Composition of the Separated Green Waste in Rural and Urban Area

The municipalities in Slovakia have a duty to separate biodegradable municipal waste (BDMW) from family houses. This duty can be achieved by home composting or by collection of green waste in bio-bins, which are regularly emptied by a collection company. The collected waste is recycled in a composting plant. The conducted research was focused on identifying the composition of the collected green waste and comparing the environmental behaviour of residents in villages and towns. The analyses conducted showed that the separated BDMW from the urban population has a higher rate of contamination, but a lower rate of compostable kitchen waste compared to the residents in villages

Changes in Vegetation Period Length in Slovakia under the Conditions of Climate Change for 1931–2110

The global mean near-surface temperature between 2012 and 2021 was 1.11 to 1.14 °C warmer than the pre-industrial level. This makes it the warmest period on record. The aim of this article was to investigate vegetation period changes (onset and termination of the temperature T ≥ 5 °C, T ≥ 10 °C, and T ≥ 15 °C) due to climate change from the average air temperature for the periods 1931–1961, 1961–1991, and 1991–2020 for 24 stations in Slovakia and forecast the length of vegetation periods for the periods 2021–2050, 2051–2080, and 2081–2110. The number of days with these characteristic temperatures was used as an input dataset, from which map outputs were generated in ArcGIS software. Spatial analysis of the vegetation periods in the past, present, and future showed an earlier start of the vegetation period in spring and a later ending in autumn during the last 30 years. The maximum duration of the vegetation period will expand from the south to the north of Slovakia. Future scenarios showed an extension of the vegetation period duration. On the other hand, this potential advantage for crop cultivation is limited by a lack of arable land in the north of Slovakia and by a lack of precipitation in the south of Slovakia

Water Regime Monitoring of the Royal Walnut (<i>Juglans regia</i> L.) Using Sap Flow and Dendrometric Measurements

Changes in the distribution of annual rainfall totals, together with the increase in temperature over the last 40 years, are causing more frequent periods of drought, and plants are more often exposed to water stress. The aim of this study was to monitor the effect of different water regimes (irrigated and non-irrigated) of individuals of walnut tree (Juglans regia L.) in a private orchard located in the West of Slovakia. Our research was focused on dendrometric and sap flow measurements in the period from 28 March to 2 June 2019. The results showed differences in the sap flow of walnut trees during the budbreak period: when trees were irrigated, sap flow in the diurnal cycle was around 130 g·h−1 (20.48%), higher than in the non-irrigated treatment. Dendrometric differences between the irrigated and non-irrigated treatments were not significant. The sap flow data in the flowering period of the irrigated variant were slightly higher at 150 g·h−1 (35.62%) than non-irrigated. Dendrometric differences were more significant when the difference between the variants was more than 1.5 mm. Continuation of this research and analysis of the data obtained in the coming years will allow us to evaluate the effects of the environment on fruit trees in the long term

Monitoring of the Dendrometric Changes Influenced by Soil Water Content

Drought is generally associated with the persistence of low precipitation amount, decreased soil moisture and water availability relative to the normal levels in a designated area. The effects of drought, range from the morphological to molecular levels, and are evident at all phenological stages of the plant growth, at whatever stage the water deficit occurs. Determination of the surface water demands for irrigation purposes comes out from the assumption of hydrologic processes stationarity. This paper shows our research prerequisite that water stress participates in an important part on the volume changes of over ground parts, which is predictive for the irrigation demand. Malus domestica var. Yellow Transparent was chosen for the measurement of volume changes of the surface plant parts. Our measurements were realised by the Diameter dendrometer small (DD-S) from 24.08. - 13.09.2017. One tree was irrigated by the dose of 50 mm. We compared the dendrometric changes to soil moisture and rainfall on both irrigated and non-irrigated trees. The experiment showed the differences between the irrigated apple tree (the diameters of the branches fluctuated between 11.9 and 12.1 mm) and the non-irrigated apple tree (the diameter of the branches increased after three-day rain from 8.35 to 8.61 mm), in order to determine the water stress of plants based on dendrometric changes and optimize irrigation during the drought period

Changes in the Agroclimatic Areas of Slovakia in 1961–2020

The World Meteorological Organisation predicts an increase in average annual temperature. As a result of climate change in Slovakia, one can expect changes in the distribution of precipitation and moisture availability, changes in the temperature availability of crop production, changes in wintering conditions, and many others. The aim of this work was the analysis of agroclimatic indicators for the period 1961-1990 and 1991-2020. The results showed an increase in the sums of temperatures in the growing season. Also, the increase in temperature resulted in a change in the zones of the agroclimatic indicator of moisture and the agroclimatic indicator of wintering. The zones have been shifting to higher altitudes throughout Slovakia

Changes in the Agroclimatic Areas of Slovakia in 1961–2020

The World Meteorological Organisation predicts an increase in average annual temperature. As a result of climate change in Slovakia, one can expect changes in the distribution of precipitation and moisture availability, changes in the temperature availability of crop production, changes in wintering conditions, and many others. The aim of this work was the analysis of agroclimatic indicators for the period 1961–1990 and 1991–2020. The results showed an increase in the sums of temperatures in the growing season. Also, the increase in temperature resulted in a change in the zones of the agroclimatic indicator of moisture and the agroclimatic indicator of wintering. The zones have been shifting to higher altitudes throughout Slovakia

Impact of climate change on vegetation period of basic species of vegetables in Slovakia

The aim of the paper is to provide climatic data from the basic elements and characteristics of the energy balance in terms of the current state and in terms of trends and assumptions of their future changes in Slovakia. Climate change affect agriculture and its procedures. Changes in vegetation period in Slovakia of selected vegetables are presented in this study. We used for agro-climatic analysis one hundred climatological stations, which were selected to cover all agricultural regions up to 800 m a.s.l. Actual data and predictions were compared with time period 1961–2010. Due to homogeneity in data measurements, was chosen this period. We obtained climate trends and assumed map outputs of future climate changes by mathematical-statistical methods for horizons of years 2011–2020, 2041–2050, 2071–2080 and 2091–2100. We analysed vegetation period changes of selected fruit vegetables, Brassica vegetables and root vegetable in field conditions with prediction to year 2100. In our results is shown the earlier beginning of vegetation period in a spring and later end in an autumn in last 30 years. The vegetation period is getting longer about 15–20 days for Capsicum annuum; 15–20 days for Brassica oleracea var. capitate; 10–15 days for Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris with comparation of nowadays situation and period 2091–2100

Climate Change Impact on the Duration of Great Vegetation Period and Vegetation Period of Beetroot and Watermelon in Slovakia

Climate change brings to the whole world numerous challenges such as an increase in the global temperature, weather fluctuations, periods of drought and heat alternating the local floods. While the majority of the effects are negative for agricultural production, some can be beneficial. Our work presents the evaluation of the changes in the duration of the great vegetation period (delineated with the beginning and end of days with an average temperature T ≥ 5.0 °C) and the vegetation periods of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thumb.) and beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.). Data sets on the average monthly air temperatures for the period 1961–2020 from one hundred agroclimatic stations in Slovakia were selected for the estimation of the future average air temperatures using statistical methods (linear trendline). Based on the temperature requirements of the selected crops, the potential maximum duration of the vegetation period was estimated for several decades from 2041 up to 2100. The results clearly showed prolongation of the vegetation periods and changes of their zonation in Slovakia. In 2011–2020, the duration of the beetroot vegetation period in the southernmost part of Slovakia (Danubian Lowland) was 15–20 days longer than in decade 1971–1980. It is expected, that this value will rise by another 10–15 days in decade 2091–2100. Since 1971–1980, watermelon vegetation period duration increased by 5–10 days when compared to decade 2011–2020. It is expected that by 2091–2100, its duration will prolong by another 30–35 days