Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Lenka Mládková
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Geology, Czech University of Agriculture in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Author-Name: Marcela Rohošková
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Geology, Czech University of Agriculture in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Author-Name: Luboš Borůvka
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Geology, Czech University of Agriculture in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Title: Methods for the Assessment of Humic Substances Quality in Forest Soils
Abstract: This paper is focused on soil organic matter quality assessment in acid forest soils. Soil samples were collected in the Jizera Mountains region. Vegetation cover of sampling sites was formed by spruce or beech monocultures. Humus quality was assessed by the ratio of absorbances of pyrophosphate soil extract at the wavelengths of 400 and 600 nm (A400/A600). Humus fractionation was performed on selected soil samples. DRIFT spectra of individual fractions were measured. Higher pH and lower C and N contents were found in beech forest than in spruce forest. A400/A600 well correlates with C and N contents (r = 0.510*** and 0.615***, respectively). C and N content increases as to humus quality decreases. DRIFT spectra of fulvic acids turned out to be unsuitable for describing differences in humus quality. DRIFT spectra of humic acids and humin were hence more suitable. The difference between spruce and beech forest was found in 1514.cm-1 (C=C bounds of benzene rings) and 1550 cm-1 (N-H bounds in monosubstituted amides) bands intensities. Humic acids and humin coming from the O horizons of beech forest are relatively enriched by nitrogen functional groups. Values of humic acids aromaticity index did not differ between beech and spruce forests. DRIFT spectroscopy was shown as a possible method for detailed humus quality studying.
Keywords: forest soils, humus quality, DRIFT spectroscopy, humic acids, fulvic acids, humin
Journal: Soil and Water Research
Pages: 3-9
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2006
DOI: 10.17221/6499-SWR
File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6499-SWR.html
File-Format: text/html
X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-200601-0001.txt
Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:1:y:2006:i:1:id:6499-SWR

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Alena Jakubíková
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Irrigation, Drainage and Landscape Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Author-Name: Miloslav Janeček
Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation, Prague, Czech Republic
Author-Name: Martin Tippl
Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation, Prague, Czech Republic
Title: Field Determination of the Specific Input Characteristics to Calculate the Value of C Factor of Time-variable Crops for the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE)
Abstract: To determine specific characteristics necessary for the computation of the C factor in RUSLE for timevariable crops, measurements were carried out in fields with selected agricultural crops grown by conventional practices. Sloping plots on an experimental area in Třebsin locality and farm fields were used to measure surface runoff and soil loss by erosion in conditions of natural and simulated rainfall. Basic characteristics to compute the C factor were determined in the particular growth phases of selected crops - sunflower, flax, poppy and rape. Effective root mass, canopy cover and fall height of rain drops were measured.
Keywords: soil erosion by water, soil loss, RUSLE, time-variable characteristics of crops, effective root mass, canopy cover, fall height
Journal: Soil and Water Research
Pages: 10-15
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2006
DOI: 10.17221/6500-SWR
File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6500-SWR.html
File-Format: text/html
X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-200601-0002.txt
Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:1:y:2006:i:1:id:6500-SWR

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Radka Kodešová
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Geology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Agriculture in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic;
Author-Name: Josef Kozák
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Geology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Agriculture in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic;
Author-Name: Jiří Šimůnek
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California Riverside, CA, USA
Title: Numerical Study of Macropore Impact on Ponded Infiltration in Clay Soils
Abstract: The single-porosity and dual-permeability models in HYDRUS-1D (Šimůnek et al. 1998, 2003) were used to simulate variably-saturated water movement in clay soils with and without macropores. Numerical simulations of water flow for several scenarios of probable macropore compositions show a considerable impact of preferential flow on water infiltration in such soils. Preferential flow must be considered to predict water recharge in clay soils.
Keywords: ponded infiltration, macropores and fractures, preferential flow, single-porosity system, dual-permeability system, HYDRUS-1D
Journal: Soil and Water Research
Pages: 16-22
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2006
DOI: 10.17221/6501-SWR
File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6501-SWR.html
File-Format: text/html
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Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:1:y:2006:i:1:id:6501-SWR

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Martin Bečvář
Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Water and Environment, Cranfield University at Silsoe, England, United Kingdom, and Department of Irrigation, Drainage and Landscape Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Title: Sediment Load and Suspended Sediment Concentration Prediction
Abstract: Sediment is a natural component of riverine environments and its presence in river systems is essential. However, in many ways and many places river systems and the landscape have been strongly affected by human activities which have destroyed naturally balanced sediment supply and sediment transport within catchments. As a consequence a number of severe environmental problems and failures have been identified, in particular the link between sediments and chemicals is crucial and has become a subject of major scientific interest. Sediment load and sediment concentration are therefore highly important variables that may play a key role in environment quality assessment and help to evaluate the extent of potential adverse impacts. This paper introduces a methodology to predict sediment loads and suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) in large European river basins. The methodology was developed within an MSc research study that was conducted in order to improve sediment modelling in the GREAT-ER point source pollution river modelling package. Currently GREAT-ER uses suspended sediment concentration of 15 mg/l for all rivers in Europe which is an obvious oversimplification. The basic principle of the methodology to predict sediment concentration is to estimate annual sediment load at the point of interest and the amount of water that transports it. The amount of transported material is then redistributed in that corresponding water volume (using the flow characteristic) which determines sediment concentrations. Across the continent, 44 river basins belonging to major European rivers were investigated. Suspended sediment concentration data were collected from various European basins in order to obtain observed sediment yields. These were then compared against the traditional empiric sediment yield estimators. Three good approaches for sediment yield prediction were introduced based on the comparison. The three approaches were applied to predict annual sediment yields which were consequently translated into suspended sediment concentrations. SSC were predicted at 47 locations widely distributed around Europe. The verification of the methodology was carried out using data from the Czech Republic. Observed SSC were compared against the predicted ones which validated the methodology for SSC prediction.
Keywords: sediment concentration, sediment yield, sediment delivery ratio, soil erosion, water quality, European catchments
Journal: Soil and Water Research
Pages: 23-31
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2006
DOI: 10.17221/6502-SWR
File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6502-SWR.html
File-Format: text/html
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Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:1:y:2006:i:1:id:6502-SWR

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Mojmír Soukup
Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation, Prague, Czech Republic
Title: Drainage Systems and their Water Management Function with regard to Probable Climatic and Hydrological Changes
Abstract: In case that the climatic or farming conditions have changed in a region, it is possible to anticipate that the core parameters of drainage constructions will not be adequate for the current needs. Some of these constructions might be over-dimensioned, which would be inconsistent with current terms of nature and water resources protection. On the other hand, the valuable contribution the regulation of the water regime of originally waterlogged lands and swamps indisputably brought along and thus enabled the agricultural use of drained lands would be depreciated to a certain extent. In this paper, some scenarios of probable climatic changes in the Czech Republic's territory and the anticipated effect of these changes on the components of the hydrologic water discharge from drained agricultural and forest catchments are studied. The function of drainage systems on selected experimental lands is examined. However, not only probable changes in precipitation, temperature and water runoff should be taken into account, but also changes in the way of farming, i.e. changes in the agricultural conditions and data that played a decisive role in the calculation of the basic parameters of these construction projects, for instance, the spacing of parallel drains or trenches or the depth of their laying. In the Czech Republic about 1.1 million ha of total agricultural land was drained by the end of the twentieth century. In some localities of Eastern and Southern Bohemia up to 80% of agricultural land was drained. To what extent the above-mentioned climatic changes and the changes in the way of farming influence the drainage system and whether adjustments of these systems are required are the questions we tried to answer at least partly in this contribution. The effect of climatic changes on the hydrologic balance and/or on the runoff from the catchments significantly varies up to ± 150% provided that we compare average runoff. The influence of changes in the way of farming on the hydrologic balance manifests itself in a more concrete, but negative way, and that demands a concrete reaction on the part of the water management control. It is therefore vital to take such measures of regulation of the water regime of soil for the existing drainage systems that will ensure both the drainage phase and the phase of runoff retardation. Single-function and obsolete drainage systems should be converted into systems with controlled drainage and irrigation functions - the double-function control systems.
Keywords: drainage systems, climatic change, water discharge, controlled drainage, double-function control systems, farming conditions
Journal: Soil and Water Research
Pages: 32-38
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2006
DOI: 10.17221/6503-SWR
File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6503-SWR.html
File-Format: text/html
X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-200601-0005.txt
Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:1:y:2006:i:1:id:6503-SWR