Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Luboš Borůvka Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Radim Vašát Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Vít Šrámek Author-Workplace-Name: Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Jíloviště-Strnady, Czech Republic Author-Name: Kateřina Neudertová Hellebrandová Author-Workplace-Name: Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Jíloviště-Strnady, Czech Republic Author-Name: Věra Fadrhonsová Author-Workplace-Name: Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Jíloviště-Strnady, Czech Republic Author-Name: Milan Sáňka Author-Workplace-Name: RECETOX, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Lenka Pavlů Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Ondřej Sáňka Author-Workplace-Name: RECETOX, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Oldřich Vacek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Karel Němeček Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Shahin Nozari Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Vincent Yaw Oppong Sarkodie Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Predictors for digital mapping of forest soil organic carbon stocks in different types of landscape Abstract: Forest soils have a high potential to store carbon and thus mitigate climate change. The information on spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks is thus very important. This study aims to analyse the importance of environmental predictors for forest SOC stock prediction at the regional and national scale in the Czech Republic. A big database of forest soil data for more than 7 000 sites was compiled from several surveys. SOC stocks were calculated from SOC content and bulk density for the topsoil mineral layer 0-30 cm. Spatial prediction models were developed separately for individual natural forest areas and for four subsets with different altitude range, using random forest method. The importance of environmental predictors in the models strongly differs between regions and altitudes. At lower altitudes, forest edaphic series and soil classes are strong predictors, while at higher altitudes the predictors related to topography become more important. The importance of soil classes depends on the pedodiversity level and on the difference in SOC stock between the classes. The contribution of forest types as predictors is limited when one (mostly coniferous) type dominates. Better prediction results can be obtained in smaller, but consistent regions, like some natural forest areas. Keywords: carbon stocks, digital soil mapping, environmental covariates, random forests, spatial distribution, terrain attributes Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 69-79 Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Year: 2022 DOI: 10.17221/4/2022-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/4/2022-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-202202-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:17:y:2022:i:2:id:4-2022-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Nguyen Thanh Giao Author-Workplace-Name: College of Environment and Natural Resources, Can Tho University, Can Tho, Vietnam Author-Name: Vo Quang Minh Title: Risk associated with occurrence of toxic elements in the environment surrounding landfills in An Giang Province, Vietnam Abstract: The study aimed to evaluate the concentration of potentially toxic elements in the soil samples of landfill sites in An Giang province. Eighty-eight soil samples were collected from five landfills. The potentially toxic elements including Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, and As were analysed and compared with the National technical regulations on the allowable limits of heavy metals in the soils. A cluster analysis was applied to identify the sampling sites with similar soil toxic elements properties. The ecological potential risk index was used to determine the risk of the landfills to the ecosystem. The results showed that four out of five potentially toxic elements were detected in the soil, and their concentration decreased in the order of Zn > Cu > Pb > As. Most of the potentially toxic element concentrations were within the allowable limits, except for Cu and As in some positions. The ecological potential risk index in unsanitary landfills was higher than that in a sanitary landfill; however, the level of risk was low. The occurrence of toxic elements in the soil around the landfills affects the ecosystems as well as human health. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the effect of heavy metals in the surrounding environments. Keywords: cluster analysis, ecological potential risk, ecosystem, human health, sanitary landfill Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 80-90 Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Year: 2022 DOI: 10.17221/111/2021-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/111/2021-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-202202-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:17:y:2022:i:2:id:111-2021-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Saven Thai Author-Name: Tomáš Davídek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Lenka Pavlů Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Causes clarification of the soil aggregates stability on mulched soil Abstract: Soil aggregates have great effects on soil properties and soil functions. Mulching (organic inputs) has been known as a factor influencing soil aggregate stability. Our study aimed to reveal the causes of the higher stability of soil aggregates under organic mulches. The primary soil characteristics such as organic carbon (Cox), humus quality (E4/E6), potential wettability index (PWI), and aromaticity index (iAR) were determined. The Cox was measured using rapid dichromate oxidation, and E4/E6 was measured using the UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The PWI and iAR were determined according to the intensity of selected bands in diffuse reflectance infrared spectra. Results showed that mulched plots contained higher Cox content in aggregates in comparison with whole soil. This indicates that the carbon was stabilized within the aggregates and sequestrated into the soil. The iAR was significantly higher after using the organic mulches, the aliphatic components of the organic matter thus contribute more to the aggregates stabilization. The PWI of aggregates was found to be higher after applying these mulches than in soil. Organic mulches are therefore able to reduce the wettability of the aggregates and also to protect the aggregate from dispersion with water. Keywords: Haplic Fluvisol, infrared spectroscopy, organic compounds, soil structure Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 91-99 Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Year: 2022 DOI: 10.17221/151/2021-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/151/2021-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-202202-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:17:y:2022:i:2:id:151-2021-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Julie Dajčl Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Václav Tejnecký Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Karel Němeček Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Luboš Borůvka Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Petr Drahota Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy, and Mineral Resources, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Ondřej Drábek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Comparison of chromium mobility at naturally enriched and anthropogenically polluted sites: A column leaching experiment Abstract: This study aims to compare the chromium (Cr) mobility in two soils with different Cr sources. The first one is an anthropogenically contaminated soil from an area of a piston ring production factory, and the second one is a serpentine soil with a naturally increased Cr level from the National Nature Reserve Mohelno serpentine steppe in the Czech Republic. To assess the influence of naturally occurring environmental factors on the Cr mobility, two sets of column leaching experiments were constructed, namely an acidified water treatment (AW) and a simulated root exudate treatment (SRE). It was found that the anthropogenically contaminated soil leached out many times more Cr for both (the AW and SRE) treatments in comparison with the serpentine soil. Generally, all the samples showed enhanced leaching from the bottom layer, respectively the horizon, for both treatments. Only the anthropogenic soil showed some differences in the bottom layer, which was more susceptible to the AW treatment than to the SRE one. These findings show the high dependence of the leachability of Cr on the Cr content origin. It has been proven that naturally enriched sites where elevated levels of Cr originate from the bedrock are more resistant to Cr leaching than anthropogenically contaminated soils. Feasible causes of these differences are discussed in this study. Keywords: anthropogenic contamination, BCR fractionation, leachability, risk elements, serpentine soils Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 100-112 Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Year: 2022 DOI: 10.17221/129/2021-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/129/2021-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-202202-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:17:y:2022:i:2:id:129-2021-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Katerina Doneva Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Soil Science, Agrotechnology and Plant Protection "N. Poushkarov", Agricultural Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria Author-Name: Milena Kercheva Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Soil Science, Agrotechnology and Plant Protection "N. Poushkarov", Agricultural Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria Author-Name: Emil Dimitrov Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Soil Science, Agrotechnology and Plant Protection "N. Poushkarov", Agricultural Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria Author-Name: Emiliya Velizarova Author-Workplace-Name: Ministry of Environment and Water, Sofia, Bulgaria Author-Name: Maria Glushkova Author-Workplace-Name: Forest Research Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria Title: Thermal properties of Cambisols in mountain regions under different vegetation covers Abstract: Soil thermal properties regulate the thermal and water balance and influence the soil temperature distribution. The aim of the current study is to present data on the changes in the thermal properties of Cambisols at different ratios between the water content and the air in the pore space under different vegetation covers in mountain regions. The undisturbed soil samples were taken from the surface soil layers under grassland, deciduous and coniferous forests in three experimental stations of the Forest Research Institute - Gabra in Lozen Mountain, Govedartsi in Rila Mountain and Igralishte in Maleshevska Mountain. The soil thermal conductivity (λ), the thermal diffusivity (α) and the volumetric heat capacity (Cv) were measured with the SH-1 sensor of a KD2Pro device at different matric potentials in laboratory conditions. The thermal conductivity of the investigated soils was also measured with the TR-1 sensor of a KD2Pro device at the transitory soil moisture in field conditions. An increase in the thermal properties with the soil water content was best pronounced for λ and depended inversely on the total porosity. As the total porosity increased with the soil organic carbon content and decreased with the skeleton content, the lowest value of λ was established in the surface horizons of Dystric Cambisols (Humic) in the experimental station in Govedartsi. The soil thermal conductivity increased with the depth under the deciduous forest (Gabra and Igralishte) due to the lower soil organic carbon content (SOC) and the total porosity. There were no such changes in the subsurface horizon under the grassed associations. The increase in the heat capacity with the water content depended on the SOC to less extent. In the horizons with a SOC of less than 1.5%, the changes in the thermal diffusivity over the whole range of wetness were 1.7 times higher than those with a higher SOC. Keywords: coniferous forest, deciduous forest, forest soils, grassland, KD2Pro device, soil thermal properties, soil water retention curve Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 113-122 Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Year: 2022 DOI: 10.17221/94/2021-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/94/2021-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-202202-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:17:y:2022:i:2:id:94-2021-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Xiangguo Fan Author-Workplace-Name: College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Tongren University, Tongren, Guizhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Haoming Fan Author-Workplace-Name: College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Soil Erosion and Ecological Restoration in Liaoning Province, Shenyang, Liaoning, P.R. China Author-Name: Shuang Dong Author-Workplace-Name: Tongren Polytechnic College, Tongren, Guizhou, P.R. China Title: The coupling of hillslope- and gully-erosion increases their controlling efforts: A case study in Liaoning Province, China Abstract: The widespread hillslope- and gully-erosion in Liaoning Province of Northeast China, pose serious challenges to the local agricultural production. Hillslope- and gully-erosion have typically been studied separately; however, there has been little investigation on the relationship of these two types of erosion. In this study, the coupling relationship of the hillslope- and gully-erosion from the perspectives of erosion intensity and land use, as well as the slope gradient, aspect, and shape, was analysed. The study employed remote sensing and geographic information system techniques, and the universal soil loss equation and kriging were used to perform a macroscopic analysis. The results showed that gully-erosion was more severe compared with hillslope-erosion in the study area. The cultivated land has the highest level of human activities, therefore, the most intense hillslope- and gully-erosion. The threshold slope gradients for the hillslope- and gully-erosion are 14° and 6°, respectively. Above the threshold of 6°, the slope gradient is no longer the primary factor affecting the gully-erosion. Sunny slopes have observably more hillslope-erosion than shady slopes, and the highest hillslope-erosion is observed on the south-southeast-facing slopes. The effect of the slope aspect on the gully-erosion should not be ignored, as evidenced by the considerable gully density of the east-northeast-facing slopes which is obviously higher than for slopes with other slope aspects. The highest hillslope-erosion amount and gully density occur on concave slopes, followed by convex and straight slopes, and straight slopes have little effect on the hillslope-erosion, but have a marked impact on the gully-erosion. The results of this work may serve as a scientific reference for the comprehensive control of soil erosion across a slope-gully system in Northeast China. Keywords: coupling relation, land use, slope gradient, aspect and shape, slope-gully system, soil erosion Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 123-137 Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Year: 2022 DOI: 10.17221/106/2021-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/106/2021-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-202202-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:17:y:2022:i:2:id:106-2021-SWR