M O N I T O R I N G O F A G R I C U L T U R E SOILS IN T H E C Z E C H R E P U B L I C JIRI ZB[RAL State Agriculture Checking and Testing Institute Brno, Hroznovd 2, 656 06 Brno, Czech Republic
Abstract. In the CzechRepublica complexmonitoring of agriculture soils has commenced.This paper describes the approach to establishing monitoring plots. Comparing the results of Systematic Soil Survey and those from the first period of agriculture monitoring demonstrates that a representative set of plots was achieved. Soil properties (physical, chemical, biological and agronomical), atmospheric deposition (some parameters being monthly and some only for the summer and winter season) and selected other influences (application of pesticides, irrigation, etc.) are all monitored. Results for atmospheric deposition in the Czech Republic from the first period and Bavaria [Bayerische Landesanstalt for Bodenkultur und Pflanzenbau, 1992) are also compared. Data are evaluated by a statistical package (Statgrafics) and prepared for future transfer into a suitable GIS.
1. Introduction A Systematic Soil Survey has been provided in the Czech Republic for more than 30 years and will, in all probability, remain the main source of information for agronomists (but this is not monitoring in the real sense). There are two main reasons for establishing a soil monitoring system for agricultural soils in our country. The first is the necessity to determine long-term changes in soil fertility and the second is the possibility to evaluate the influence of various factors on the production quality. Soil is the first part of the human food chain and from this point of view the importance of such monitoring is clear (Stana et al., 1993). This paper describes the program for monitoring agricultural soils in the Czech Republic which was started approximately one year ago. The design of the agricultural soil monitoring system takes into consideration the monitoring system for forest soils (national and international) and the system for soil monitoring in protected areas (MZPCR, 1992). It also provides for the determination of transboundary impacts and the possibility to evaluate our results in regard to similar results from monitoring systems of neighbouring countries.
2. Establishment of Monitoring Plots The objective was to select plots that were most representative of agriculture in the Czech Republic. Selection of the plots was governed by the following criteria; 1. Soil type. 2. Proportion of the cultures (arable soil, pastures, vineyards, orchards, hopgardens). 3. Level of contamination from the environment (industrial centres, highways, etc.). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 34: 175-178, 1995. @ 1995 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.
176
JIl~[ZBIRAL
A
B
25 m D
C
40m Fig. 1. Dimensions and configuration of monitoring plots.
TABLE I Comparison of the results from the Systematic Soil Survey and from the monitoring plots (for three regions).
n
A: Macronutrients pH P
541 306 200
n SSS MP
6.3 6.5
70 67
211 213
B: Micronutrients (mg kg -1) Mn Zn Cu
6866 200
36 33.7
Mg
mg k g - 1
-
SSS MP
K
2.1 4.25
2.1 2.1
99 120
B
Mo
1.14 0.93
0.18 0.25
n = number of samples.
4. Equability of the plots in the particular sub-region (county). 5. Possibility to come to an agreement with the owner. Dimensions and configuration of monitoring plots are shown in Figure 1. Each plot is divided into quadrants, A, B, C, D. Most parameters are determined separately for the particular quadrant. From the coefficient of variation we can evaluate the homogeneity of the plot. Heterogeneous plots are cancelled and substituted by new ones according to the conditions described above. Two hundred monitoring plots were established in accordance with the above criteria. A comparison of results obtained in the Systematic Soil Survey with the results obtained for the same parameters from the monitoring plots (Table I) clearly indicates that the goal - to establish the representative set of plots - was achieved satisfactorily.
MONITORINGOF AGRICULTURESOILS
177
3. Monitored Parameters
These are as follows: 3.1. SOIL PROPERTIES 3.1.1. Physical These comprise the pedological characteristics of the soil profile; particle size analysis; cation exchange capacity; other pedological properties (porosity, water capacity, etc.); determination of radionuclides. 3.1.2. Chemical These comprise: exchangeable and active pH; available 'pseudototal' and total content of macro and micronutrients (P, K, Mg, Ca, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, B, Mo); available, 'pseudototal' and total content of potentially toxic elements (As, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Co, Ni, Pb, V, Zn, Hg, T1); organic pollutants (TOX, residues of some pesticides and herbicides). 3.1.3. Biological These comprise: soil zoology; soil microbiology, which include microbial respiration, substrate induced respiration (determination of the microbial biomass), incubation tests for nitrogen mineratization and intensity of nitrification and activity of important enzymes (cellulase, catalase). 3.1.4. Agronomical These are: natural soil fertility and production testing (experimental pots with 6 kg of soil from each of the plots. Consequently maize, spring barley and red clover will be planted without any fertilization and under strictly uniform conditions). 3.2.
ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION
Atmospheric deposition is determined for the first period only on a part of the plots (32). Before the end of 1993 100 plots will be monitored for atmospheric deposition. Some parameters are determined monthly, others twice a year, separately for the winter and the summer season. 3.2.1. Monthly These comprise: total deposition; conductivity, Ntot, nitrates, ammonia, sulfates and chlorides. 3.2.2. After a six-month period Comprising: Ca, Mg, K, P, Na, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Hg. After comparing our results (for only 6 months' monitoring) with those from Bavaria (a four-year period) (Table II) it is clear that the relation is very good.
17 8
JIl~IZBIRAL TABLE II Comparison of atmospheric depositions in the Czech Republic and Bavaria [3] (results in g ha -1 year-l).
Avg. Cu Zn Mn Fe Pb Cd Cr
Czech Republic min. max.
39 280 157 4370 44 1.6 16
21 123 39 1200 21 0.6 6
58 1390 1460 26800 91 13 39
Avg. 23 127 101 2560 61 0.9 9
Bavaria rain. max. 12 60 42 990 41 0.6 4
118 448 337 6180 134 3.2 51
Source: B ayerische Landesanstalt f ~ B odenkultur und Pflanzenbau (1992).
3.3. OTHER INFLUENCES All the other influences (applied pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, a g r o t e c h n i c a l treatment, irrigation, etc.) are just being registered and evaluated.
4. Data Evaluation Data are evaluated at the first instance by a spreadsheet (Quattro Pro) and then transferred into the database program with some features of a semi-GIS. Data are stored as database files. More detailed partial evaluation is provided by a statistical package (Statgrafics) and in future the whole evaluation will be transferred into a suitable GIS. References Stafia, J., Tr~ivnN, K., Mazanec, O., and KaRis, V.: 1993, Symposium Phdnf monitoring v dR, Bmo. Metodika monitorovfmf zem~d~lsk~ch a lesnfch pt~d a pt]d chrfm~n~ch t~zeml Cesk6 republiky (M~rP CR 1992). Zwischenbericht: 1993, Bodenbeobachtungsprogramm. Bayerische Landesanstalt ftir Bodenkultur und Pflanzenbau, 1989.
Abstract. In the CzechRepublica complexmonitoring of agriculture soils has commenced.This paper describes the approach to establishing monitoring plots. Comparing the results of Systematic Soil Survey and those from the first period of agriculture monitoring demonstrates that a representative set of plots was achieved. Soil properties (physical, chemical, biological and agronomical), atmospheric deposition (some parameters being monthly and some only for the summer and winter season) and selected other influences (application of pesticides, irrigation, etc.) are all monitored. Results for atmospheric deposition in the Czech Republic from the first period and Bavaria [Bayerische Landesanstalt for Bodenkultur und Pflanzenbau, 1992) are also compared. Data are evaluated by a statistical package (Statgrafics) and prepared for future transfer into a suitable GIS.
1. Introduction A Systematic Soil Survey has been provided in the Czech Republic for more than 30 years and will, in all probability, remain the main source of information for agronomists (but this is not monitoring in the real sense). There are two main reasons for establishing a soil monitoring system for agricultural soils in our country. The first is the necessity to determine long-term changes in soil fertility and the second is the possibility to evaluate the influence of various factors on the production quality. Soil is the first part of the human food chain and from this point of view the importance of such monitoring is clear (Stana et al., 1993). This paper describes the program for monitoring agricultural soils in the Czech Republic which was started approximately one year ago. The design of the agricultural soil monitoring system takes into consideration the monitoring system for forest soils (national and international) and the system for soil monitoring in protected areas (MZPCR, 1992). It also provides for the determination of transboundary impacts and the possibility to evaluate our results in regard to similar results from monitoring systems of neighbouring countries.
2. Establishment of Monitoring Plots The objective was to select plots that were most representative of agriculture in the Czech Republic. Selection of the plots was governed by the following criteria; 1. Soil type. 2. Proportion of the cultures (arable soil, pastures, vineyards, orchards, hopgardens). 3. Level of contamination from the environment (industrial centres, highways, etc.). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 34: 175-178, 1995. @ 1995 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.
176
JIl~[ZBIRAL
A
B
25 m D
C
40m Fig. 1. Dimensions and configuration of monitoring plots.
TABLE I Comparison of the results from the Systematic Soil Survey and from the monitoring plots (for three regions).
n
A: Macronutrients pH P
541 306 200
n SSS MP
6.3 6.5
70 67
211 213
B: Micronutrients (mg kg -1) Mn Zn Cu
6866 200
36 33.7
Mg
mg k g - 1
-
SSS MP
K
2.1 4.25
2.1 2.1
99 120
B
Mo
1.14 0.93
0.18 0.25
n = number of samples.
4. Equability of the plots in the particular sub-region (county). 5. Possibility to come to an agreement with the owner. Dimensions and configuration of monitoring plots are shown in Figure 1. Each plot is divided into quadrants, A, B, C, D. Most parameters are determined separately for the particular quadrant. From the coefficient of variation we can evaluate the homogeneity of the plot. Heterogeneous plots are cancelled and substituted by new ones according to the conditions described above. Two hundred monitoring plots were established in accordance with the above criteria. A comparison of results obtained in the Systematic Soil Survey with the results obtained for the same parameters from the monitoring plots (Table I) clearly indicates that the goal - to establish the representative set of plots - was achieved satisfactorily.
MONITORINGOF AGRICULTURESOILS
177
3. Monitored Parameters
These are as follows: 3.1. SOIL PROPERTIES 3.1.1. Physical These comprise the pedological characteristics of the soil profile; particle size analysis; cation exchange capacity; other pedological properties (porosity, water capacity, etc.); determination of radionuclides. 3.1.2. Chemical These comprise: exchangeable and active pH; available 'pseudototal' and total content of macro and micronutrients (P, K, Mg, Ca, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, B, Mo); available, 'pseudototal' and total content of potentially toxic elements (As, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Co, Ni, Pb, V, Zn, Hg, T1); organic pollutants (TOX, residues of some pesticides and herbicides). 3.1.3. Biological These comprise: soil zoology; soil microbiology, which include microbial respiration, substrate induced respiration (determination of the microbial biomass), incubation tests for nitrogen mineratization and intensity of nitrification and activity of important enzymes (cellulase, catalase). 3.1.4. Agronomical These are: natural soil fertility and production testing (experimental pots with 6 kg of soil from each of the plots. Consequently maize, spring barley and red clover will be planted without any fertilization and under strictly uniform conditions). 3.2.
ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION
Atmospheric deposition is determined for the first period only on a part of the plots (32). Before the end of 1993 100 plots will be monitored for atmospheric deposition. Some parameters are determined monthly, others twice a year, separately for the winter and the summer season. 3.2.1. Monthly These comprise: total deposition; conductivity, Ntot, nitrates, ammonia, sulfates and chlorides. 3.2.2. After a six-month period Comprising: Ca, Mg, K, P, Na, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Hg. After comparing our results (for only 6 months' monitoring) with those from Bavaria (a four-year period) (Table II) it is clear that the relation is very good.
17 8
JIl~IZBIRAL TABLE II Comparison of atmospheric depositions in the Czech Republic and Bavaria [3] (results in g ha -1 year-l).
Avg. Cu Zn Mn Fe Pb Cd Cr
Czech Republic min. max.
39 280 157 4370 44 1.6 16
21 123 39 1200 21 0.6 6
58 1390 1460 26800 91 13 39
Avg. 23 127 101 2560 61 0.9 9
Bavaria rain. max. 12 60 42 990 41 0.6 4
118 448 337 6180 134 3.2 51
Source: B ayerische Landesanstalt f ~ B odenkultur und Pflanzenbau (1992).
3.3. OTHER INFLUENCES All the other influences (applied pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, a g r o t e c h n i c a l treatment, irrigation, etc.) are just being registered and evaluated.
4. Data Evaluation Data are evaluated at the first instance by a spreadsheet (Quattro Pro) and then transferred into the database program with some features of a semi-GIS. Data are stored as database files. More detailed partial evaluation is provided by a statistical package (Statgrafics) and in future the whole evaluation will be transferred into a suitable GIS. References Stafia, J., Tr~ivnN, K., Mazanec, O., and KaRis, V.: 1993, Symposium Phdnf monitoring v dR, Bmo. Metodika monitorovfmf zem~d~lsk~ch a lesnfch pt~d a pt]d chrfm~n~ch t~zeml Cesk6 republiky (M~rP CR 1992). Zwischenbericht: 1993, Bodenbeobachtungsprogramm. Bayerische Landesanstalt ftir Bodenkultur und Pflanzenbau, 1989.
