Impact of land use on water characteristics of Planosols (south Mačva and Pocerina, Serbia)

Abstract

Water holding capacities and saturated hydraulic conductivity of Planosols in south Mačva and Pocerina (Serbia) were compared to assess how different types of land use (forest, arable and grassland) influence soils endangered by stagnating water. These changes came from decrease of total porosity and changes in pores size distribution in arable and grass land compared to forest land. Changes of water characteristics of arable and grassland Planosols compared to forest Planosols were statistically most significant in illuvial horizon Btg (absence of root network and fauna activity). It is important to emphasize: (i) surface A horizon of arable and grass land compared to forest showed insignificant increase of plant available water and significant decrease of saturated hydraulic conductivity (ii) significant decrease of saturation and macro porosity increased the risk of oxygen deficiency in Planosols in wet periods of year in this order: arable land > grassland > forest.

Keywords

• arable land
• forests
• grasslands
• Planosols
• saturated hydraulic conductivity
• water-holding capacity