Aleksandra Jurišić

Cation Exchange Capacity of Dominant Soil Types in the Republic of Croatia

The study was conducted on 18 locations and 11 dominant soil types in the Republic of Croatia including their evolution-genetic horizons. In total, 51 soil samples were examined. Analysis of soil was done by saturating patterns using barium chloride solution in three replications. Descriptive statistics of the analyzed data was conducted. Basic statistical parameters were calculated, and functional dependence between the base saturation (V%) of analyzed soil samples and their pH was observed. The correlation coefficient (r) between base saturation (V%) and pH for all examined soils was r=0.79 (n=51; very strong correlation). For acid soils it was r=0.82 (n=17; very strong correlation), for neutral soils r=0.75 (n=8; very strong correlation), and finally for alkaline soils r=0.15 (n=26; very weak correlation). Cation exchange capacity values ranged from 2.39 cmol+*kg-1 to 33.8 cmol+*kg-1 depending on soil type, pH, organic content and other soil parameters. The content of exchangeable cations in the sum of basic cations ranged from: Ca2+ (16% - 94%), Mg2+ (2% - 41%), K+ (1% - 68%) and Na+ (<0.01%) also depending on soil type, depth, location and other physical and chemical soil parameters.

NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY IN WINTER WHEAT

Oil rape is a valuable fodder because in early spring and late autumn it produces green forage used for the nutrition of domestic animals. It has been replacing sunflower and soy in colder and wetter regions. It is additionally advantageous because it leaves behind more nitrogen in soil, which is beneficial to other plants in plant rotation. There are some possible ways for the fixation of nitrogen in soil and they are as follows: by the means of oil rape straw ; by relatively long roots ; by the action of nitrogen bacteria, which perform the nitrogen synthesis within their root system, which is the case in some leguminous plants. Oil seed rape is expected to be wider used in crop rotation of West and Middle Europe, Croatia included. Due to this various sorts have been introduced and potential positive impacts have been studied in order to boost the process. This paper presents information on barley and wheat yield in case when they were sown after oil seed rape and corn. The aim of the research is to determine the presence of positive impacts upon the soil with special attention paid to a potential increase of nitrogen content after oil seed rape was grown. The preceding crops had statistically significant effect. Rape yield was significantly higher compared to the one with corn as preceding crops. Very similar results were obtained in 2007.The maize hybrids seed from three different FAO groups (FAO 400, FAO 500 and FAO 600) in four fractions (KO, KP, SO and SP) produced in two climatically different years (extremely dry 2000 and extremely wet 2001) had been different in quality and chemical composition. The effects of year, genetic specifity and seed fraction at the kernel mass, chemical composition (starch, proteins, cellulose, oil and moisture content) and seed vigour have been evaluated. The influence of agroecological conditions during two production years have been exposed at seed chemical composition and vigour indicators (cold test – CT and bulk seed electrical conductivity - EC). The genetic specificity and seed fraction had significant influence at all tested indices, with the exception of the influence of the fraction at the starch content

Soil type influence on drainage discharge and yield of soybean

Oil rape is a valuable fodder because in early spring and late autumn it produces green forage used for the nutrition of domestic animals. It has been replacing sunflower and soy in colder and wetter regions. It is additionally advantageous because it leaves behind more nitrogen in soil, which is beneficial to other plants in plant rotation. There are some possible ways for the fixation of nitrogen in soil and they are as follows: by the means of oil rape straw ; by relatively long roots ; by the action of nitrogen bacteria, which perform the nitrogen synthesis within their root system, which is the case in some leguminous plants. Oil seed rape is expected to be wider used in crop rotation of West and Middle Europe, Croatia included. Due to this various sorts have been introduced and potential positive impacts have been studied in order to boost the process. This paper presents information on barley and wheat yield in case when they were sown after oil seed rape and corn. The aim of the research is to determine the presence of positive impacts upon the soil with special attention paid to a potential increase of nitrogen content after oil seed rape was grown. The preceding crops had statistically significant effect. Rape yield was significantly higher compared to the one with corn as preceding crops. Very similar results were obtained in 2007.The maize hybrids seed from three different FAO groups (FAO 400, FAO 500 and FAO 600) in four fractions (KO, KP, SO and SP) produced in two climatically different years (extremely dry 2000 and extremely wet 2001) had been different in quality and chemical composition. The effects of year, genetic specifity and seed fraction at the kernel mass, chemical composition (starch, proteins, cellulose, oil and moisture content) and seed vigour have been evaluated. The influence of agroecological conditions during two production years have been exposed at seed chemical composition and vigour indicators (cold test – CT and bulk seed electrical conductivity - EC). The genetic specificity and seed fraction had significant influence at all tested indices, with the exception of the influence of the fraction at the starch content

The role of tillage and crops on a soil loss of an arable Stagnic Luvisol

ABSTRACT The poor physical, chemical and biological properties make Stagnic Luvisol highly susceptible to water erosion on sloping terrains. The objective of this paper is to estimate the effect of different tillage treatments and crops (maize, soybean, winter wheat, spring barley, oilseed rape) on water erosion. The highest erosion in investigation period (1995–2014) was recorded in the control treatment with fallow, followed by the treatment that involved ploughing and sowing up and down the slope. Significantly, lower soil losses were recorded in no-tillage and treatments with ploughing and sowing across the slope. Regarding the crops significantly higher soil losses were recorded in spring row crops (maize and soybean) compared to high-density winter crops (wheat and oilseed rape) and double crop (spring barley with soybean). In the studied period, an average loss of 46 mm of the plough layer was recorded in the control treatment, while in treatment with ploughing and sowing up and down the slope average annual soil loss was 10 mm. According to the results of this study no-tillage and tillage across the slope are recommended as tillage which preserves soil for the next generations in agro-ecological conditions of continental Croatia.

Sulphur cycling between terrestrial agroecosystem and atmosphere

Central gas station of the natural gas borehole system Podravina is located near the village Molve. It delivers more than a quarter of total energy used in Croatia to its consumers. Over the years, adapting technology to increasingly demanding and rigorous standards in environmental protection has become paramount. Yet, despite all the industry has undertaken to address the risk of harmful substances entering the food chain, a multidisciplinary research team of independent scientists monitors the content of specifi c substances in all components of the ecosystem. This paper presents measurements of total sulphur contents in soil surface [(0 to 3) cm] and subsurface [(3 to 8) cm] layers (study period: autumn 2006 - spring 2010) and in plants (study period: spring 2000 - spring 2010), and the concentration of gaseous sulphur compounds in the air. Concentrations of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and mercaptans (RSH) were measured from the summer of 2002 until the autumn of 2010, while concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO2) were measured from the spring of 2008 until the autumn of 2010. The paper also shows total annual atmospheric sulphur (S-SO4) deposition at Bilogora measuring station (study period: 2001 - 2010). Average monthly concentrations of H2S in air varied between 0.2 μg m-3 and 2.0 μg m-3, RSH between 0.1 μg m-3 and 24.5 μg m-3, and SO2 between 0.4 μg m-3 and 2.8 μg m-3 depending on the location and the season of sampling. Mean values of total sulphur in soil and in Plantago lanceolata plant ranged between 610 mg kg-1 and 1,599 mg kg-1 and between 3,614 mg kg-1 and 4,342 mg kg-1, respectively, depending on the soil type, location, and sampling depth. Average values of total sulphur mass ratio for all examined single soil samples (n=80) were 1,080 mg kg-1 for both studied layers, and 4,108 mg kg-1 for all analysed plant samples (n=85). Average total annual atmospheric sulphur deposition at Bilogora measuring station was 6.3 kg of S-SO4 per hectar.

Soil Carbon Variability in Some Hungarian and Croatian Soils

Loss of soil carbon and carbon storage were studied in different soil types in the agroecological conditions of the Pannonian plain and in the Mediterranean region. Total carbon concentration, pH and C:N ratio under pastures, meadows, forests, vineyards, gardens and crop fields were determined. Soil samples were taken in 2010 at depths from 0–3, 3–10, 0–30, 30–60 and 60–90 cm depending on the location, region, soil type and type of ecosystem. Soil pH varied between strongly acid 4.3 measured in crop field on distric Stagnosols (0–30 cm) to weakly alkaline 7.6 in a crop field on Chernozems; C:N ratio varied from 8 measured on distric Stagnosols to 39 on Cambisol calcaric; Soil carbon concentration observed in this study varied from 3.3 g C/kg at Szentgal on an agricultural crop field on Eutric Cambisol, in the deep layer (60–90 cm; L4) to 107.2 g C/kg on Regosol on karst measured in the surface layer of a Mediterranean grassland (0–3 cm; L10).

Heavy Metals Uptake by Aerial Biomass and Grain of Soybean

All phases of crude oil exploitation, starting from drilling works to the construction of underground pipeline networks, including transport, processing and storage, are causing interventions and procedures hazardous to the environment. Although modern technical solutions and materials are used in all segments of petroleum industry warrant a high degree of safety, the occurrence of various incidents is unfortunately not fully excluded. Incidents leading to pipeline spillage and crude oil contamination of the environment constitute a hazard to natural resources, primarily soil and water, and depending on their severity can jeopardize, for a shorter or longer time, the intended use of land on which the incident occurred, namely make it unsuitable for plant production. Petroleum and gas fields are located in Pannonian area where cultivation of agricultural crops is dominated and among them the most represented are corn, wheat and soybean. On the other side, these (petroleum and gas) activities generate waste - drilling fluids which contain different chemical compounds, some of which are ecologically hazardous (hydrocarbons), or toxic substances (heavy metals). As already mentioned, drilling fluids contain increased levels of some heavy metals (barium, zinc and mercury), so their possible application as liming material involves the risk of heavy metal accumulation in soil and plants (Agbogidi et al., 2007). To assess the extent to which such material may be useful or harmful to soil, and thereby to plants grown on it, since pollutants enter the animal and human food chain via soil and plants, investigations into this problem were undertaken (Nelson et al., 1984 ; Lengrand et al., 2005 ; Kabata-Pendias & Mukherjee, 2007). In soybean and wheat grain more nickel and copper were determined compared to soybean and wheat biomass. Also, higher content of zinc in wheat grain compared to biomass was determined. In all other cases, higher concentrations of heavy metals in aerial biomass than in grain of investigated crops were determined. Regarding other investigated crops soybean had the highest enrichment coefficient for cadmium, copper, nickel and zinc.

Soil Compaction in different ages vineyards in Pannonian Croatia. Part II. Modeling spatial variability of soil compaction parameters in vineyard

Geostatistical modeling with different interpolation methods represents progress in describing and monitoring the spatial variability of soil properties. By choosing the proper interpolation method it is possible to produce distribution maps of investigated soil properties which are characterized by significant accuracy, and thus reduced required number of samples for the soil description and determination. On the example of determined soil penetration resistance and collected undisturbed soil samples from thirty years and seven years vineyards, and with geostatistical data analysis followed by comparison of interpolation models, spatial maps of soil resistance, bulk density and soil moisture are produced. This paper presents the applicability of GIS for characterization the spatial variation of soil resistance, bulk density and soil moisture based on 72 undisturbed samples collected at three depths (0-10 cm, 11-20 cm and 21-30 cm) and 177 measured soil penetration resistance in each of the studied vineyards located in central Croatia. The study points to the usefulness of geostatistical techniques analysis of spatial distribution of some physical soil properties. The results provided in graphical form and their associated variance, indicating the possibility of using geostatistical analysis for the sustainable management of soils in the vineyards and plans for soil conservation in the study area.

Precise Soil Sampling Method for Agricultural and Environmental Research Based on New Circular Soil Probe Apparatus

Conventional soil sampling usually implemented in Croatia considers sample weight of 2 kg per 4-5 ha area, which means that representative sample in relation to soil mass up to 30 cm depth is presented through the ratio 1:10000000. New sampling method changes the ratio to 1:625000, thus increasing amount of sampled soil 16 times with assumption that such sample better describes investigated area. Moreover, new soil sampling probe can be used for precision farming purposes where the central point of the probe ring is positioned with precision of ±1 cm and represented with 4, 8 or 16 samples taken in 50 cm radius from the center. Soil probe prototype was tested on agricultural land of 4 ha area with total number of 200 samples. To justify application of new constructed probe, this study gives results of geostatistical analysis of spatial variability in soil pH values up to 30 cm depth. Ordinary kriging was used as interpolation method. Spatial structure of soil parameter was analyzed by calculating semivariograms and approximated by exponential model. Root-mean-square error (RMSE) of prediction was used as measure for the best model evaluation. Interpolation analysis of reduced number of samples per investigated area of 4 ha resulted in deviation in RMSE of 13,2 % when 50 % less samples were randomly introduced, and 41 % with 60 samples, compared to total of 200 samples. Using new soil sampling method for soil survey and applied geostatistical tools provides a solution for quantifying spatial variability of soil properties, possibilities for commercial activities and a way to introduce variable rate technology in agricultural input application which can optimize farm profitability through improving yield, reducing input costs and minimizing input losses to the environment.

Sulphur Balance at Different Nitrogen Fertilization Levels

Oil rape is a valuable fodder because in early spring and late autumn it produces green forage used for the nutrition of domestic animals. It has been replacing sunflower and soy in colder and wetter regions. It is additionally advantageous because it leaves behind more nitrogen in soil, which is beneficial to other plants in plant rotation. There are some possible ways for the fixation of nitrogen in soil and they are as follows: by the means of oil rape straw ; by relatively long roots ; by the action of nitrogen bacteria, which perform the nitrogen synthesis within their root system, which is the case in some leguminous plants. Oil seed rape is expected to be wider used in crop rotation of West and Middle Europe, Croatia included. Due to this various sorts have been introduced and potential positive impacts have been studied in order to boost the process. This paper presents information on barley and wheat yield in case when they were sown after oil seed rape and corn. The aim of the research is to determine the presence of positive impacts upon the soil with special attention paid to a potential increase of nitrogen content after oil seed rape was grown. The preceding crops had statistically significant effect. Rape yield was significantly higher compared to the one with corn as preceding crops. Very similar results were obtained in 2007.The maize hybrids seed from three different FAO groups (FAO 400, FAO 500 and FAO 600) in four fractions (KO, KP, SO and SP) produced in two climatically different years (extremely dry 2000 and extremely wet 2001) had been different in quality and chemical composition. The effects of year, genetic specifity and seed fraction at the kernel mass, chemical composition (starch, proteins, cellulose, oil and moisture content) and seed vigour have been evaluated. The influence of agroecological conditions during two production years have been exposed at seed chemical composition and vigour indicators (cold test – CT and bulk seed electrical conductivity - EC). The genetic specificity and seed fraction had significant influence at all tested indices, with the exception of the influence of the fraction at the starch content