Zsófia Bakacsi

Compilation of 1:50,000 scale digital soil maps for Hungary based on the digital Kreybig soil information system

After several years of digital processing of legacy soil data collected by the Kreybig soil survey, the nationwide development of the digital Kreybig soil information system (DKSIS) made possible the compilation of soil property and function maps for the territory of Hungary at a scale of approximately 1:25,000–1:50,000. The Kreybig legacy data are spatially most detailed nationwide dataset related to soils which covers the whole area of the country. It simultaneously contains two types of geometric datasets: approximately 100,000 soil mapping units (SMUs) and 250,000 sampling plots. SMUs are characterized by several complex soil physical and chemical categories and detailed soil properties which are provided for soil profiles whose description in the digital environment is supported by a specific relational database. Primary digital soil maps can be compiled based on the polygons-type entities, while suitable spatial inference of profile-related variables makes the composition of secondary, regionalized digital soil maps possible, too. In our paper, we present example for both types.

Elaboration and applications of spatial soil information systems and digital soil mapping at Research Institute for Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Hungary has long traditions in soil survey and mapping. Large amount of soil information is available in various dimensions and generally presented in maps, serving different purposes as to spatial and/or thematic aspects. Increasing the proportion of soil-related data has been digitally processed and organized into various spatial soil information systems (SSISs). The most current countrywide ones have been elaborated by and available at Research Institute for Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (RISSAC HAS). The existing maps, data and systems served the society for many years; however, the available data are no longer fully satisfactory for the recent needs of policy making. There were numerous initiatives for the digital processing, completion, improvement and integration of the existing soil datasets. In our paper, we briefly present the national SSISs developed and maintained by our institute and some examples are given regarding how their functionality was extended by digital soil mapping for the solution of specific soil-related demands.

Impact of expected climate change on soil water regime under different vegetation conditions

A mathematical model was applied for the Bükk Mountains (Hungary) to evaluate the effects of climate change on soil water balance elements and soil water regime. Model runs using SWAP model were performed for combinations of four distinctive soil types and three land use systems of arable land, grassland, and forest. The temporal variation of soil water regime under changing climatic conditions was examined considering no land cover change occurring in the future. The climate data consisted of the predictions of two regional climate models, the Swiss CLM and the Swedish RCA. The RCA results showed 45% to 50% and the CLM showed 5% to 14% higher future precipitation outlook compared to present conditions. Considering different land use types, the projected number of days with soil moisture deficit was the highest in forest ecosystems for both the upper 50 cm soil layer and the whole soil profile, which could be as high as 61% of days below optimal soil water content range. Our results showed increased water fluxes, especially in deep percolation in far future period and a strong influence of soil properties on the changes in the climate model results, indicating significant long-term effects of climate change on soil water regime.

Variations for the Implementation of SCORPAN’s “S”

Development of DSM can be notably attributed to frequent limitations in the availability of proper soil information; consequently, it has been typically used in cases featured by limited soil data. Since SCORPAN equation includes other or previously measured properties of soil, the usage of legacy soil data supports the applicability of DSM and improves the accuracy of DSM products as well. Nevertheless, the occurrent abundance of available soil information poses new demands on and at the same time opens new possibilities in the application of DSM methods. A great amount of soil information has been collected in Hungary in the frame of subsequent surveys and assessments. The majority of these legacy soil data were integrated in various spatial soil information systems. Our paper presents three approaches for the application of Hungary’s most extended legacy soil data source in goal-oriented digital soil mapping.

Effects of Land Use and Management on Soil Hydraulic Properties

Abstract Soil hydraulic properties are among the most important parameters that determine soil quality and its capability to serve the ecosystem. Land use can significantly influence soil properties, including its hydraulic conditions; however, additional factors, such as changes in climate (temperature and precipitation), can further influence the land use effects on soil hydraulic properties. In order to develop possible adaptation measures and mitigate any negative effects of land use and climatic changes, it is important to study the impact of land use and changes in land use on soil hydraulic properties. In this paper, we summarize recent studies examining the effect of land use/land cover and the associated changes in soil hydraulic properties, mainly focusing on agricultural scenarios of cultivated croplands and different tillage systems.

Compilation of Functional Soil Maps for the Support of Spatial Planning and Land Management in Hungary

The tasks of national spatial planning (i.e., delineation of areas with natural constraints or areas with excellent productivity; support of irrigation strategies; flood, drought, and climate change impact risk assessment) increasingly demand advanced or new kinds of spatial soil information, which cannot be fully satisfied by legacy soil maps or formerly elaborated databases. Due to the lack of recent, extended, nationwide mapping, the data of previous surveys should be exploited thoroughly. Digital soil mapping integrates geographic information systems (GIS), geostatistical, and data mining tools and makes possible the elaboration of target-specific soil maps with improved and/or specific thematic, spatial, and temporal accuracy as opposed to former, more general soil maps. For the satisfaction of the recent demands, soil conditions of Hungary have been digitally mapped based on various available recent and legacy soil datasets, and spatially exhaustive, environmental, and auxiliary information. The produced digital soil property maps have been miscellaneously utilized in various regional planning activities.

The potential wind erosion map of an area covered by sandy and loamy soils - based on wind tunnel measurements

Summary. Wind erosion causes an enormous problem in agriculture, and the stirred-up dust influences the air quality and is harmful for human health. In the cultivated agricultural areas of Hungary, soils with different textures often suffer from wind erosion, and due to the global climate change an ever increasing risk rate can be expected. In this study we examined in a wind tunnel the thresholds of wind velocity and erodibility of 80 different soil samples originated from an area covering of approximately 5,000 km 2 . Afterwards, based on the resulting data the soils with different texture types were categorized in erosion risk classes. Using the experimental results and the CORINE land cover database, we compiled a potential wind erosion map for the studied area.

Spatial distribution of selected soil features in Hajdú-Bihar county represented by digital soil maps

With the ongoing DOSoReMI.hu project we aimed to significantly extend the potential, how soil information requirements could be satisfied in Hungary. We started to compile digital soil maps, which fulfil optimally general as well as specific national and international demands from the aspect of thematic, spatial and temporal accuracy. In addition to relevant and available auxiliary, spatial data themes related to soil forming factors and/or to indicative environmental elements we heavily lean on the various national soil databases. The set of the applied digital soil mapping techniques is gradually broadened. In our paper we present some results in the form of brand new soil maps focusing on the territory of Hajdú-Bihar county.

Evaluation of three semi-distributed hydrological models in simulating discharge from a small forest and arable dominated catchment

Abstract Catchment scale hydrological models are promising tools for simulating the effect of catchment-specific processes and management on soil and water resources. Here, we present a model intercomparison study of runoff simulations using three different semi-distributed rainfall-runoff catchment models. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the applicability of the Hydrologiska Byrans Vattenavdelning (HBV-Light); Precipitation, Evapotranspiration and Runoff Simulator for Solute Transport (PERSiST); and INtegrated CAtchment (INCA) models on Somogybabod Catchment, near Lake Balaton, Hungary. The models were calibrated and validated against observed discharge data at the outlet of the catchment for the period of January 1, 2006 –July 12, 2015. Model performance was evaluated using graphical representations, e.g. daily and monthly hydrographs and Flow Duration Curves (FDC) and model evaluation statistic; Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) and coefficient of determination (R2). The simulation results showed that the models provided good estimates of monthly average discharge (0.60–0.90 NSE; 0.60–0.91 R2) and satisfactory results for daily discharge (0.46–0.62 NSE; 0.50–0.67 R2). We found that the application of hydrological models serves as a powerful basis for ensemble modelling of average runoff and could enhance our understanding of the eco-hydrological and transport processes within catchments. On the other hand, it can highlight the uncertainty of model forecasts and the importance of goal specific evaluation.

A talajok mechanikai összetétel vizsgálata pipettás ülepítéses módszerrel: a hazai és a nemzetközi szabvány szerinti eljárások összehasonlítása és konverziója

The particle size distribution (PSD) values obtained for a soil database representing the main Hungarian soil types using the Hungarian standard (MSZ-08-0205-78) and the international standard (ISO/DIS 11277:1994) were compared with the pipette method. The relationship between these PSDs and other physical soil characteristics (upper limit of plasticity according to Arany, water vapour adsorption according to Sik) was also analysed, and a suggestion was made of how these results could be converted into each other. Experience showed that the pre-treatments applied as part of the ISO/DIS method may change the ratio of particle size fractions: there was a significant increase in the clay content, while the silt content decreased to a lesser and the sand content to a greater extent, possibly because some of the particles remain in microaggregate form when the MSZ method is used. The results confirmed the greater accuracy of the ISO/DIS method: the clay contents measured with the ISO/DIS method exhibited stron...