Podmol pri Kastelcu - novo večplastno arheološko najdišče na Krasu, Slovenija

The paper concerns the results of trial excavation in the new Holocenc archaeological cave site at Podmol on the Petrinjc Karst in Slovenia. Stratigraphie sequence is 8 metres deep. Eleven Holoccnc layers yielded numerous finds from Ncolithic, Copper, Bronze, Roman and Mediaeval Age. This is the most complete archaeological stratigraphy of Holoccne period in Slovenia till now, especially for Copper Age and the Copper-Early Bronze Age transition. Radiocarbon dates do not exist. Many aspects of the site and its finds were analised: pcdological-scdimcntological, archaeological, palaeofaunistical and palaeobotanical.V prispevku so obdelana poskusna izkopavanja v novem arheološkem jamskem najdišču Podmol na Petrinjskem Krasu v Sloveniji. Ugotovljen je bil 8 m debel stratigrafski niz, obsegajoč obdobja neo- in eneolitika, bronaste dobe, antike l n srcdnjcga veka. Trenutno je lo najdišče z najpopolneje ohranjeno stratigrafijo za holocensko obdobje v Sloveniji. To velja še posebej za eneolitik in za prehod iz eneolitika v zgodnjo bronasto dobo. Najdišče radiokarbonsko ni datirano. Podmol je bil vzorčno kompleksno obdelan: narejene so bile pedološko-sedimentološke raziskave ter paleovegetacijske in paleofavnistične analize. Vse so dale prepričljive preliminarne rezultate

Soil of the lower valley of the Dragonja river (Slovenia)

<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT','serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Soil of the lower valley of the river Dragonja developed under specific soil-forming factors. Soil development in the area was influenced by alluvial sediments originating from surrounding hills, mostly of flysch sequence rocks, as a parent material, Sub-Mediterranean climate and the vicinity of the sea. Different soil classification units (Gleysol and Fluvisol) were proposed for that soil in previous researches. The aim of our study was the evaluation of morphological, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of soil, based on detailed soil description and analyses, and to define the appropriate soil classification units. Field examinations revealed that the soil had a stable blocky or subangular structure and did not express substantial hydromorphic forms. Soil pH value was ranging from 6.9 to 7.5. In most locations electroconductivity (ECe) did not exceed 2 ds/m. Base saturation was high (up to 99 %), with a majority of Ca</span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT','serif'; font-size: 6pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">2+ </span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT','serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">ions. Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) was ranging from 0.2 to 3.8 %, which is higher compared to other Slovenian soils but does not pose a risk to soil structure. Soil has silty clay loam texture with up to 66 % of silt. Prevailing minerals were quartz, calcite and muscovite/illite. No presence of swelling clay mineral montmorillonite was detected. According to Slovenian soil classification, we classified the examined soil as alluvial soil. According to WRB soil classification, the soil was classified as Cambisol.</span></p

Soils of Slovenia: with soil map 1:250000 / Tla Slovenije: s pedološko karto v merilu 1: 250000

Soils are a unique natural resource essential for food production and an irreplaceable component of natural ecosystems. Because of numerous environmental, economical, social and cultural functions (the multifunctionality of soils), soils are of key importance to terrestrial life. Food and other agricultural and forestry production which enable the survival of humankind depend completely on soils. Soils provide water and nutrients to plants and support to their roots. They accumulate, retain and provide nutrients, organic matter, water and energy. They provide a natural filter for groundwater, the main source of drinking water. Soils exchange gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and methane with the atmosphere. They provide a living environment for diverse populations of organisms. In turn, soil organisms enable the biogeochemical cycling of matter and energy. Therefore, soils perform many essential ecological functions which allow for human activities and necessitate the conservation of our landscape and natural heritage. Common human activities are often associated with soil degradation or destruction, processes which are several orders of magnitude faster than the processes of their natural regeneration, therefore the soils can not be considered to be a renewable natural resource. In Europe, we are witnessing soil losses to urban development, and soil degradation caused by some intensive agricultural practices. Land-use decisions need to be based on the treatment of soils as a natural resource which needs to be managed carefully. Sustainable soil management requires both the knowledge and understanding of soil functions and properties. Slovenia has a relatively rich soil database in the scale 1:25 000, which is detailed enough to allow soil quality presentation of soils as a natural resource. The development of information technologies offers modern approaches to the organisation, maintenance and use of spatial data, including soil data. Over the past few decades, formerly analogue soil data have been digitized by the C enter for Soil and Environmental Science (CSES), Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana. The informatization of soil data included remapping and digitalization of analogue soil data. The geo-oriented soil data are maintained within the Soil Information System (SIS) which has been developed and maintained by the Center for Soil and Environmental Science of the Biotechnical Faculty in Ljubljana (CPVO). One of the three main groups of soil data within SIS is a digital soil map in the scale of 1:25 000 (soil type and polygons of their areal distribution) with spatial and attribute data. The SIS is continuously modified and updated to keep pace with the changes in the geographical information system tools and changing soil classifications and methodologies. The 1:250 000 soil map (PK250) has been generalized from the basic 1:25 000 soil map data (PK25). The method of generalisation was based on the predominant soil type and we formed 63 new pedocartographic units. The legend shows both numerical and colour designation, as well as the name of each unit. The units are described in a table (Appendix II ) and include data on soil profile composition, average soil texture classes, pH range, parent material and typical use of each unit. The range of soil value numbers, representing production potential of the soil unit has been determined as well (Appendix II ). Urban soils were not mapped and are shown in white. The general map in the scale 1:250 000 enables a quick examination of predominant soil types and associations in Slovenia and is an easily accessible inventory of soils as a natural resource.JRC.H.5-Land Resources Managemen