Abstract
The studies on iron and aluminium forms and soil forming processes quantification in Chernozems were conducted in two localities in Western Slovakia. Two soil pits were done in a complex of arable Haplic Chernozems in Krakovany and two soil pits representing arable and forest Cambic Chernozems were done in Bab. The soils were sampled every 10 cm and analysed using standard methods. Based on analytical results, profile development indices (PDI) were calculated for each profile. Chernozems in Krakovany were characterised by 90 cm (Krakovany 1) and 80 cm (Krakovany 2) thick solums and pH increasing with depth from neutral to alkaline. The content of total organic carbon (TOC) was up to 13.70 g kg-1 in both profiles. Cambic Chernozems in Bab were characterised by a lower thickness of solum – 40 cm in arable soil (Bab 1) and 70 cm in forest soil (Bab 2). Reaction of arable soil ranged from slightly acid to alkaline, and in the case of forest soil – from strongly acid to alkaline. Arable soil contained 14.2-14.5 g kg-1, and forest soils 12.9-50.7 g kg-1 of TOC in A horizons. The content of Fet in the studied soils ranged from 21.78 to 32.48 g kg-1, free iron oxides (Fed) – from 5.74 to 11.53 g kg-1, and amorphous iron oxides (Feo) – from 0.77 to 2.94 g kg-1. Fed/Fet ratios ranged from 0.26 to 0.39. Crystalline forms predominated over amorphous ones. The values of PDI were relatively low, namely 1.50 – in the profile Krakovany 1; 1.76 – in the profile Krakovany 2; 1.15 in the profile Bab 1 and 2.12 – in the profile Bab 2.
Highlights
The studies on iron and aluminium forms and soil forming processes quantification in Chernozems were conducted in two localities in Western Slovakia
The content and profile distribution patterns of iron and aluminium forms The content of total iron (Fet) in the studied soils ranged from 21.78 to 32.48 g kg-1, showing relatively low variability between the individual profiles and vertical variability within each of them (Table 3)
Low values of profile development indices (PDI) in the investigated soils resulted from small differences between solum and parent materials in free iron oxides (Fed)/Fet ratios
Summary
The study comprised two profiles of arable Haplic Chernozems located near Krakovany (48°36’39.62”N 17°45’7.28”E) and two profiles of arable and forest Cambic Chernozems near Báb (48°18’37.23”N 17°52’5.72”E). Average annual temperatures for Krakovany are 8.5-9.0oC and annual sums of precipitation are between 650 and 800 mm whereas for Báb – 10.2 oC and 436-680 mm, respectively [24]. Soya (Glycine max L.) in the stand Krakovany 1 and sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) in the stands Krakovany 2 and Báb 1 were grown during the study year. The tree stand in the locality Báb 2 was composed of unevenly aged but generally older than 100-year-old red oak (Quercus rubra L.). Austrian oak (Quercus cerris L.) with admixture of sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) and hawthorn (Crataegus L.)
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