Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Klement Rejšek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: The Quantitative Estimate of Bioavailable Inorganic Phosphorus Content in Forest Soils by the Modification of the Anion-Exchange Resin Method Abstract: The anion-exchange resin (AER) method for the estimation of bioavailable phosphorus was slightly optimised for soils with high contents of readily soluble organic compounds as well as for those having very dif­ferent clay and sand contents. The method based on a strong base anion exchanger, the active group of trimethyl benzyl ammonium, the field moist soil, and the enclosure of resin beds in a bag was very different soils under relatively uniform outer conditions where the determination of the absorbance of (blue) phosphate-molybdate complex at 870 nm is used. The motivation of the proposed method comes from distinctive features of forest soils where marked differences are commonly encountered between clay/silt/sand contents, pH-values, and the contents of organic substances. A modestly new methodology was applied for the evaluation of seasonal phosphorus dynamics in a forest environment. The recommended rapid assay for available phosphorus was statistically compared with other procedures. Considerable seasonal effects on the bioavailable P contents were demonstrated. Keywords: soil phosphorus, forest soils, available P determination Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 117-126 Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/6513-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6513-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-200604-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:1:y:2006:i:4:id:6513-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Renata Duffková Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Difference in Canopy and Air Temperature as an Indicator of Grassland Water Stress Abstract: In 2003-2005 in conditions of the moderately warm region of the Třeboň Basin (Czech Republic) the difference between canopy temperature (Tc) and air temperature at 2 m (Ta) was tested as an indicator of grass­land water stress. To evaluate water stress ten-minute averages of temperature difference Tc-Ta were chosen recorded on days without rainfall with intensive solar radiation from 11.00 to 14.00 CET. Water stress in the zone of the major portion of root biomass (0-0.2 m) in the peak growing season (minimum presence of dead plant residues) documented by a sudden increase in temperature difference, its value 5-12°C and unfavourable canopy temperatures due to overheating (> 30°C) was indicated after high values of suction pressure approach­ing the wilting point (1300 kPa) were reached. High variability of temperature difference in the conditions of sufficient supply of water to plants was explained by the amount of dead plant residues in canopy, value of va­pour pressure deficit (VPD), actual evapotranspiration rate (ETA) and soil moisture content. At the beginning of the growing season (presence of dead plant residues and voids) we proved moderately strong negative linear correlations of Tc-Ta with VPD and Tc-Ta with ETA rate and moderately strong positive linear correlations of ETA rate with VPD. In the period of intensive growth (the coverage of dead plant residues and voids lower than 10%) moderately strong linear correlations of Tc-Ta with VPD and multiple linear correlations of Tc-Ta with VPD and soil moisture content at a depth of 0.10-0.40 m were demonstrated. Keywords: water stress indicator, air temperature, canopy temperature, soil moisture, grassland, vapour pressure deficit, actual evapotranspiration Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 127-138 Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/6514-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6514-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-200604-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:1:y:2006:i:4:id:6514-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Josef Zavadil Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Optimisation of Irrigation Regime for Early Potatoes, Late Cauliflower, Early Cabbage and Celery Abstract: The paper deals with optimisation of threshold suction pressure of soil water on light soils for early potatoes, early cabbage, late cauliflower and celery on the basis of results of small-plot field experiments with differentiated irrigation regime. Experiments were conducted in 2003-2005. Threshold suction pressures of soil water were identical for all crops: 15 kPa in treatment I, 30 kPa in treatment II, 60 kPa in treatment III, and 120 kPa in treatment IV. Precipitation, air temperature and relative humidity, global solar radiation, wind speed and direction were measured by an automated meteorological station. Reference and actual evapotranspiration was determined for the experimental crops according to FAO Paper No. 56 and by means of a biological curve (BC) in 2003-2005. To compare these two methods of calculation of actual evapotranspiration the soil moisture balance was found out. Based on the influence on marketable yield and proportion of the crop quality grades it is possible to determine the optimum threshold suction pressure on light loamy-sand soils in early potatoes, late cauliflower and cabbage 30 kPa and in celery 15 kPa. 80% of available soil water capacity (ASWC) corresponds to the threshold suction pressure 30 kPa, and as much as 96% of ASWC corresponds to 15 kPa. The seasonal irrigation depths determined on the basis of soil moisture balance, in which the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) is calculated either according to FAO 56 or by the BC, are substantially different from the really achieved irriga­tion depths in the treatments where optimal suction pressure is maintained. For potatoes, the really achieved values of seasonal irrigation depths are nearer to the depths calculated by the BC, while for the other vegetables (cauliflower, cabbage and celery) they are more similar to the depths calculated by FAO 56 methodology. The theoretical irrigation depths calculated by the BC method sometimes differ substantially from those based on FAO 56. These differences are at maximum for cauliflower and celery and at minimum for cabbage and decrease with the decreasing irrigation depths. Keywords: irrigation regime, early potatoes, late cauliflower, early cabbage, celery, yields, threshold suction pres­sures of soil water, reference evapotranspiration, actual evapotranspiration Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 139-152 Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/6515-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6515-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-200604-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:1:y:2006:i:4:id:6515-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Pavel Formánek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Lukáš Kisza Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Valerie Vranová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Soil Heterotrophic Respiration Potential and Maximum Respiration Rate of Differently Managed Meadows Abstract: In this study were compared heterotrophic respiratory potential (VDS/VMAX) expressing an increase in C mineralisation rate after drying and re-wetting the soil to 60% soil water content (v/w)(VDS) in relation to maximum respiration rate (VMAX) after glucose addition, and VMAX in organomineral soil (Ah horizon) of mod­erately mown and for 11 years abandoned mountain meadows in Moravian-Silesian Beskids Mts. VDS/VMAX and VMAX were assessed in soil samples taken in 30-day intervals throughout the period of May-September 2004. The results obtained showed higher VDS/VMAX on the abandoned meadow throughout the whole experiment except the last sampling occasion, and higher VMAX throughout the whole experiment. Significantly (P < 0.05) higher VDS/VMAX on the abandoned meadow was found in May and July, VMAX was significantly higher on the same meadow (P < 0.05) only in September. From the parameters studied, the time of sampling had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on VMAX when the data from the moderately mown meadow were evaluated. On the abandoned meadow, VMAX found was significantly (P < 0.05) different when the samples from May and September or July and September were compared. A significant (P < 0.05) effect of the sampling time on VDS/VMAX on the moderately mown meadow was presented by differences between May and other sampling times, on the abandoned meadow differences between September and other times of sampling except May were significant (P < 0.05). Keywords: soil heterotrophic potential, maximum respiration rate, soil, meadows, mowing, abandonment Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 153-157 Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/6516-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6516-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-200604-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:1:y:2006:i:4:id:6516-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Khalid Farooq Akbar Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environmental Science, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK Author-Workplace-Name: Present Address: Department of Botany, Government College, Sahiwal, Pakistan Author-Name: Wiliam H.G. Hale Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environmental Science, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK Author-Name: Alistair D. Headley Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environmental Science, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK Author-Name: Mohammad Athar Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, USA Title: Heavy Metal Contamination of Roadside Soils of Northern England Abstract: Environmental pollution of heavy metals from automobiles has attained much attention in the recent past. The present research was conducted to study heavy metal contamination in roadside soils of northern England. Roadside soil samples were collected from 35 sites in some counties of northern England and analysed for four heavy metals (cadmium, copper, lead, zinc). Their concentrations and distributions in different road verge zones (border, verge, slope, ditch) were determined. Lead concentration was the highest in the soil and ranged from 25.0 to 1198.0 μg/g (mean, 232.7 μg/g). Zinc concentration ranged from 56.7 to 480.0 μg/g (mean, 174.6 μg/g) and copper concentration ranged from 15.5 to 240.0 μg/g (mean, 87.3 μg/g). Cadmium concentration was the lowest in the soil and varied from 0.3 to 3.8 μg/g (mean, 1.4 μg/g). Though the levels of heavy metals in roadside soils were higher as compared to their natural background levels in British soils, their concentrations in general, however, were below the 'critical trigger concentrations' for the contaminated soils. All the four heavy metals exhibited a significant decrease in the roadside soils with the increasing distance from the road. The border zone had the highest mean concentration of the four metals whereas the ditch zone exhibited the lowest mean concentration. Keywords: roadside soils, heavy metals, contamination, northern England Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 158-163 Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/6517-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6517-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-200604-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:1:y:2006:i:4:id:6517-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Josef Kozák Title: Proposed strategy of the European Commission to Protect European Soils Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 164-165 Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/6518-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6518-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-200604-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:1:y:2006:i:4:id:6518-SWR