Maciej Markiewicz

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the impact of the basic soil properties and slope inclination on the distribution and stability of water-stable aggregates in three different land uses (deciduous forest, vineyard, arable soil) across three soil types (Luvic Chernic Phaeozem, Eutric Cambisol, Vermic Chernozem) on slopes in the Nitra Valley, western Slovakia. The analysis revealed that soil type significantly influences aggregate stability and soil structure vulnerability, while soil depth and organic carbon content do not. Changes in primary soilorganic matter affected soil aggregation. Increased mineralization of soil organic matter (SOM) supported the formation of primarily large water-stable macro-aggregates (WSAma) > 3 mm, whereas the immobilizationof organic carbon in SOM led to the formation and stabilization of smaller WSAma 1-0.25 mm and water stablemicro-aggregates. Cambisol exhibited the highest stability in both dry and wet conditions as well as thelowest vulnerability of soil structure.

Keywords: aggregate stability, soil structure vulnerability, soil types, humus horizon, soil organic matter, human activity

Bogusława Kruczkowska [boguslawa_kruczkowska@sggw.edu.pl], Institute of Agriculture Warsaw University of Life Sciences Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw: Poland
Edyta Regulska [eregulska@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
Martin Juriga [martin.juriga@uniag.sk], Institute of Agrochemistry and Soil Science Slovak University of Agriculture 949 76 Nitra: Slovak Republic
Michał Jankowski [mijank@umk.pl]
Maciej Markiewicz [mawicz@umk.pl], Department of Soil Science and Landscape Ecology Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
Vladimir Šimanský [vladimir.simansky@uniag.sk], Institute of Agrochemistry and Soil Science Slovak University of Agriculture 949 76 Nitra: Slovak Republic