At present, larger and larger areas of land within the Romanian Plain are affected by the desertification phenomenon (in various stages, up to real deserts with dunes, for example in the southwest of Dolj County). This phenomenon, resulting from a combination of factors, such as poor management of agricultural land, intensification of erosion (especially wind erosion) on the background of deforestation of protective belts installed in the 60s - 80s of last century, and with an increasing contribution of climate changes (reduction of precipitation in general, prolonged intervals with high temperatures and lack of precipitations, high and sudden variations of temperatures, etc.), since it affects the main agricultural area of the country, is able to threaten the food security of Romania. In this context, it is necessary to identify solutions that are as fast as possible and at the same time technically and economically viable for the reintroduction of these lands in the productive circuits. Based on these considerations, but also taking into account some present realities (related to the abrupt rise of energy and fuel prices, as well as a much discussed and expected food crisis), in this paper we set out to analyze, at a conceptual level, the possibility and the opportunity to use the central pivot irrigation systems as the main solution within the complex of works necessary for the reintroduction of the lands affected by desertification in the agricultural productive circuits. Also, we specify that the present study was restricted to the southwestern part of the Romanaților Plain (a subdivision of the Romanian Plain), located in Dolj County, without excluding the possibility for this solution to be adopted in other regions affected by desertification in the country.

desertification, irrigation systems, agricultural recovery

environmental engineering

Presentation: None