Attila Percze

Soil condition threats in two seasons of extreme weather conditions

This research started from the observation that soil state defects that occur in a season may result in even more serious after-effects in the following year. The objective of this study was to investigate the striking forms of dete rioration in a Chernozem soil that occurred both in the surface and in the deeper layer. In one respect, dust formation, crumb reduction, surface silting, and surface crusting were studied, and an attempt to investigate additional consequences of the dust sedimentation to the nearest compacted layer was made. The degree of the soil deteriora tion was compared under treatments of bare and covered surfaces and in degraded and preserved soil conditions setting in the selected parts of a long-term trial. Surface cover significantly influenced soil vulnerability resulting in different responses of soil attributes. The surface crust reducing effects of a higher (≥ 55%) surface cover ratio and a lower proportion of dust could statistically be proven (P < 0.001). A favourable rate of surface cover reliably reduced the ratio of clods produced by primary tillage in dry (0.138–0.158 g/g) soil. The results indicate that it is possible to complete methods adaptable to the climate threats mitigation.

Determining various soil tillage and nutrient loss in soil protection methodology

Soil erosion by water is a major worldwide problem with both on-site effects for agriculture and off-site effects regarding sedimentation problems (Schwertmann et al., 1987). Surface runoff influences soil erosion and the amount of nutrients and pesticides lost from agricultural fields to surface waters (Ulen, 1997). And this runoff of nutrients can reduce the yields of crops and to lower the productivity of soil. Runoff volume and intensity depend on interaction between rainfall amount, intensity and seasonal distribution, and soil hydrological properties, surface roughness and slope. Water runoff and soil erosion are also remarkably influenced by soil cultivation. Their decline is generally recognized, as no-tillage and mulch tillage systems are used more extensively on crop land (Basch et al., 1998). In addition, runoff may represent a significant water loss and a source of pollution also when it occurs as consequence of crop irrigation (Tanji and Hanson, 1990). Therefore, agricultural practices which could help to reduce storm runoff losses, may turn out to be suitable also in the containing of water losses due to irrigation return flow and the related pollution potential (Bazzoffi, 2002). Among the human activities that cause the degradation of the environment, the conservation of natural soil to agriculture, mechanization, irrigation and the indiscriminate use of pesticides and fertilizers are the most important factors determining the loss of natural habitats and soil degradation (WRI, 2001). A soil through the favorable physical and biological features can simultaneously be the main factor of the cultural environment and the crop production (Birkds, 2002). The conventional tillage system, which is based on ploughing is not the best choice, for that farmers, who like to preserve the fertility, the humus contain and the good condition of the soil. In an agronomical respect ploughing may cause risk, if it increases the erosion harm, or gives a bad quality (extremely cloddy or puddly) and increases the number of secondary operations (possible recompaction and dust formation). At the same time the cold and dust formation or increasing the erosion and compaction harms are the environment risk factors of the ploughing. (Birkas et al., 2001).