LAND CAPABILITY AND SUITABILITY ANALYSIS FOR VINEYARDS IN SALAJ COUNTY, ROMANIA

Land capability classification (LCC) for soils ranking is used to link the peculiarities of an area to the productions and the applied management. Terroir has a great influence on viticultural activities and wine quality. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the components of Carastelec and Camar vineyards' terroirs and determine the influence of the soil and land characteristics on the suitability and capability of these lands for vine culture. Data on soil and climate were gathered. Soil samples were collected, analyzed, and modelled to establish their capability and suitability for vine use followed by land capability improvement approaches and grape varieties recommendation. The results reveal that the studied areas consist of different soil types and ecologically homogenous territories which ranks them into different capability and suitability classes suggesting that they have a moderate capability for table grapes production and a higher one for wine grapes production. By applying works to reduce or cancel the identified limitations, the ranking was higher for both vineyards and recommendations of the moist suitable grape varieties to be cultivated were made.