Scholarly record

EFFECT OF LAND USE AND VEGETATION COVER ON SOIL PROPERTIES HAVING IMPACT ON SOIL WATER REGULATION SERVICES

Radoslava Kanianska, Jana Jadudova, Miriam Kizekova, Jarmila Makovnikova

Abstract

Substrate, organic matter content, land use and cover may strongly affect soil properties having effect on soil water regulation services in ecosystems. Soil water holding capacity is function of specific physical, chemical, and biological soil parameters. The aim of this research was to understand the risks posed to soils and their water-holding capacities, in the face of changes in land use, land management and vegetation cover. This study was conducted in 2015, at two study sites, Tajov (TA on Haplic Cambisol) and LiptovskпїЅ Tepli?ka (LT on Rendzic Leptosol), located in mountain regions of Slovakia that should be naturally covered by forests. But actually there are used also as arable land or permanent grasslands, which are gradually abounded in LT. At each site with different land use, soil temperature (T), soil moisture (?) and penetration resistance (PR) were measured three times per year. Total organic carbon (TOC) and dry bulk density (?d) measurements were done at the beginning. TOC is an important determinant of soil water holding capacity that is affected by land management type and its intensity what is also reflected in ?d values. We observed the highest TOC content in forest soils followed by the soil under abounded grasslands, permanent grasslands and arable land. Dry bulk density values showed the opposite trend. From the whole data set, the highest ? was measured during the spring in permanent grasslands at LT (40.4 %), the lowest ? value was measured during the summer and autumn in forest soil at LT (6.0 %). Soil moisture values of extensively managed land decreased in the order permanent grasslands, abounded grassland, and forest land. Soil moisture showed significant negative linear correlation with soil temperature.

Publication details

Back to publication list