Browse

A global climate change caused by anthropogenic emission of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O) is one of the most important environmental problems in the latest human history. Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agriculture reach approximately 70% of annual global N2O emissions and approximately 75% of all N2O emissions in Slovakia. Cultivated soils are the main source of N2O in terrestrial ecosystems and therefore its mitigation from agriculture is urgently required. The studies on the effect of biochar application ...

One of the most widespread acidophilic fruit crops in Latvia is highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). The first commercial plantings were established at the beginning of 2000th, and in 2016 the blueberry orchards exceeded 290 ha. In general, blueberry is a highly specialized crop that has definite soil agrochemical prerequisites. In Latvia, highbush blueberries are cultivated in extracted raised bogs on peat soil, as well as on mineral soils with high organic matter content. Unlike most fruits, blueberries...

The article analyzes the currently existing methods for determining of soil erosion degree. Using the example of the main automorphic soils of the forest-steppe zone in eastern European Russia, the possibility of using hydrophysical and spectroradiometric parameters to assess the degree of their erodibility is shown. The study used unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with Tetracam Micro-MCA 4 and Tetracam ADC-micro cameras with a spectral range from 400 to 1150 nm and a HandHeld2 spectroradiometer with a similar spectru...

The goal of work was the determination of heavy metals content (Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, Cr, Pb and Cd) in samples of legumes /bean/ from the chosen cultivation fields of south-western Slovakia and also to review soil hygiene of the monitored localities. Common bean varieties were collected from cultivation fields from locality Hurbanovo and villages Dolne Saliby, Risnovce and Teplicky. To exceed limits of heavy metals in the soil of all localities, established by Law No. 220/2004 and by threshold values proposed by Europe...

Using crop dusters at the current time constitutes an important and effective means to perform agricultural and forestry works, especially when is not possible to use terrestrial equipments, or when their use not ensure an increased productivity for optimum application of the works. So, in the case in which the excess moisture content in the soil makes it impossible to use terrestrial equipments, the use of crop dusters represents the only possibility of intervention, in order to ensure an effective fight against ...

Soil provides many ecosystem services, therefore sustainable soil management, soil protection and ability to deliver ecosystem services are major concern worldwide. The growing demand for food and fiber, increases pressure on delivery of other ecosystem services provided by soil, namely water purification and regulation, carbon sequestration and regulation, nutrient cycling and provision of habitat for biodiversity. In this context, Functional Land Management framework was developed to optimise rather than maximiz...

C:N ratio in after-harvest residues (including straw) decides on speed and intensity of decomposition. In one-year field small-plot experiment, there were included these variants: (1) monoculture of winter wheat fertilized with 140 kg N/ha; (2) monoculture of winter pea not fertilized with nitrogen; (3) mixed culture of both these crops in 1:1 ratio fertilized with 112 kg N/ha; (4) mixed culture of the crops in 1:1 ratio fertilized with 70 kg N/ha; (5) mixed culture of both crops in 1:1 ratio not fertilized with n...

Approaching the issue of fertilizers with organic substances of the bio stimulants class is a difficult task as the concept is far from complete elucidation. As concerned the use in agriculture of these products, legislation, research, and experimental activities are still incipient. Any substance or microorganism applied to plants with the purpose to enhance nutrition efficiency, abiotic stress, and/or crops quality features regardless of their nutrient content can be generally defined as a product with bio stimu...

The area of calcareous soils is about 1/3 of all agricultural land. The availability of iron for plants on them is decreased which leads to a decrease in yield due to chlorosis. Synthetic agents are used to eliminate iron deficiency, many of which are expensive and resistant to biodegradation. Lignosulfonates are a unique type of technical lignins which are formed during sulfite pulping. Lignosulfonates form complexes with various metals and the presence of sulfo groups gives them solubility in an aqueous medium a...

The paper aims at inventorying soil resources in Secas Commune, Timis County, Romania, using modern means, namely the GIS method, but also to make a cartographic representation of these soil units using modern methods and means. [18,19] The main objectives envisaged are the development of knowledge on the natural environment, the creation of a ?spatial? pedological database, the spatial representation of soils, the qualitative representation of soils by GIS, the inventory of soils and the identification of their s...

The paper is focused on the effect of biochar amendment on the soil water content. Biochar used for the field experiment was produced from paper fiber sludge and grain husks (1:1 w/w) by pyrolysis at 550°C for 30 minutes. The field study was conducted at the experimental site in Nitra region Slovakia (lat. 48°19?00??, lon. 18°09?00??). The biochar was incorporated into the soil (0-10 cm) in spring 2014. The plots (4m x 6m) were organized in randomized block design. The experiment consisted of 5 levels of biochar a...

Recent investigations are focused on the characterization of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles obtained via addition or substitution processes with different cations or molecules. These nanoparticles can be used for developing fertilizers that can be applied in sustainable agriculture. Hydroxyapatite (HA) has multiple uses in agriculture: as a source of phosphorus, to obtain slow-release fertilizers as well as for removing and / or immobilizing heavy metals. Synthesised hydroxyapatite (HAE) gives the advantage of using...

In the case of anthropogenic transformation of landscapes, the most sensitive component is the soil, which ensures the stability and biodiversity of the ecosystem. The greater the degree of landscape anthropogenesis, the greater the changes in soil factors: mechanical composition, humus content, physical, biotic and chemical properties. The main negative effect of urbanized and industrial areas is technogenic soil salinization. The presence of salts in the soil has an important effect on the mobility of many subst...

In model laboratory studies of dynamics (3, 30, and 90 days), the effect of veterinary antibiotic tylosin on the biochemical properties of brown forest soil was studied at concentrations of 1, 10, 100, 1000 mg/kg of soil. To study the biochemical properties of the soil, the following indicators were selected: the activity of enzymes of the class of oxidoreductases (catalase, dehydrogenases), hydrolases (invertase, phosphatase), and acidity of the soil (pH). It has been established that contamination of brown fores...

Forest fires damage biogeocenoses. Forest fires affect trees, vegetation and soils. This influence can be both positive and negative. The thermal effect of a forest fire on the soil layer is important. It is necessary to develop mathematical models for understanding the processes of thermal effects of a forest fire on the surface soil layer. Earlier, a simple mathematical model was developed which takes into account the given characteristics of a forest fire and heat transfer in the soil layer by conduction. The p...

Among various pollutants, heavy metals with persistence, non-biodegradation, toxicity and bioavailability pose a major threat to all components of the environment. In soil of vineyard area near Nitra (Slovakia) were analysed four heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in order to assess soil contamination. Contamination factor (CF), degree of contamination (DC) and pollution load index (PLI) were used in order to determine the level of environmental contamination of the study area. The average values of CF in soils decr...

Soil science literature divided the soil biodiversity into ?three broad functional groups called chemical engineers, biological regulators and ecosystem engineers.? The paper pointed out (by the aim of the microscopic tools) the main ecosystem services provided by the biodiversity of (micro) organisms living into the soil at the organic-inorganic interface, where they built a favorable environment for themselves, the crop roots, and the entire ecosystem. The studied sites are located into different pedolandscapes ...

The research was carried out in Tata Valley watershed, Dambovita region, Romania, which is a tributary of the Ialomita river. The objectives of this study were to estimate the annual soil loss by applying remote sensing data and the main data for the Tata Valley watershed and obtain a spatial representation of the results using GIS techniques. The method used to determine the soil erosivity and total eroded soil quantity in Tata Valley watershed, is the RUSLE + GIS technique, adapted to the specific conditions of ...

This paper tackles a research concerning the restoration for agricultural purposes of different soils affected by landslide phenomena. Landslide is an erosion process which adversely affects the relief, and the damage caused to life and to the environment as a whole are considerable. Nevertheless, soils are the most seriously affected by landslide, as they lose a vital characteristic: their fertility. Research has been conducted on several experimental fields, set up on different types of non-evolved soil, in orde...

Research was carried out between 2016 and 2018 on eutricambosol-type soil with pH-5.65, low humus content of 1.37% and a rate of base saturation of 69.68%. Soil texture is medium-fine. In climate terms, according to Koppen, the climate falls under the formula c.f.b.x, characterized by a temperate climate with rainfall all year round, but with a deficit of water in the summer months. The average temperature of the year is 10.80C. The average annual precipitation volume is 631 mm. To correct the acidic reaction of t...

The results of laboratory studies concerning self-ignition in Central Europe are presented in this paper. There are known cases of self-ignition of peatlands in Indonesia and tropical regions of Africa, as well as in Southern Europe (for example in Italy and Spain). Therefore, there is a possibility that this phenomenon could also occur in Central Europe due to a climate warming. The laboratory studies, using adiabatic calorimeters, were carried out to assess the tendency of peat to self-ignition. The main aim of ...

The taiga zone of the West Siberian Plain is characterized as a zone with risky agriculture. First of all, this is due to the natural climatic conditions of the northern part of the area under study. The soil and ecological evaluation of grasslands proves the possibility of feed production for dual-purpose cattle due to the natural fertility of Ob and Vakh floodplains alluvial soils. The study of these soils for evaluation of their soil, agrophysical indicators is based on the methodological basis of the soil-ecol...

Soil contamination is one of the most serious environmental problems. The aim of this study was to assess the level of contamination of soil by hazardous metals in 5 regions of Slovakia. Overall 152 samples (soil + plant) were collected from 76 sampling sites in investigated regions. In all samples contents of Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb and Cd were determined. In soil samples the total contents of risky elements in extracts by aqua regia as well as contents of bioavailable forms in extracts by NH4NO3 (c=1 mol/L) were determin...

The Oltenia Mining Basin extends, intermittently from west to east, from the Danube to the Luncavat Stream, Valcea County. It is located as a fan shape at the contact area between the Getic Plateau and the Mehedinti Plateau, to the west of the Motru River and the Subcarpathian Depression of Oltenia, to the east of the Motru River, with the mention that most mining objectives are to the south of the contact area or in the immediate vicinity nearby.The surface mining operations in the Oltenia basin have affected lar...

Soil degradation, characterized by decline in quality, decreases ecosystem goods and services, and is a major constraint for further agricultural, including food, production. In addition, soil degradation caused by human activities, especially agriculture, contributes to climate change. The need to ensure a sustainable use of soils is outlined by the European Union (EU) Soil Thematic Strategy, as well as related legislation. This requires the prevention to further soil degradation and the preservation of its funct...

Both the United Kingdom as well as Czech Republic have seen increased impacts due to flooding in recent years. Rural flooding is due to intense and heavy rainfall-runoff events. Runoff brings with it soil erosion and sediment transport, so called ?muddy floods,? which causes serious onsite and offsite damages in the landscape or even in settlement area and infrastructure. Long-term observation and measurement is crucial step for understanding of complexity of processes involved in the generation of muddy floods an...

Biochar, as a product of carbon-rich thermal degradation of biomass, can increase crop yield and retention capacity of soil, improve soil quality and nutrient cycle. The use of biochar has positive effect primarily on soils with low quality, so its use in conventional agricultural temperate soils has often different effects and depends especially on the biochar feedstock and the pyrolysis process. There are not many research papers which are studying changes in biochar properties over time, i.e. whether the biocha...

Environmental pollution by manganese is a significant problem for the Imereti region. The source of pollution is derived from manganese extraction quarry and ore processing plant. The purpose of the study was to investigate the concentration of manganese and other heavy metals in the soil, air and water. Samples were taken from the industrial area, and the chemical elements were identified in them using ICP-MS. The results showed that the concentration of manganese and some other metals exceed to the permissible l...

The paper focuses on the determination of studied risk elements (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in the upper layer of agricultural land located in the inundation zone of the Stiavnica River in the cadastral area of Dudince village. The studied area is characterized by historical contamination of floodplains. The contamination vector is represented by the Stiavnica River that drains the nearby area of Stiavnica Mountains, an important mining area in the past. Analyzes to determine the exchange soil reaction and the content of ...

A great number of agricultural structures such as irrigation and drainage systems and anti-erosion facilities like bulk shafts, terraces, grassed run-off holding collectors, barrages, wind protection belts, etc. were put into operation during the last century in Bulgaria. The Agrarian Reform of the 1990-s posed unfavorable conditions for preservation and use of this valuable inheritance. Currently, small-sized, fragmented and scattered land use causes deterioration of land quality and infrastructure. The regulator...

The aim of the paper is to investigate the correlations between the parameters and mineralogy of agricultural soils contaminated by hazardous elements originated from the metallurgical industry. The mineralogical constituents of soil have a major influence on soil fertility and production capacity, as well as on migration and assimilation in various proportions of the elements both with nutritional role for plants and potential toxic ones. The importance of the study originates from the necessity of knowing the so...

This article presents results of researches of genesis and physical and chemical properties of humic acids of peat stratigraphic rigging of the Ob-Irtysh interfluve, selected in the area of The Mukhrino Field Station of the UNESCO chair of Yugra State University. The coordinates of the selection: 60.89535 N?68.639033 E. Ash content of peat does not exceed 12%. The effect of botanical composition of the original plants of the peat-forming plants of peat type on the construction of the macromolecules of humic acids ...

Degradation of soil cover is one of the most important problems in modern environmental management. In this paper, the results of field studies of changes in the dry steppe soil cover depending on grazing intensity are presented. The study area is located within the dry-steppe zone of the Russian Plain on the western slope of the Yergeninskaya Upland in Remontnesky District of Rostov Region. The soil cover is represented by Kashtanozems and Solonetz. In the vegetation cover, wormwood-grass associations prevail. As...

The level of contamination by heavy metals and arsenic (As) was estimated in post-agrogenic Retisols, Phaeozems, and Chernozems, belonging to different bioclimatic zones of European Russia. Each chronosequense included arable soil, abandoned soils of different age of restoration and native (forest or steppe) cenosis. The content of organic carbon, total nitrogen, pH value, total amount of heavy metals (Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Co), and As were measured in mixed soil samples collected in the former arable horizo...

The humus acids, which are part of organic matter, are an important part of the soil. Their properties affect the various pollutants, including trace metals. The article presents the structural and functional composition of humuc acids in the Euro-Arctic zone soils, which was investigated by the methods of molecular spectroscopy. An assessment of ecoprotective role to trace metals was made, which especially important for sensitive Arctic soils, formed under the influence of permafrost (cryogenic) processes. Differ...

This research consists of the accumulation of scientific data regarding the evolution of certain components of agricultural land productivity, regarding the cosmic-atmospheric (temperatures, rainfall) and the telluric-edaphic conditions (hydro physical features like: humidity, field capacity, useful water capacity, wilting coefficient) needed to substantiate current pedoameliorative technologies for their efficient use through a complex approach of the physical-geographic and climatic-edaphic conditions in the Low...

Nowdays, a degree of contamination by heavy metals can be observed in the environment. Heavy metals have serious effects on all living organisms because they can accumulate in lethal or sublethal concentrations in the various parts of food chain and so they can cause different health problems like cardiovascular, psychosomatic and cancer diseases. This work is focused to the rate of some risk elements contamination in agricultural alluvial soils from specific area of the region Hont ? alluvium of the river Stiavni...

Plants are the main recipient of heavy metals found in soil, being at the same time a source of these metals for plants, animals and human organisms. The search for methods limiting the availability of heavy metals remains valid. Many years of research are being carried out at the Warsaw University of Technology, regarding limiting the availability of heavy metals to the trophic chain by introducing into the soil organic matter. The aim of the study was to analyse the content of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cd) in radish...

The aim of the study was to assess the influence of the soil pH, from ploughed soil layer from the Ialomita region, on the mobility of heavy metals (Cadmium, Copper, Manganese and Zinc), estimated by heavy metals extractable contents in DTPA-TEA-CaCl2. Because heavy metals exist in soil in different solid-phase forms that vary in terms of availability, total content of metals in soil are poor indicators of toxicity. In order to assess a risk of heavy metal pollution in soil should consider both mobile and availabi...

The positive effects of biochar on soil structure were demonstrated in many studies. Substantially less, even information on the interrelationships between Al, Fe forms and soil structure induced by biochar application as well as its re-application is still absent. Therefore the aims of this study were: (1.) to evaluate the changes in soil structure parameters affected by biochar application and its re-application in different rates (0, 10 and 20 t ha-1), (2.) to evaluate the effect of biochar application and re-a...

The most important conditions to place the polytunnels are the presence of heating and water sources as well as the distance to the market, in order to diminish the transport costs. In the polytunnels, it is necessary to control the air and the soil factors. In soil, the main factor is water content that ensures the water to the plants, but over a value can has a negative effect. The negative effects of moisture excess are found in all stages of growth and development of vegetable plants because it determines adve...

The quality of contamination of environment by heavy metals has become global task. Heavy metals could negatively affect production and the quality of agricultural crops and through food chain could endanger the population. In our work the area Malanta situated in the south-western part of Slovakia was monitored. From 20 sampling sites the soils samples were taken and the analyses of selected heavy metals in extract NH4NO3 c = 1 mol/dm3 and aqua regia were carried out. Analytical ending was flame AAS (AAS Varian A...

The function of the soil is decomposition of organic matter, circulation of nutrients, retain and release of water and regulation of biological processes in the soil. Compacted soil and lack of organic matter disturbs this system in the soil. Project approaches a possibility to support biological soil systems by means of biostimulation as well as the possibility to promote soil biological systems using biostimulation. The effect of soil biostimulants on soil properties was studied in the territory of the Czech Rep...

The study of soils in the vicinity of medieval settlement that has only one stage of anthropogenic impact at 5-8th centuries AD was established. For comparison, fertilized soils within the modern rural household were investigated. In order to study the microbiological properties of the soils in either case, series of soil pits were made at different distances from the settlement: in the area of regular manuring, in the area of episodic fertilization and in undisturbed areas. The determination of the number of ther...

Trace elements, including elements with a negative impact on the environment, are a natural part of the lithosphere. However, with increasing industrialization, there is an uneven spatial distribution and an extreme increase in the concentration of these elements in the environment. It affects their content in the soil-plant system content. The aim of the paper is to define the content of risk elements in the soil profile to determine the level and origin of the soil contamination. The soil sampling was conducted ...

The paper emphasizes the ecological restoration (renaturation) of the natural conditions of a saline soil, which was previously under long term melioration. The soil is a Salinic Pelic Alluvic Sodosol with relict gleization, covering an Alkali soil (according to SRTS-2012). The site is located in Moldova Tableland, where Tma is 584.6?C and Pma is 9.5 mm. The depth of the groundwater table is about 1.80 m, with frequent seasonal fluctuations and weak-moderate mineralization. The soil had a polyphasic evolution, bot...

The main objective of our studies undertaken is to determine the causes of the increased degradation of the soil from upper terraces of Moldova's river catchment. In the studied area from the western part of the Suceava Plateau (North-Eastern Romania) was built in 1978-1980 with a drainage network consisting of channels and underground drains. These works have been associated with leveling, deep loosening, mole drainage and liming. The studied settlement is located on the terrace platform with an average altitude ...

In the course of model experiments, the biological properties of ordinary chernozem at oil pollution of 5% and 10% of soil mass and subsequent introduction of biologically active substances such as urea and potassium humate were studied. The results of bioremediation of oil-contaminated chernozem on the 30th, 60th and 90th day have been assessed by its biological properties: the activity of the phosphatase, catalase and invertase, emission of carbon dioxide. The phosphatase and catalase activity have shown the mos...

Variations of biological properties (3, 30, 90 days) of chernozem under the impact of antibiotics (ampicillin, streptomycin, tylosin) and pesticides (systemic fungicide input) in the concentration of 500 mg/kg of soil have been studied in simulation experiments. Addition of biocides varies the enumeration of microorganisms and enzymatic activity of soils. Correlation analysis revealed positive interrelation between enzymes of the two considered classes (dehydrogenase, invertase) with enumeration of micromycetes (r...

The most attractive tourist object of the West-Arctic region of Russia is Solovetsky Island. However, every year increasing the tourist flow has anthropogenic impact on unique Arctic areas. This article presents the features of the biogenic elements, oil products and heavy metals accumulation in the soils of the Solovetsky settlement (Bolshoy Solovetsky Island in the Solovetsky Islands archipelago) in order to determine the level of anthropogenic impact on these territories. The data of the physicochemical paramet...