Soil and Water Research, 2006 (vol. 1), issue 1

Methods for the Assessment of Humic Substances Quality in Forest SoilsOriginal Paper

Lenka Mládková, Marcela Rohošková, Luboš Borůvka

Soil & Water Res., 2006, 1(1):3-9 | DOI: 10.17221/6499-SWR  

This paper is focused on soil organic matter quality assessment in acid forest soils. Soil samples were collected in the Jizera Mountains region. Vegetation cover of sampling sites was formed by spruce or beech monocultures. Humus quality was assessed by the ratio of absorbances of pyrophosphate soil extract at the wavelengths of 400 and 600 nm (A400/A600). Humus fractionation was performed on selected soil samples. DRIFT spectra of individual fractions were measured. Higher pH and lower C and N contents were found in beech forest than in spruce forest. A400/A600 well correlates with C and N contents (r = 0.510*** and 0.615***, respectively)....

Field Determination of the Specific Input Characteristics to Calculate the Value of C Factor of Time-variable Crops for the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE)Original Paper

Alena Jakubíková, Miloslav Janeček, Martin Tippl

Soil & Water Res., 2006, 1(1):10-15 | DOI: 10.17221/6500-SWR  

To determine specific characteristics necessary for the computation of the C factor in RUSLE for timevariable crops, measurements were carried out in fields with selected agricultural crops grown by conventional practices. Sloping plots on an experimental area in Třebsin locality and farm fields were used to measure surface runoff and soil loss by erosion in conditions of natural and simulated rainfall. Basic characteristics to compute the C factor were determined in the particular growth phases of selected crops - sunflower, flax, poppy and rape. Effective root mass, canopy cover and fall height of rain drops were measured.

Numerical Study of Macropore Impact on Ponded Infiltration in Clay SoilsOriginal Paper

Radka Kodešová, Josef Kozák, Jiří Šimůnek

Soil & Water Res., 2006, 1(1):16-22 | DOI: 10.17221/6501-SWR  

The single-porosity and dual-permeability models in HYDRUS-1D (Šimůnek et al. 1998, 2003) were used to simulate variably-saturated water movement in clay soils with and without macropores. Numerical simulations of water flow for several scenarios of probable macropore compositions show a considerable impact of preferential flow on water infiltration in such soils. Preferential flow must be considered to predict water recharge in clay soils.

Sediment Load and Suspended Sediment Concentration PredictionOriginal Paper

Martin Bečvář

Soil & Water Res., 2006, 1(1):23-31 | DOI: 10.17221/6502-SWR  

Sediment is a natural component of riverine environments and its presence in river systems is essential. However, in many ways and many places river systems and the landscape have been strongly affected by human activities which have destroyed naturally balanced sediment supply and sediment transport within catchments. As a consequence a number of severe environmental problems and failures have been identified, in particular the link between sediments and chemicals is crucial and has become a subject of major scientific interest. Sediment load and sediment concentration are therefore highly important variables that may play a key role in environment...

Drainage Systems and their Water Management Function with regard to Probable Climatic and Hydrological ChangesOriginal Paper

Mojmír Soukup

Soil & Water Res., 2006, 1(1):32-38 | DOI: 10.17221/6503-SWR  

In case that the climatic or farming conditions have changed in a region, it is possible to anticipate that the core parameters of drainage constructions will not be adequate for the current needs. Some of these constructions might be over-dimensioned, which would be inconsistent with current terms of nature and water resources protection. On the other hand, the valuable contribution the regulation of the water regime of originally waterlogged lands and swamps indisputably brought along and thus enabled the agricultural use of drained lands would be depreciated to a certain extent. In this paper, some scenarios of probable climatic changes in the Czech...