Effect of Biochar Application Rate on Physical and Hydro-physical Properties of A Dystric Cambisol

The field trial evaluating the effect of biochar on physical and hydro-physical properties of a Dystric Cambisol was carried out at the Research Grassland Station Vatín. The observed variants of the biochar experiment were as follows: 1) the control without biochar, 2) the biochar rate of 15 t/ha applied to the topsoil, 3) the biochar rate of 30 t/ha applied to the topsoil and 4) the biochar rate of 45 t/ha applied to the topsoil. It was found out that even the highest rate of biochar 45 t/ha did not affect saturated hydraulic conductivity of the topsoil at the depth of 0.05-0.20 m. When monitoring bulk density, it was confirmed that the biochar rate of 45 t/ha significantly reduced bulk density from 1218 kg/m3 to 1169 kg/m3. In the crop rotation without manure and clover growing the application of biochar at the rate of 45 t/ha resulted in the relevant decline in the average value of bulk density from 1197 kg/m3 to 1138 kg/m3. In the Norfolk crop rotation there were the inconclusive differences in bulk density. The rate of 45 t/ha had a highly noticeable impact on porosity. It increased from 53.75% (0 t/ha) to 55.60%. The biochar doses did not affect the value of field capacity. The application of biochar at the rate of 45 t/ha caused the significant increase in the average value of aeration from 31.90% to 34.45%.O

Carbon Dynamic after Conversion of Permanent Grassland into Arable Soil

Carbon input and balance in soils is regarded as the main criterion of agricultural sustainability. Generally, carbon dynamic depends not only on the carbon input and its decomposition rate, but it is also influenced by various agronomic practices. Therefore, changes in organic carbon stock and humic substances quality were evaluated in two different agricultural management systems (permanent grassland and intensive crop sequences). Haplic Cambisol (Czech-Moravian Highland, locality Vatín, Czech Republic) was sampled twice a year (spring and autumn) in the depth 0-20 cm during the period 2010-2016. Soil was sandy-loam textured, with middle organic carbon content and very low humic substances quality. Results showed that crop management practices directly influenced soil cumulative potential, quality of humic substances, soil reaction and amount of nutrients. Statistically significant differences were found

Carbon Dynamic after Conversion of Permanent Grassland into Arable Soil

Carbon input and balance in soils is regarded as the main criterion of agricultural sustainability. Generally, carbon dynamic depends not only on the carbon input and its decomposition rate, but it is also influenced by various agronomic practices. Therefore, changes in organic carbon stock and humic substances quality were evaluated in two different agricultural management systems (permanent grassland and intensive crop sequences). Haplic Cambisol (Czech-Moravian Highland, locality Vatín, Czech Republic) was sampled twice a year (spring and autumn) in the depth 0-20 cm during the period 2010-2016. Soil was sandy-loam textured, with middle organic carbon content and very low humic substances quality. Results showed that crop management practices directly influenced soil cumulative potential, quality of humic substances, soil reaction and amount of nutrients. Statistically significant differences were found

STRUCTURE OF HUMIC ACIDS AS INFLUENCED BY PLOUGH TILLAGE AND MINIMUM PLOUGHING SYSTEM

Objective of this study was to show the effect of different soil tillage systems onto humic substances content and quality. Furthermore chemical composition and structural differences in humic acids molecule in selected tillage systems were assessed. Long-term experiments were carried out on Luvi-haplic Chernozem (locality Unčovice, Olomouc region) during the period 2008-2011. Two types of tillage systems were studied: 1. plough till 0.35 – 0.40 m; 2. minimum loosening till 0.15 m. Humic acids were isolated according to the international standard method and characterized by elemental composition and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Spectrometer Varian INOVA 600 (frequency 150,830 MHz) was used. Results showed differences in quality of humic substances and higher content of fulvic acids in fractional composition under minimum tillage system. Analysis of chemical composition and structure of humic acids indicated higher content of aliphatic groups in HA molecule due to minimum loosening system. On the other hand humic acids isolated from ploughing soil were more aromatic. 13C NMR spectroscopy could be a useful tool to assess changes in structural composition of humic acids isolated from the different eco-systems

Vegetation of Abandoned Fields on Soil Types of Kastanozems in Northern Kazakhstan (Kostanay Region)

This study provides original data on the impact of human activity on vegetation under the specific conditions of the Kastanozem from the Kostanay region (northern Kazakhstan). Radical changes in land use are provoking deposition in vegetation. The question remains whether natural vegetation will return or whether a different type of vegetation will be created under the specific conditions of the Kastanozems soils. The evaluation of vegetation took place in the fields that were abandoned in different time horizons. Height, cover, biomass weight and species composition of vegetation were monitored. The vegetation of abandoned fields is characterized by low species diversity. Succession runs from annual species to a stage where perennial dicotyledonous species with a deep root system dominate. Spontaneous vegetation leaves a sufficient amount of biomass on the soil surface, which assumes that the land will be protected from undesirable phenomena such as erosion and desertification processes

Identification of several factors affecting biodegradation of aromatic-aliphatic copolyester

Aromatic-aliphatic polyesters aspire to be an ecofriendly replacement of conventional non-biodegradable polymers. Biodegradation of studied aromatic-aliphatic copolyester was estimated in soil and compost. The material was introduced into the tests in four forms differing above all by their specific surface. The copolyester in principle proved to be biodegradable under compost conditions. Biodegradation was also tested in five well selected and characterized agricultural soils. Here its biodegradability was not found to be significant. The specific surface of sample specimen was shown to be an important factor affecting the rate of biodegradation in compost, where biodegradation sample forms with higher specific surface was significantly accelerated over sample specimens with low specific surfaces

Alarm communication predates eusociality in termites

The vibroacoustic and chemical alarm communication in the wood roach Cryptocercus and in 20 termite species are studied to reveal that the Neoisoptera species have developed the most sophisticated communication system, which could contribute towards their ecological success