Littera Scripta (Jan 2011)
The effect of soil conservation technologies on hydro-physical soil properties
Abstract
The presented article analyses the efficiency of the application of auxiliary soil material PRP SOL on agricultural farmland with classical cultivation and evaluates its influence on the soil water regime and ecological stability of the landscape. It brings an up-to-date perspective on the application of PRP SOL preparation with regard to changes in the physical properties of soil and soil protection from water erosion, during which the soil infiltration capability is an important factor. Research on experimental plot at the cadastral territory Advice proceeded from 2008–2010 on Haplic Chernozem (FAO, 1988), heavy clay loam soil. Arable land on the experimental area was divided into two parts; one part was cultivated by applying classical technology with application of PRP SOL and the other one without application PRP SOL. The plots for three years were sowed grain maize. Soil physical properties (actual soil water content, reduced bulk density, total porosity, maximum capillary water capacity, pores distribution and soil aeration) were established by analysis of 100 cm³ undisturbed soil sample from soil horizon (10, 20, 30 cm) according to standard methodology in the pedological laboratory of the Institute of Landscape Water Management, Brno University of Technology. To observe the infiltration characteristics of topsoil surface layers there was used drench method; to evaluate the field measurement of infiltration there was used the three parameters equation of Philip type. This method provides a good estimation of saturated hydraulic conductivity Ks. The results of the experiment proved that when cultivating by classical technology with PRP SOL, physical characteristics of soil deteriorated (bulk density, porosity, consolidation of deeper layers of top soil horizon); but practically unchanging water infiltration into the soil profile.
