ANALYSIS OF THE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM AND PRODUCTIVE RESOURCES IN THE RECAȘ AREA, TIMIȘ COUNTY, ROMANIA

Abstract

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of the local economy in the town of Recaș and its surrounding villages, where the pedo-climatic conditions favor a diverse range of crops and a strong winemaking tradition. This study presents the structure of the land fund (2024), the degree of arable land suitability, and the main limiting factors, correlated with the level of mechanization and the crop structure. Of the total area of 23,198.48 ha, 85.1% is agricultural land, including 56% arable land and 7.5% vineyards; non-agricultural land accounts for 14.9%. Within the arable category, the distribution by quality class is as follows: Class II – 14.8%, Class III – 44.2%, Class IV – 29.4%, and Class V – 11.6%. The dominant limiting factors include soil acidity (low pH values over approximately 21% of the surface), slope (affecting around 31.7%), excess moisture (about 22%), and low total porosity in soils with a Bt horizon (approximately 32%). The analysis of the technical base reveals a diverse but uneven fleet of agricultural machinery across small farms, a factor that may affect production stability. The results are discussed in relation to literature on agricultural management, mechanization, the integration of weed control technologies, and trends in agro-economic and rural development. The conclusions highlight key directions for improving performance: integrated soil and weed management, optimization of input use, and strengthening of technical capacity, while leveraging the competitive advantage of local viticulture.