Abstract
DOI:10.15414/afz.2015.18.03.66–70 Received 29. June 2015 ǀ Accepted 10. August 2015 ǀ Available online 14. October 2015 Urbanized areas are distinguished by great heterogeneity of soil morphological, physical, chemical and biological properties. Hence, the aim of this study was to characterize selected chemical properties of urban soil in the park and garden of Slovak University of Agriculture (SUA) in Nitra with regard to different soil management. Soil properties of studied Fluvisol were investigated in three soil pits dug 100-400 meters from the left bank of the river Nitra. Obtained results showed, that carbonates content in studied profiles was in range of 0.25-0.8% and correspondent with increased pH values. Soil in SUA campus had high buffering capacity related to carbonates content, high to very high cation exchange capacity and high degree of base saturation. Concentrations of organic carbon(22.2 - 24.7 g kg –1 )in topsoil of studied Fluvisols were higher than reported average content in Fluvisols in Slovakia. It suggests that in SUA campus, the correct practices for organic matter maintaining and even increasing were followed.
Highlights
Soil is one of the principal natural resources, which always accompanies humans
Carbonates content in studied profiles was in range from 0.25 to 0.8% and correspond with increased pH values
Since in the studied urban soil were not found any artifacts or building materials we suppose that carbonates in the soil occurred naturally
Summary
Soil is one of the principal natural resources, which always accompanies humans. It provides to mankind, whether directly or indirectly, foodstuff, livelihood and other basic needs, on the soil is directly dependent the whole civilization. As major causes of soil degradation in urban adjacent areas of Europe were determined land take and soil sealing (EC, 2012). Soil cover in urban and industrial areas is one of the main ecosystem components, which undergoes irreversible changes. Soils in such areas are dominated or strongly affected by human-made material and exhibit a high spatial heterogeneity (Charzyńsky et al, 2013)
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