Soil & Water Res., 2009, 4(3):104-115 | DOI: 10.17221/43/2008-SWR

Effect of cutting regime on soil physical properties of wet thistle meadowsOriginal Paper

Renata DUFFKOVÁ, Tomáš KVÍTEK

Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation, Prague-Zbraslav, Czech Republic

Changes of selected soil physical properties (porosity P, soil organic matter SOM, bulk density ρ_d, particle density ρ_z, characteristics of water retention capacity - maximum capillary water capacity θ_CMC, and non-capillary porosity P_n) of permanent grassland (wet, non-fertilized, thistle meadows ass. Angelico-Cirsietum palustris, crystalline complex area, Czech Republic) in the top soil layer (3-10 cm) managed under three regimes (uncut UC; cut once a year C1; cut twice a year C2) were monitored for one undrained and two drained sites. There were no significant differences in selected soil physical properties among the test plots at the beginning of the study. As the intensity of utilisation decreased, the values of P, SOM, and P_n increased and ρ_d, ρ_z and θ_CMC decreased. Within 5-10 years of the beginning of the study, average values were: P at UC = 70, C1 = 69, C2 = 67%; SOM at UC = 10.7, C1 = 10.6, C2 = 10.0%; ρ_d at UC = 0.76, C1 = 0.79, C2 = 0.84 g/cm³; ρ_x at UC = 2.53, C1 = 2.55, C2 = 2.56 g/cm³; θCMC at UC = 50, C1 = 53, C2 = 51%; P_nat UC = 21, C1 and C2 = 16%. Moderate negative dependence of both ρ_x and ρ_d on SOM and of ρ_d on P_n and a moderate positive dependence of P on SOM was observed. θ_CMC changes did not show links to other soil physical properties. The greatest looseness of the top soil layer, expressed by a decrease in ρ_d, occurred with the UC regime in direct correlation with SOM, P_n and P.

Keywords: soil physical properties; wet grassland; management; regression; ANOVA

Published: September 30, 2009  Show citation