Investigation of soil degradation by means of an opto-electronic microreliefmeter

To investigate the behaviour of seedbeds as affected by climatic stresses, under the dependance of different systems of organic improvements, an opto-elctronic device was used, presenting a high resolution capacity and good rapidity. The contactless measurements ditrectly recorded in a computer have been repeated at different times exactly at the same place in the field. A complete statistical analysis by means of spectrum analysis gave accurate information about the behaviour of clods of different size. The differentiated evolution of the soil surface according to climatic stresses (frost and rainfall) was noted. The influence of organic and/or mineral improveemnts appeared clearly too.