Simulation of soil organic carbon changes in Slovak arable land and their environmental aspects

• Published in: Soil and Water Research - UZEI (Czech Republic) Vol. 7; no. 2; pp. 45 - 51
• Main Authors: Barancikova, G., Vyskumny Ustav Podoznalectva a Ochrany Pody, Presov (Slovak Republic), Makovnikova, J., Vyskumny Ustav Podoznalectva a Ochrany Pody, Banska Bystrica (Slovak Republic), Skalsky, R., Vyskumny Ustav Podoznalectva a Ochrany Pody, Bratislava (Slovak Republic), Tarasovicova, Z., Vyskumny Ustav Podoznalectva a Ochrany Pody, Bratislava (Slovak Republic), Novakova, M., Vyskumny Ustav Podoznalectva a Ochrany Pody, Bratislava (Slovak Republic), Halas, J., Vyskumny Ustav Podoznalectva a Ochrany Pody, Presov (Slovak Republic), Guttekova, M., Vyskumny Ustav Podoznalectva a Ochrany Pody, Presov (Slovak Republic), Koco, S., Vyskumny Ustav Podoznalectva a Ochrany Pody, Presov (Slovak Republic)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Prague Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) 01.01.2012; Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences
• Subjects: Agricultural land; agricultural management; AGRICULTURAL SOILS; Arable land; ARABLE SOILS; CALIDAD; CAPA ARABLE DEL SUELO; CARBON; CARBONE; CARBONO; Confidence intervals; COUCHE ARABLE; Decision making; Environmental aspects; GESTION DU SOL; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1301; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_24199; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_24242; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_33096; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_33934; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_35657; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_568; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6400; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7176; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7812; long-term simulation; MANEJO DEL SUELO; MATERIA ORGANICA DEL SUELO; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; MATIERE ORGANIQUE DU SOL; MODELE DE SIMULATION; MODELE MATHEMATIQUE; Modelling; MODELOS DE SIMULACION; MODELOS MATEMATICOS; Organic carbon; Organic soils; Polynomials; QUALITE; QUALITY; Quality assessment; Quality control; REPUBLICA ESLOVACA; REPUBLIQUE SLOVAQUE; rothc model; Simulation; SIMULATION MODELS; SLOVAK REPUBLIC; Soil dynamics; Soil improvement; SOIL MANAGEMENT; soil organic carbon; SOIL ORGANIC MATTER; Soil properties; Soil quality; Soils; SOL AGRICOLE; SOL ARABLE; SUELOS AGRICOLAS; SUELOS CULTIVABLES; Sustainable use; TOP SOIL; Topsoil; Slovakia
• ISSN: 1801-5395; 1805-9384
• DOI: 10.17221/38/2011-SWR

The RothC-26.3 model was applied for long-term modelling (1970-2007) of the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock in the topsoil of croplands of Slovakia. Simulation results show a gradual increase in the SOC stock in the first phase of modelling (1970-1995) mainly due to higher carbon input in the soil. A significant linear correlation (r = 0.4**, n = 275) was found between C input and the final simulation of SOC stock. A close relationship between the SOC stock and soil production potential index representing the official basis for soil quality assessment in Slovakia was also determined and a polynomial relationship was found. It describes the relation at the 95% confidence level. In conclusion, changes in the SOC stock dynamics important for sustainable use of soils could be influenced positively or negatively by political decisions concerning the soil management. Moreover, the soil production potential index can be used as soil quality information support for such decision-making.