Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Svatopluk Matula Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Geology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Markéta Mojrová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Geology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Kamila Špongrová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Geology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Estimation of the soil water retention curve (SWRC) using pedotransfer functions (PTFs) Abstract: Soil hydraulic characteristics, especially the soil water retention curve and hydraulic conductivity, are essential for many agricultural, environmental, and engineering applications. Their measurement is time-consuming and thus costly. Hence, many researchers focused on methods enabling their indirect estimation. In this paper, Wösten's continuous pedotransfer functions were applied to the data from a selected locality in the Czech Republic, Tišice. The available data set related to this locality consists of 140 measured soil water retention curves, and the information about the soil texture, bulk density ρd, and organic matter content determined at the same time. Own continuous pedotransfer functions were derived, following the methodology used in continuous pedotransfer functions. Two types of fitting, 4-parameters and 3-parameters, were tested. In 4-parameter fitting, all parameters of the van Genuchten's equation, θs, θr, α, n, were optimized; in 3-parameter fitting, only three parameters, θr, α, n, were optimised while the measured value of θs was set as constant. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the general equations of Wösten's pedotransfer functions are not very suitable to estimate the soil water retention curves for the locality Tišice in the Czech Republic. However, the parameters of the same Wösten's equations, which were calculated only from the data for each particular locality, performed much better. The estimates can be improved if the value for the saturated soil water content θs is known, applied and not optimised (the case of 3-parameter fitting). It can be advantageous to estimate SWRC for a locality with no data available, using PTFs and the available basic soil properties. In addition, to measure some retention curves and/or some their parameters, like θs, can improve the accuracy of the SWRC estimation. Keywords: continuous pedotransfer function, soil water retention curve, fitting, parametric method, neural network Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 113-122 Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Year: 2007 DOI: 10.17221/2106-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2106-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-200704-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:2:y:2007:i:4:id:2106-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Juraj Balkovič Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Natural Science, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Soil Science and Conservation Research Institute, Bratislava, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Gabriela Čemanová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Natural Science, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Jozef Kollár Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Landscape Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Miroslav Kromka Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Natural Science, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Katarína Harnová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Natural Science, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic Title: Mapping soils using the fuzzy approach and regression-kriging case study from the Považský Inovec Mountains, Slovakia Abstract: The paper introduces a method of digital mapping of spatial distribution of soil typological units. It implements fuzzy k-means to classify the soil profile data (study area from the Považský Inovec Mountains, Slovakia) and regression-kriging with the selected digital terrain and remote sensing data to draw membership maps of soil typological units. Totally three soil typological units were identified: Haplic Cambisols (Skeletic, Dystric), Albic Stagnic Luvisols, and Haplic Stagnosols (Albic, Dystric). We analysed the membership values to these units with respect to terrain and remote sensing data. The membership values appeared as spatially smoothly dependant on the terrain gradients (linearly or exponentially) whereas the residua showed spatial autocorrelation. Based on regression and kriging analyses, the regression-kriging model was successfully deployed to draw raster membership maps. These maps yield coefficients of determination between R2 = 56% (Albic Stagnic Luvisols) to R2= 79% (Haplic Cambisols (Skeletic, Dystric)) when evaluated by cross validation. The grid-based continuous soil map represents an alternative to the classical polygon soil maps and can offer a wide range of interpretations for landscape studies. Keywords: fuzzy k-means, regression-kriging, digital landscape data, grid interpretation, spatial distribution, soil classification Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 123-134 Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Year: 2007 DOI: 10.17221/2112-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2112-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-200704-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:2:y:2007:i:4:id:2112-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Elsayed A. Elkhatib Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil and Water Science, College of Agriculture, Elchatby, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt Author-Name: A. M. Mahdy Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil and Water Science, College of Agriculture, Elchatby, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt Author-Name: N. H. Barakat Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil and Water Science, College of Agriculture, Elchatby, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt Title: Thermodynamics of copper desorption from soils as affected by citrate and succinate Abstract: Desorption of Cu and low molecular weight dissolved organics are the primary factors that impact fate and transport of Cu in soils. To improve predictions of the toxicity and threat from Cu contaminated soil, it is critical that time-dependent desorption behaviour be understood. In this paper, the effect of organic ligands citrate and succinate on the kinetics of Cu desorption from contaminated soils varying widely in soil characteristics was investigated at three different temperatures. The results showed that the first order equation adequately described the kinetics of Cu desorption from clay and sandy soils under isothermal conditions. The reaction rate constant (kd) values of the first order kinetic equation for Cu desorption increased consistently with temperature, indicating faster release of Cu at higher temperatures. The Cu desorption rate from the studied soils at all three temperatures was as follows: citric > succinic. The Eavalues indicates that Cu desorption from the studied soils in the presence of two organic ligands is a diffusion controlled reaction. The negative values of ΔH* suggest that the desorption reactions are not energy consuming process. The higher negative values of (ΔH*) for Cu desorption from the studied soils in the presence of succinic ligand indicate that the heat energy required to overcome the Cu desorption barrier was greater than that for Cu desorption in the presence of citric ligand. Computation of the free energy of activation (ΔG*) yielded values ranging for 87 to 87.9 kJ/mol. The largest value represents ΔG* for Cu desorption for clay soil in the presence of succinic acid while the lowest value represents ΔG* for Cu desorption for sandy soil in the presence of citric acid. The information in this study is quite necessary to construct full functioning models that will help scientists to better understand mobility and bioavailability of metals in soils. Keywords: kinetics, thermodynamic parameters, low molecular weight organic acids Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 135-140 Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Year: 2007 DOI: 10.17221/2110-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2110-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-200704-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:2:y:2007:i:4:id:2110-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Gabriela Barančíková Author-Workplace-Name: Soil Science and Conservation Research Institute in Bratislava, regional station Prešov, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Tibor Liptaj Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Nadežda Prónayová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic Title: Phosphorus fractions in arable and mountain soils and their humic acids Abstract: Soil phosphorus (P) can exist in various inorganic (Pi) and organic forms (Po). Specific determination of Pi can be obtained by fractionate methods. However, the discrimination between the chemically different forms of Po in soil is not simple. Nowadays, the method of choice for the determination of various soil inorganic and organic P compounds is 31P NMR. In this paper, the determination of various phosphorus forms (available P, total P, Pi and Po fractions) in arable and mountain soils is presented. Besides, the detailed characterisation of P compounds in humic acids (HA) is also shown. The results obtained show that the highest content of the available P can be found in arable soils with a high input of fertilisers, and that the predominant part of Pi is included in hardly soluble fractions, mainly in the soil types with neutral soil reaction. Our data also show the correlation between total P and Po, the dominant form of P in the topsoil of mountain soils. Phosphomonoesters represent the major types of P in HA structure. The correlations between phosphomonoesters of type I and some humification parameters of HA and qualitative parameters of soil organic matter suggest that higher amounts of more recalcitrant monoesters can be found in more mature soil organic matter with a higher humification degree. Keywords: inorganic P, organic P, soil types, humic acids, 31P NMR Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 141-148 Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Year: 2007 DOI: 10.17221/2111-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2111-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-200704-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:2:y:2007:i:4:id:2111-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Valerie Vranová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Geology and Soil Science, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Pavel Formánek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Geology and Soil Science, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Klement Rejšek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Geology and Soil Science, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Dalibor Janouš Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Systems Biology and Ecology, Laboratory of Plants Ecological Physiology, Academy of Sciences the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Stand heterogeneity of total carbon and nitrogen, and C/N ratio in soil of mountain meadows Abstract: This study was aimed at monitoring the relative and absolute stand heterogeneity of total carbon, total nitrogen and C/N ratio in Ah-Ae-Btg-Bt horizons of Gleyic Luvisol on one mountain meadow divided into two study plots: one moderately (once a season) mown (plant community of the Nardo-Callunetea class) and one abandoned for about 12 years (plant community of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class). The heterogeneities were evaluated more than 2 months after the mowing of the moderately mown meadow at the end of July 2005. Relative stand heterogeneity was expressed using coefficient of variation (CV), absolute stand heterogeneity using the differences between maximum and minimum value. When both meadows were taken into account, the relative stand heterogeneity of total carbon in individual horizons was < 65%, < 73% (total nitrogen), and < 93% (C/N). Lower relative and absolute stand heterogeneity of these parameters was mostly on the abandoned meadow. Relatively higher differences of stand heterogeneity between the meadows were evident in deeper parts of the soil (horizon Btg) and the lowest mainly in horizon Ah (or Bt). The accelerated accumulation of dead organic matter in the autumn caused the natural difference of these inputs not to be substantially eliminated by the presence or absence of mowing. Accelerated eluviation of organic compounds of higher nitrogen content significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the C/N ratio in the Bt horizon (n = 6-8) of the abandoned meadow. Keywords: carbon, nitrogen, C/N ratio, mountain meadow Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 149-155 Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Year: 2007 DOI: 10.17221/2107-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2107-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-200704-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:2:y:2007:i:4:id:2107-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Lucie Březková Author-Workplace-Name: Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Milan Šálek Author-Workplace-Name: Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Eva Soukalová Author-Workplace-Name: Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Miloš Starý Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Predictability of flood events in view of current meteorology and hydrology in the conditions of the Czech Republic Abstract: In central Europe, floods are natural disasters causing the greatest economic losses. One way to reduce partly the flood-related damage, especially the loss of lives, is a functional objective forecasting and warning system that incorporates both meteorological and hydrological models. Numerical weather prediction models operate with horizontal spatial resolution of several dozens of kilometres up to several kilometres, nevertheless, the common error in the localisation of the heavy rainfall characteristic maxima is mostly several times as large as the grid size. The distributive hydrological models for the middle sized basins (hundreds to thousands of km2) operate with the resolution of hundreds of meters. Therefore, the (in) accuracy of the meteorological forecast can heavily influence the following hydrological forecast. In general, we can say that the shorter is the duration of the given phenomenon and the smaller area it hits, the more difficult is its prediction. The time and spatial distribution of the predicted precipitation is still one of the most difficult tasks of meteorology. Hydrological forecasts are created under the conditions of great uncertainty. This paper deals with the possibilities of the current hydrology and meteorology with regard to the predictability of the flood events. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute is responsible by law for the forecasting flood service in the Czech Republic. For the precipitation and temperature forecasts, the outputs of the numerical model of atmosphere ALADIN are used. Moreover, the meteorological community has available operational outputs of many weather prediction models, being run in several meteorological centres around the world. For the hydrological forecast, the HYDROG and AQUALOG models are utilised. The paper shows examples of the hydrological flood forecasts from the years 2002-2006 in the Dyje catchment, attention being paid to floods caused by heavy rainfalls in the summer season. The results show that it is necessary to take into account the predictability of the particular phenomenon, which can be used in the decision making process during an emergency. Keywords: meteorological forecast, hydrological forecast, model ALADIN, model HYDROG, summer floods, flash floods, case study, predictability Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 156-168 Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Year: 2007 DOI: 10.17221/2109-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2109-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-200704-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:2:y:2007:i:4:id:2109-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: editors Title: INDEX OF VOLUME 2 Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 169-171 Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Year: 2007 DOI: 10.17221/2108-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2108-SWR.html File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:2:y:2007:i:4:id:2108-SWR