg·ha−1y−1, 10.8 kg kg·ha−1y−1 in maize production. The lowest losses in these elements occurred with minimal employment of tillage system, as they reached values of 2.3 kg·ha−1y−1; 0.6 kg·ha−1y−1, 2.0 kg·ha−1y−1, respectively, in wheat production, and 1.7 kg·ha−1y−1, 0.3 kg·ha−1y−1, 1. kg·ha−1y−1, respectively, in maize production.

A developed wireless microprocessor system based on ATmega328P microcontroller and Arduino sensors for measurement of soil properties is described in the paper. The accuracy of the proposed system is analized during the measurement of basic soil parameters – electrical conductivity and acidity. The system has been experimentally tested with soil samples from eight soil types and soil solution. The results for the soil parameters obtained with the wireless measurement system are compared with a reference measuring instrument. The presented wireless system for soil parameters monitoring shows good measurement accuracy sufficient for engineering research.