Regulating Ecosystem Service (Filtering/ Immobilization of Inorganic Pollutants) Supplied by Soil in Model Regions of Slovakia

Abstract

The immobilization of soil contaminants (as one of the regulating ecosystem services) plays very important role in environment. This regulatory service prevents groundwater contamination and the entry of contaminants into the food chain. The evaluation as well as the spatial distribution of this regulatory service is important for optimal land management in a specific region. Mapping system combining input layers—slope topography, soil texture, climate region and land use (arable land, grassland)—were created for the analysis and the evaluation of potential of agroecosystem services. Filtering potential was calculated as accumulative function of soil sorption potential and potential of total content of inorganic pollutants evaluated according to The Slovak Soil Law. Calculated potential was categorised into five categories: very low, low, medium, high and very high. Four model areas were selected for the analysis of pollutant filtration, as one of the regulatory agroecosystem services, which are located in different climatic areas and different soil-ecological conditions of Slovakia. The greatest differences among model regions can be found in relation to climatic conditions, land use and diversity of soil types. The warm, dry, and lowland region has a higher potential for pollutant filtration than the moderately warm or cold region. These results are consistent with the location of the soil, its properties, processes and functions within the concept of agro-ecosystem services. Based on the results, we can state that the high risk of inorganic contaminants is inherent in soils with low content and quality of organic substances, low pH value and high concentration of contaminants.