Soil and Water Research - Latest articles
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Assessment of multivariate associations and spatial variability of forest soil properties and their stand factors in the Czech Republic
Vincent Oppong Sarkodie, Radim Vašát, Karel Němeček, Vít Šrámek, Věra Fadrhonsová, Kateřina Neudertová Hellebrandová, Luboš Borůvka
Soil & Water Res., 2025, 20(1):32-42 | DOI: 10.17221/114/2024-SWR 
Knowing the relationship between forest soil properties and their stand conditions is relevant for the sustainable exploitation and management of forest soils. This study examines the influence of stand environmental factors on soil properties within forest environments. We further assessed the spatial variability of these soil properties and their controlling factors. A harmonised soil database on the entire forest areas of the Czech Republic was considered; however, only 851 sampling points with complete data on soil properties was used out of the more than 8 thousand sampling points in the database. The topsoil mineral layer of 0–30 cm was...
Approximation of the soil particle-size distribution curve using a NURBS curve
Adéla Marie Marhoul, Tomáš Herza, Josef Kozák, Jaroslava Janků, Jan Jehlička, Luboš Borůvka, Karel Němeček, Miroslav Jetmar, Petr Polák
Soil & Water Res., 2025, 20(1):16-31 | DOI: 10.17221/139/2024-SWR
Soil particle-size distribution or soil texture presents one of the most important physical properties. There are various systems of the classification systems for soil particle-size fractions with different boundaries. Our effort was concentrated on the mathematical approach to evaluate the existing data and convert it to the form of a reconstructed cumulative particle-size curve which will allow reading concentration of any desired particle size. Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) curves therefore represent a generalization of B-splines and Bézier curves by extending the definition by an element of rationality, which is represented by the...
New version of PUGIS - Soil information system of the Czech Republic
Adéla Marie Marhoul, Tomáš Herza, Josef Kozák, Jaroslava Janků, Jan Jehlička, Luboš Borůvka, Karel Němeček, Miroslav Jetmar, Petr Polák
Soil & Water Res., 2025, 20(1):1-15 | DOI: 10.17221/138/2024-SWR
The creation of the database system represents a complex task which is difficult to coordinate. In this work, a method of the logic framework was used for the coordination of each particular step to one integral part. In the Czech Republic, most of the information about soil was gathered within a systematic soil survey (KPP) in the period 1961–1970. Information about genetic and agronomic characteristics of agricultural soils was gathered for the whole Czech Republic. The other part of the data is coming from the databases of forest soils. This contribution is a continuation of the previous research. We are aware of the fact that in the Czech...
INDEX OF VOLUME 19
Editorial Department
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(4):I-II
A comprehensive review of soil erosion research in Central Asian countries (1993–2022) based on the Scopus database
Mukhiddin Juliev, Madinabonu Kholmurodova, Bekmurat Abdikairov, Jilili Abuduwaili
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(4):244-256 | DOI: 10.17221/82/2024-SWR
Soil is a valuable resource for food production, and it demands a long time to recover itself. Soil erosion is one of the most important issues for countries based on agriculture. This review article analyzed articles published on the topic of general soil erosion in Central Asian countries in 1993–2022. More than 50% of the articles reflect the results of the conducted practical work. The main content of these scientific works is aimed at the prevention of erosion processes, their evaluation and the development of countermeasures. During the considered period, the number of publications on soil erosion has increased in the last years compared...
How to measure soil quality? A case study conducted on cropland in the Czech Republic
Lenka Pavlů, Jiří Balík, Simona Procházková, Ivana Galušková, Luboš Borůvka
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(4):229-243 | DOI: 10.17221/118/2024-SWR
This work presents the advantages and risks of selected soil quality criteria using data from the monitoring of agricultural soils in the Czech Republic. Soil samples were taken from 71 sites covering various soil types. Basic soil parameters and mid-infrared spectra were measured. Indicators describing the quality of soil organic matter (SOM), and soil were calculated. The results show that soil types differ significantly in the qualitative indicators of soil organic matter. More acidic soils with lower clay content contain lower proportions of aromatic and higher proportions of aliphatic organic compounds than neutral soils with higher clay particles...
Impact of winter conditions on wind erosion susceptibility of clay soils
Josef Kučera, Martin Blecha, Jana Podhrázská, Jan Szturc, Petra Fukalová, Hana Středová
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(4):218-228 | DOI: 10.17221/90/2024-SWR
Wind erosion primarily affects sandy soil in arid areas. However, the specific winter meteorological conditions (freeze-thaw cycles) lead to the disintegration of aggregates into erosion-risk fractions even on clay soils. These changes in the winter erodibility of clay soils were investigated in an area with frequent occurrences of wind erosion in southeastern Moravia (Czech Republic, Central Europe) between the years 2014/2015 and 2020/2021. The percentage of non-erodible fraction (NEF) before and after winter was assessed. NEF was set as particles larger than 0.84 mm and also larger than 2.00 mm (based on field observations), while...
Determining saturated hydraulic conductivity of a repacked loam soil by the simplified falling-head technique: Impact of sieving duration and scraping of exposed surfaces
Dario Autovino, Vincenzo Bagarello, Gaetano Caltabellotta, Mariachiara Fusco, Massimo Iovino
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(4):210-217 | DOI: 10.17221/79/2024-SWR
Many methods are used in a laboratory for packing sieved soil. Determination of soil properties is expected to vary with the applied packing method. The objective of this investigation was to test the impact of initial soil sieving duration and scraping of exposed soil surfaces on saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) of an initially air-dry loam soil determined by the simplified falling-head technique. Two sieving durations (5 and 30 min) were considered. A brush was used to scrape exposed surfaces for half of the tested soil columns. A long sieving yielded finer soil than a short sieving and 9–22% smaller values of Ks....
Application of LiDAR visualisations for mapping the tillage direction
Juraj Lieskovský, Tibor Lieskovský, Svetlana Košanová, Lucia Bírová
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(4):200-209 | DOI: 10.17221/70/2024-SWR
Contour tillage is an agricultural practice that significantly contributes to enhancing water retention, reducing the risk of flooding, and mitigating soil erosion. Information about the tillage direction is used for modelling water and tillage erosion. In our study, we used Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) visualizations, originally developed for archaeological research, to visualise tillage traces and map tillage direction in the Nitra district (SW Slovakia). The tillage traces were visible in all agricultural parcels, on various agricultural fields, under various agricultural crops. The LiDAR visualisations also revealed pre-collectivization...
Assessment of soil salinity and environmental factors in the Kesem irrigation scheme, Afar Region, Ethiopia
Mengistu Jiru, Boja Mekonnen, Henk Ritzema, Fentaw Abegaz
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(4):191-199 | DOI: 10.17221/37/2024-SWR
Soil salinity is a growing problem for agricultural production in irrigated areas of arid and semi-arid regions. The extent of salinity levels has not been fully studied in the Kesem irrigation scheme in Ethiopia's Afar region. The objective of the study was to identify the main issues related to soil salinity and their variations, and to assess the influence of environmental variables on soil salinity using multivariate analysis (MVA). The dominant cations in the soil were found to be soluble Na+, Ca2+ and K+ while SO42-and Cl- were the dominant anions. These ions are responsible for the salinity...
Computed tomographic visualisation and 2D/3D microscopic evaluation of soil macro- and micromorphology
Lubica Pospíšilová, Jana Plisková, Victory Armida Janine Jaques, Tomáš Zikmund, Luboš Sedlák, Aleš Eichmeier, Aleš Klement, Radka Kodešová, Luboš Borůvka, Jozef Kaiser, Ladislav Menšík
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(3):176-189 | DOI: 10.17221/47/2024-SWR
Erratum in: Soil & Water Res., 20: 69. Doi: 10.17221/2/2025-SWR Soil organic matter and pores distribution within aggregates were studied using X-ray computed tomography (XCT; Nikon XT H 225ST and GE Phoenix L240) and advanced 2D/3D measurements by the digital Keyence VHX-6000 microscope (Japan). A new methodological approach with computed tomography involvement for studying the spatial arrangement of pores, porosity, and soil morphology is presented. Changes in studied parameters are documented along the transect of intensively used Haplic Chernozem. Soil disturbance due to erosion and colluvial soil profile formation is reported....
Impact of intercrops on soil loss and surface runoff from sloping maize fields
Jan Gregar, Jan Petrů, Jana Kalibová, Věra Ürge, David Kincl, Jan Vopravil
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(3):168-175 | DOI: 10.17221/43/2024-SWR
Water erosion poses a significant threat to more than 50% of agricultural land in the Czech Republic. Maize (Zea mays L.) is particularly susceptible to soil erosion, with the bare soil space between maize rows exposed to erosive agents. Intercropping has emerged as a potential solution to mitigate soil erosion risks in maize cultivation. A series of soil erosion field experiments were conducted from 2022 to 2023 using natural rainfall to investigate the influence of selected intercrop mixtures during the growing season on sediment yields and surface runoff volume. The results revealed a gradual decrease in surface runoff volume and sediment...
Does no-till cover crop influence in situ measured soil water potential and saturated hydraulic conductivity?
Olivia Peters, Samuel I. Haruna
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(3):154-167 | DOI: 10.17221/27/2024-SWR
Soil water energy determines soil water balance, plant water uptake, and soil thermal properties, but the effects of cover crops (CCs) on in situ measured soil water energy and temperature are not well understood. This study investigated how CCs affect in situ measured soil water potential (SWP), temperature, and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) during 2 years, with the hypothesis that CC-induced water transpiration can lower SWP. The CCs used included crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestavum L.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), oats (Avena sativa), triticale...
The water repellency of earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) casts depends on their particle size composition, organic carbon content and calcium carbonate content
Madalina Iordache, Liliana Brei, Isidora Radulov, Ioan Gaica, Daniel Dicu, Codruta Chis
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(3):144-153 | DOI: 10.17221/93/2023-SWR
At the soil level, earthworms are key indicators of water-related processes which help soils to accept, retain, release and transmit water by influencing the soil structure through their burrowing, casts, and drilosphere. The water repellency is an indicator of soil structure stability both for the natural soil and for the earthworm casts (bioturbated soil). The water repellency of earthworm casts is a complex property that should be approached both at ecological and functional level in earthworm categorization because this cast property influences the transport and flow processes in soil, such as those of water, nutrients, pollutants, and gas...
Temporal changes of soil characteristics on Lítov spoil heap, Czech Republic
Enkhtuya Enkhtaivan, Oldřich Vacek, Petra Vokurková, Marko Spasić, Radim Vašát, Ondřej Drábek
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(3):133-143 | DOI: 10.17221/17/2024-SWR
This study aimed to examine the changes in selected soil properties at Lítov spoil heap (Sokolov, Czech Republic) and compare the current situation with the situation described twenty years ago. A total of 110 soil samples were taken at Lítov at the same sites as in 1998. The analyses of basic soil characteristics involved: exchangeable soil pH (pHKCl), organic carbon content (Cox), quality of humic substances (A400/A600), exchangeable acidity (Ea), and two types of aluminium contents in the soil. Changes in all soil characteristics between 1998 and 2018 were statistically evaluated, compared,...
The use of enzyme assays to assess soil biodiversity of diverse land use systems integrating trees – Preliminary research
Magdalena Myszura-Dymek, Barbara Futa, Grażyna Żukowska, Klaudia Różowicz, Norbert Błoński
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(2):122-131 | DOI: 10.17221/16/2024-SWR
Most studies of agroforestry system biodiversity focus on assessing visible, aboveground biodiversity, largely ignoring soil biodiversity. To fill this gap, a preliminary assessment of soil biodiversity in an agroforestry system was undertaken based on changes in soil enzyme activity. The study was conducted in the village of Maziarnia, Lubelskie Voivodeship, Poland, Europe. Arable fields with spring wheat, mid-field trees and perennial mixed forest were selected for the study. Soil material for physicochemical analyses (pHH2O, pHKCl, sorption properties, total carbon and total nitrogen) and biochemical analyses (activity of acid...
Assessment of agricultural land salinization via soil analysis and remote sensing data: Case study in Pavlodar region, Kazakhstan
Dauren Rakhmanov, Bořivoj Šarapatka, Kamilla Alibekova, Jan Černohorský, Petr Hekera, Zhassulan Smanov
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(2):111-121 | DOI: 10.17221/5/2024-SWR
Soil salinization is one of the most widespread soil degradation processes, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. In such climatic conditions, soluble salts accumulate in the soil, leading to deterioration in soil properties and ultimately reduced crop yield. The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between the level of soil salinity and the main spectral indicators obtained from Landsat satellite data. The studied area was the Maisky district, which is located in the southeastern part of the Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan. The variants of the research were agricultural lands using sprinkler irrigation and flood irrigation, as well...
Application of biostimulation and bioventing system as bioremediation strategy for the treatment of crude oil contaminated soils
Ifeanyi Michael Smarte Anekwe, Yusuf Makarfi Isa*
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(2):100-110 | DOI: 10.17221/66/2023-SWR
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application of biostimulation and bioventing for the treatment of crude oil-contaminated soils. The research needed to check how various industrial biostimulants will perform in the treatment of contaminated soils and whether or not there is a synergetic effect that has to do with the stimulant composition. Soil samples used for this study were collected from South Africa. The soil samples were air-dried for 24 h and subsequently passed through a standard sieve of 2 mm screen. The soil consists of 79.32% sand (2.00–0.02 mm), 14.71% silt (0.02–0.002 mm) and 5.97% clay (< 0.002 mm). A microcosm...
Soil organic carbon and its labile fractions in the conditions of water erosion on arable land of Chernozems area
Erika Balontayová, Viera Petlušová, Peter Petluš, Juraj Hreško, Štefan Koco
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(2):90-99 | DOI: 10.17221/3/2024-SWR
The depletion of organic carbon in the topsoil and the reduction of the humic horizon leads to a decrease in soil productivity. This study focussed on evaluating the influence of water erosion on the quantity and quality of organic carbon (OC) in the topsoil. The determination of the differences in the OC with dependence on the soil thickness and the role of the soil texture in a depletion of OC in the humic horizon and its labile fractions were studied in four arable land localities (Haplic Chernozem, HC; Eutric Regosol, ER). The following carbon parameters were included: total organic carbon (TOC), labile carbon oxidisable by KMnO4 (CL),...
Comparison of two soil quality assessment models under different land uses and topographical units on the southwest slope of Mount Merapi
Retno Meitasari, Eko Hanudin*, Benito Heru Purwanto
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(2):77-89 | DOI: 10.17221/76/2023-SWR
This study aims to compare the soil quality indexing model by adding and weighting the soil under different land uses and slope positions on the southwest slope of Mount Merapi, Indonesia. Soil sampling was carried out based on a landscape analysis divided into four geomorphological units (slopes): upper, middle, lower and foot slopes. The research design was nested where the soil sample was located (surface soil 0–30 cm). Based on the research results, soil quality indices (SQI) of forest on the upper slopes is very high. SQI of dry fields on the middle, lower and foot slopes is low to medium. SQI of mixed gardens on the middle and lower...
List of Reviewers 2023
Editorial Department
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(1):I
Analysing the impact of climate change on evapotranspiration in a climate-sensitive region: Example of Central Anatolia (Türkiye)
Muhammet Azlak, Levent Şaylan
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(1):64-76 | DOI: 10.17221/107/2023-SWR
Evapotranspiration (ET) is one of the main components of the hydrological cycle and plays a crucial role for water resources. It is sensitive to climate change, and therefore, estimating ET under changing climatic conditions is essential in comprehending hydrological processes, particularly in agricultural water management. In this study, the impact of climate change on ET in the Central Anatolia region of Türkiye was assessed. For this purpose, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate change scenarios based on two Earth System Models, HadGEM2-ES and MPI-ESM-MR, were employed for three future time periods: 2025–2049, 2050–2074, and 2075–2098. As...
Erosion risk analysis in a changing climate
Jan Prachowski, Jan Szturc, Josef Kučera, Jana Podhrázská
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(1):50-63 | DOI: 10.17221/110/2023-SWR
Soil is an irreplaceable natural resource, with irreplaceable ecosystem functions. One of the greatest risks of soil degradation in the Czech Republic is accelerated erosion, which causes numerous damages to soil properties with negative impacts on the environment. The climate development in recent decades and its forecasts may further intensify these processes. This article deals with the analysis of the impacts of changes in selected climatic factors on the development of erosion processes, which in the conditions of the Czech Republic are influenced mainly by the development of precipitation in the growing season and the development of the values...
Digital soil mapping using machine learning-based methods to predict soil organic carbon in two different districts in the Czech Republic
Shahin Nozari, Mohammad Reza Pahlavan-Rad, Colby Brungard, Brandon Heung, Luboš Borůvka
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(1):32-49 | DOI: 10.17221/119/2023-SWR
Soil organic carbon (SOC) is an important soil characteristic as well as a way how to mitigate climate change. Information on its content and spatial distribution is thus crucial. Digital soil mapping (DSM) is a suitable way to evaluate spatial distribution of soil properties thanks to its ability to obtain accurate information about soil. This research aims to apply machine learning algorithms using various environmental covariates to generate digital SOC maps for mineral topsoils in the Liberec and Domažlice districts, located in the Czech Republic. The soil class, land cover, and geology maps as well as terrain covariates extracted from the digital...
Assessing soil aggregate stability by measuring light transmission decrease during aggregate disintegration
Mikuláš Madaras, Robert Krejčí, Markéta Mayerová
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(1):25-31 | DOI: 10.17221/78/2023-SWR
Advancements in technology have recently enabled to assess soil aggregate stability (SAS) using digital devices. To address the need for a faster and more efficient method of measuring SAS, we have developed a simple yet effective approach using a specialized device. The innovative method named SlakeLight involves measuring the changes in light transmittance as aggregates undergo slaking. The device consists of the measuring chamber, which is placed on a LED light source with a surface-homogeneous distribution of luminosity. During the disintegration process of aggregates immersed in water, reduction in the light emitted to the photodiodes is proportional...
Soil pore structure and its research methods: A review
Nannan Wang, Tibin Zhang
Soil & Water Res., 2024, 19(1):1-24 | DOI: 10.17221/64/2023-SWR
Soil pore is an important part of soil structure. According to the causes of formation, soil pores can be divided into biological pores formed by animal movement and plant root development and non-biological pores formed by dry-wet and freeze-thaw alternation or artificial tillage. The soil pore structure affects the migration of water, gas, nutrients and so on in the soil, especially the macropores can also produce water or solute preferential migration. Studying soil pores is of great significance for predicting soil hydraulic properties, reducing groundwater pollution and soil nutrient loss. Based on previous studies on soil pore structure, this...