Southeast Hungary Research Articles

The Use of National Minority Culture in Tourism Development

In our tourist travels, we seek experiences in locales distinct from our places of residence or work. Tourism developments strive to fulfil this desire by showcasing and making tangible some unique local characteristic, thus attracting visitors to a specific place. In resource-poor areas, one of the simplest and least investment-demanding ways to achieve this is by turning a unique element of local culture into an attraction and celebrating it. This does not require costly infrastructure development, but it can still attract tourists. Our study focuses on these local celebrations, which are most often referred to as festivals, feasts or competitions. In the first part of this paper, our goal is to draw attention to a specific group of local festivals, events that focus on the culture of national minorities. Along with examples from Hungary, we present in more detail two festivals: one in Southwest Hungary’s Feked and the other in Southeast Hungary’s Deszk. In the second part of the study, we categorise local festivals based on the cultural elements they highlight. According to my research, four basic categories can be determined. Festivals can be created to celebrate a well-identifiable local cultural or economic phenomenon. There are local celebrations aimed at preserving or reviving disappearing or vanished local cultural elements. There are festivals that emphasise newly invented traditions. Finally, events based on humour or randomness can also be the basis of a tourist attraction.

Monitoring Helicoverpa armigera Damage with PRISMA Hyperspectral Imagery: First Experience in Maize and Comparison with Sentinel-2 Imagery

The cotton bollworm (CBW) poses a significant risk to maize crops worldwide. This study investigated whether hyperspectral satellites offer an accurate evaluation method for monitoring maize ear damage caused by CBW larvae. The study analyzed the records of maize ear damage for four maize fields in Southeast Hungary, Csongrád-Csanád County, in 2021. The performance of Sentinel-2 bands, PRISMA bands, and synthesized Sentinel-2 bands was compared using linear regression, partial least squares regression (PLSR), and two-band vegetation index (TBVI) methods. The best newly developed indices derived from the TBVI method were compared with existing vegetation indices. In mid-early grain maize fields, narrow bands of PRISMA generally performed better than wide bands, unlike in sweet maize fields, where the Sentinel-2 bands performed better. In grain maize fields, the best index was the normalized difference of λA = 571 and λB = 2276 (R2 = 0.33–0.54, RMSE 0.06–0.05), while in sweet maize fields, the best-performing index was the normalized difference of green (B03) and blue (B02) Sentinel-2 bands (R2 = 0.54–0.72, RMSE 0.02). The findings demonstrate the advantages and constraints of remote sensing for plant protection and pest monitoring.

How the Management and Environmental Conditions Affect the Weed Vegetation in Canary Grass (Phalaris canariensis L.) Fields

Canary grass (Phalaris canariensis L.) is a versatile crop with global significance; it is primarily cultivated for its small elliptical seeds, which are used as bird feed and for human consumption. This crop is adapted to various climates and soils, so it can be grown successfully in Hungary. However, challenges such as weed control, climate change impacts, and soil factors require strategic management for sustained success in canary grass cultivation. Our study investigated the impact of management and environmental (as seasonal and soil) factors on pre-harvest weed vegetation in canary grass fields in Southeast Hungary between 2017 and 2020. In addition to showing the weed vegetation of the canary grass, the aim of our work was to promote more effective weed management of canary grass by revealing correlations between soil, seasonality, and management variables, influencing weed diversity and coverage. Using the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and correlation tests, we tested significant variables, providing insights into the complex interactions affecting weed composition. A redundancy analysis (RDA) further unveiled the relationships between explanatory variables and weed species’ composition. The findings offer valuable information for effective weed management strategies in canary grass cultivation. Our comprehensive study on canary grass fields in Southeast Hungary sheds light on significant factors influencing weed composition and abundance. The average weed coverage was 10.8%, with summer annuals and creeping perennials being the most prevalent life forms. Echinochloa crus-galli, Cirsium arvense, Xanthium italicum, and Setaria viridis were among the dominant species. ANCOVAs revealed the impact of soil, management, and seasonal factors on weed cover, species richness, diversity, and yield levels. Soil properties like texture, pH, and nitrogen content showed varying effects on weed parameters. The vintage effect, tillage systems, and farming practices also played crucial roles. The redundancy analysis highlighted the influence of the year, soil sulfur content, and winter preceding crops on weed composition. In conclusion, the herbaceous vegetation in the studied area is dominated by summer germinating and creeping perennial species. Despite slight differences in average coverage and occurrence, a well-defined set of significant species is evident. Multicollinearity among variables suggests limitations to further increase the number of variables that can be included in the analysis. The ANCOVAs showed that the soil, seasonal, and farming variables significantly influence overall weed vegetation and crop yield, with a lesser impact on species richness and diversity. The reduced RDA model highlights the strong influence of the year on species’ composition, emphasizing the inherent factors during canary grass cultivation that are challenging to modify through farming practices.

Influence of sedimentary architecture on static connectivity and geothermal doublet performance (Mezőberény, SE Hungary)

Although the Pannonian Basin in Hungary boasts significant geothermal potential, most geothermal wells in the region suffer from reinjection issues. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of the sedimentary architecture of a paralic lacustrine succession on the static connectivity of a geothermal aquifer. This problem was examined for a case-study geothermal doublet drilled in Mezőberény, southeast Hungary, which experienced injectivity problems shortly after commencing operations in 2012, ultimately leading to shut-in of the wells. A characterization of the architecture of the deltaic aquifer has been undertaken through a novel workflow that combines sedimentological and sequence stratigraphic analysis of the well-doublet and stochastic 3D modelling techniques to assess the likely static connectivity between the production and injection wells. Planform dimension of aquifer-forming mouth-bar elements and fluvial channel bodies were estimated from geological analogues, selected based on the thickness values of such sedimentary bodies interpreted on the gamma-ray logs of the well doublet and nearby hydrocarbon wells. In total five mouth-bar and two fluvial channel input geometry groups were selected, and fifty object-based realizations were constructed to analyse the static connectivity of different geological scenarios. The internal lithology of mouth-bar and fluvial-channel elements were modelled by sequential indicator simulations (ten realizations). Results of connected volume analysis indicate that the sandstone content of the aquifer is located within vertically segmented fluvial-channel and mouth-bar elements separated by mud-prone prodelta and lower delta-front deposits. This architectural configuration, in combination with low net-sandstone content suggests limited connectivity between the wells. Across the set of stochastic realizations, the volume of sandstone connecting the injection and production wells is ∼4% of the total aquifer volume, on average. Results of this study shows that simplified reservoir models can lead to over-estimation of connectivity of geothermal doublets. The proposed workflow combines sedimentological analysis and 3D modelling supported by geological analogues to predict sandstone reservoir connectivity of deltaic geothermal reservoirs. The described workflow can be carried out in target areas using existing boreholes to assist borehole planning.

Alien eating alien - rapid spread of Aceria fraxiniflora, a non-native gall mite of the invasive green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) in Central-Eastern Europe

The North American gall mite Aceria fraxiniflora was first recorded in Europe in southeast Hungary in 2017. Since then, it has shown a remarkably rapid spread on its host, the also North American green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica). By the beginning of 2023 it has been recorded in eight Central-Eastern European countries. In 2022 it was recorded on the other North American ash (Fraxinus Americana) in Zagreb (Croatia) and in Szarvas Arboretum (SE Hungary). Possible reasons and outcomes of this spread are discussed.

Effect of Environmental, Soil and Management Factors on Weed Flora of Field Pea in South-East Hungary

Pea is a widely cultivated leguminous plant which also contributes to soil enrichment through nitrogen fixation and benefits crop rotations. However, large weed populations are a challenge for pea production, requiring effective management strategies. It is essential to highlight the influence of soil parameters, factors affecting the environment, and management practices on weed populations to develop effective weed control and maximize pea yield and ease of harvesting. In our study, a total of 31 pea fields were surveyed prior to harvest to determine the coverage of each weed species, with the aim of identifying the typical weeds in the study area. In addition, environmental, soil, and management factors were recorded for each field. Based on our hypotheses, these factors influence the weed composition, and these effects can be described by the dominance of weed species. In our study, summer annuals and geophytic perennials were common, with Echinochloa crus-galli and Convolvulus arvensis being most dominant. The analysis revealed that the year of data record, soil type, and farming system most significantly influenced weed composition. Weed species were observed to have varying responses to soil texture, salt concentration, and phosphorus content. The survey period, geographical factors, farming system, and tillage practices also played a role in determining weed flora. The findings suggest strong correlations between soil parameters and weed composition, highlighting the importance of soil management in weed control. The year of data collection had the greatest influence on weed infestation. Soil-related variables, such as soil type, also played a significant role. Farming systems had a smaller effect on weed composition. Comparing our results with previous country level weed surveys in Hungary, our results identified some unique characteristics in the weed flora of South-East Hungary.

Granite alteration as the origin of high lithium content of groundwater in southeast Hungary

The study aimed to find the origin of the high lithium content of groundwater in southeast Hungary. To be concerned with assessing the economic potential of lithium in these waters, it is necessary to investigate the lithium-releasing geochemical processes. For this purpose, granite and pegmatite samples were analysed for lithium content and alteration from various Battonya Complex locations. The key alteration processes are the chloritisation of biotite and the sericitisation of feldspar, which are hypothesised to mobilise Li from minerals into the geothermal waters. Whole-rock analyses show that the 36 ppm Li concentration in one sample (S1) exceeded the average crustal Li concentration (∼20 ppm), while three samples have near-average crustal concentrations. The Li content of rock samples decreases along with the increasing intensity of alteration. The Li concentration of biotite, muscovite, chlorite, feldspar and quartz from granites and pegmatite was measured using laser-induced-breakdown-spectrometry (LIBS). A total of 180 data points were analysed. Biotite and muscovite of the relatively fresh granites contain Li up to ∼3800 and ∼2500 ppm, respectively. Chloritisation is a hydrothermal alteration process in granites that can be described by the following reaction: biotite + plagioclase → chlorite + epidote + titanite + muscovite. As a function of chloritisation, Li concentration decreases two- and three orders of magnitude from biotite to chlorite in the more altered cases. A similar trend is observed for muscovite in parallel. Feldspars have Li of 17–141 ppm, while there is no correlation between the Li content of feldspars and the degree of alteration. Quartz contains constant low concentrations around the 1 ppm detection limit, with one outlier value of 48 ppm. Chloritisation of biotite is a possible explanation for the high Li content of the geothermal waters in the study area and possibly elsewhere. The main Li-bearing minerals of the Battonya Complex are biotite and muscovite. Chloritisation and subordinate sericitisation result in significant lithium loss. Chlorite can incorporate Li in its crystal lattice but to a lesser degree than the other sheet silicates, like biotite and muscovite.

Longer-term monitoring of a degrading sodic lake: landscape level impacts of hydrological regime changes and restoration interventions (SE Hungary)

The diminishing number, extent and degradation of soda lakes were reported from the lowland area of the Carpathian Basin in the past two decades due to anthropogenic impact and climate change. This study provides a detailed spatio-temporal assessment of a degrading alkaline sodic lake ecosystem (13.5 ha) in Southeast Hungary. It discusses the results of spatially detailed topsoil and vegetation surveys from 2009 and 2018 to understand the changes among the current natural and anthropogenic conditions to support a future possible ecological water management. Habitat mapping and laboratory measurement of EC2.5, soda and calcium carbonate content from 199 topsoil samples provided the basis for the assessment. In 2009 the degradation of the naturalness was observed according to the vegetation survey, and the topsoil parameters reflected steppification, leaching and desalinization. Between 2009 and 2018 the loss in extent of Puccinellia swards and the spread of salt meadow species along the channel continued due to the changing salt content. According to the 2018 snapshot of the topsoil, higher salt (from 0.7 to 1.3 mS/cm) and soda content (from 0.08 to 0.12%), furthermore decreasing CaCO3 content (from 25.89 to 20.08%) were characteristic, meaning that there was a changing water and salt regime in the lakebed. The past decade was partly favourable in the point that humid years could rehabilitate the natural conditions in certain parts of the lakebed, but they did not prove to be enough to sustain this alkaline sodic lake.

Urbanisation of the Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) in Southeast Hungary and its impact on the population of Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Abstract The Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758) has very large populations in the European cities. However, the urbanisation of the species in the Maros–Körös köze region (Maros–Körös Interfluve) is recent and is happening before our eyes. In our study, we summarized our observations on the urbanised populations of the species in the region. Populations of the species in populated areas are currently spreading rapidly in the Maros–Körös köze region. In the past, it was a breeding species in the landscape of suburban areas far from populated areas. In recent years, it has appeared in towns and villages. It did not gradually arrive from the outer area of the settlements towards the interior of populated areas, but it was precisely in the park areas of the centres of settlements that the first pairs in these areas appeared and spread outwards. During the study, we also surveyed the nesting populations of the Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto [Frivaldszky, 1838]) in the sampling areas, using the same methodology, so that we could also examine the proportion of both urbanised species. The population of that species was decreasing during the study period. The pairs of Common Wood Pigeons were more common in the central, more parked parts of the settlements, while the Eurasian Collared Dove was mainly found in peripheral areas. The increase in the population of the Common Wood Pigeons will cause major problems for agriculture, for which there is no solution at present.

The Role of Preharvest Natural Infection and Toxin Contamination in Food and Feed Safety in Maize, South-East Hungary, 2014-2021.

Mycotoxins originating in the preharvest period represent a less studied research problem, even though they are of the utmost practical significance in maize production, determining marketability (within EU limits), and storage ability, competitiveness, and profit rate. In this study, 18–23 commercial hybrids were tested between 2014 and 2021. Natural infection from Fusarium spp. was higher than 1.5%, and for Aspergillus spp. this was normally 0.01% or 0, much lower than would be considered as severe infection. In spite of this, many hybrids provided far higher toxin contamination than regulations allow. The maximum preharvest aflatoxin B1 was in 2020 (at 2286 μg/kg), and, in several cases, the value was higher than 1000 μg/kg. The hybrid differences were large. In Hungary, the presence of field-originated aflatoxin B1 was continuous, with three AFB1 epidemics in the 8 years. The highest DON contamination was in 2014 (at 27 mg/kg), and a detectable DON level was found in every hybrid. FUMB1+B2 were the highest in 2014 (at 45.78 mg/kg). At these low infection levels, correlations between visual symptoms and toxin contaminations were mostly non-significant, so it is not feasible to draw a conclusion about toxin contamination from ear rot coverage alone. The toxin contamination of hybrids for a percentage of visual infection is highly variable, and only toxin data can decide about food safety. Hybrids with no visual symptoms and high AFB1 contamination were also identified. Preharvest control, including breeding and variety registration, is therefore of the utmost importance to all three pathogens. Even natural ear rot and toxin data do not prove differences in resistance, so a high ear rot or toxin contamination level should be considered as a risk factor for hybrids. The toxin control of freshly harvested grain is vital for separating healthy and contaminated lots. In addition, proper growing and storage conditions must be ensured to protect the feed safety of the grain.

Early Avar cemetery in Babarc : Preliminary report

Archaeological investigations preceded the construction of a maintenance centre by the M6 motorway near Babarc (Baranya County, South-east Hungary) between August 2021 and January 2022. The works included trial excavations, followed by a full excavation of the area. The first phase was carried out by Zsolt Tóth and his team from the Janus Pannonius Museum in Pécs, while the full-scale excavations were conducted by Zsolt Gallina and Gyöngyi Gulyás from the Ásatárs Ltd. in cooperation with Réka Neményi, who participated in the project as an expert of the Museum. The quadrangular uninterrupted excavation area, of more than three hectares, in the multi-period site, comprised a total of 41 Early Avar burials (Fig. 1). The burials were scattered all over the excavation area, representing only part of a cemetery that is, currently, one of the most important sites of the period not only because of the abundance and richness of grave goods but due also to the complexity of the funerary customs observed and the fact that the graves were very little plundered.

Chronological observations and the origin of the appearance of red slip coating on Árpád Age cauldron fragments in the light of the excavations at Végegyháza, Zsibrik-domb site

AbstractBetween 2003 and 2008 a research excavation was undertaken at the site of Végegyháza, Zsibrik-domb, also known as Kaszaper Templom-domb (medieval Pereg). The present paper describes the analysis results of the Árpád Age and the late medieval period features and the artefacts within. The pottery assemblage retrieved from the investigations offers new insights into the ceramic traditions of the Árpád Age within the area, whilst the recovery of baking bell fragments of the same date constitutes some of the best evidence for its use extending into the Árpád Age within Southeast Hungary. Analysis of painted cauldron fragments recovered from the features suggests the tradition originated in the Balkans and was brought to the area by a Slav community towards the end of 12thand beginning of 13thcentury. Textual evidence suggests that the area was inhabited again by a South Slav community in the 17thcentury. The recovery of fragments of a different type of baking bell from the late medieval archaeological assemblage corroborates these few written sources. The faunal remains analysis shows that the economy practices of the studied settlement based on animal husbandry and were similar to those of other Árpád Age rural settlements within Southeast Hungary.

The Role of a Water Canal and Secondary Forest for Migrants

Abstract Forests have an important role during migration. They act as ecological corridors and provide resting and feeding places for birds. In our study, we sought to determine whether migratory birds prefer secondary forest or canal vegetation during migration. The study was carried out in Southeast Hungary, in an oleaster forest and in a canal. We used 12 mist nets and the ringing method. The study period lasted from August to October 2016–2018, covering approximately the entire migration period. According to our results, the canal has a significant effect on the species assemblage, as it functions as a migration corridor during migration, most likely not only for diurnal migrants, but for nocturnal migrants as well. Our results showed that the presence of both woody and berry plants had some influence on the species composition. Interestingly, the presence of berries had a positive effect on the presence of insectivorous birds.

Winter diet and roosting site use of urban roosting Long-eared Owls (Asio otus), and the change in the species’ population size in Southeast Hungary×

Abstract The Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) was chosen as the bird of the year in Hungary by BirdLife Hungary in 2020 to pay more attention to this species. In the present study, we analysed the data collected on the food, changes in the population and the use of the roosting sites of the owls wintering Southeast-Hungary. A total of 4,683 pellets were collected in four winter seasons between 2016 and 2020, of which 5,265 prey animals were identified. We counted the individuals roosting in the winter roosting sites, and from their maximum number we estimated the local population change of the species as well as the success of the breeding. For this, we also used roadkill data from the nearby town, Battonya. The diet of Long-eared Owls in the study area was similar to that observed in other parts of the Carpathian Basin. The smaller differences were mainly due to the different geographical distribution of different prey species. We also identified some species previously having no or very few data, thus we confirmed their stable presence in the area. Different weather factors within the season did not effect owls’ diet. The most varied diet was found in the warmest, least snowy winter. Comparing the feeding data with the data from the 1960s and 1970s, it can be seen that the proportion of preys changed significantly. The proportion of House/Steppe Mice decreased by an order of magnitude, while that of rats increased by the same amount over time. The most likely reasons for this may be changes in agricultural cultivation or local demographic conditions (depopulation). In the 2018/19 season, the proportion of Common Vole in the pellets was much higher than in any other years, suggesting this year’s gradation of the species. The pellets collected in different roosting sites close to each other typically had the same proportions of prey animals. The maximum number of birds observed at the roosting sites did not correlate with the weather of the given season, but was probably related to the effectiveness of the previous breeding season. The population of the species decreased compared to the early 2000’s based on the number of roosting individuals. This may be due to a decline in crow populations. It should be noted, however, that according to both the roadkills in Battonya and the maximum number of the roosting individuals in Kevermes, this drastic decline came to a halt in 2010s.

Localisation of Ancient Migration Pathways inside a Fractured Metamorphic Hydrocarbon Reservoir in South-East Hungary

Numerous fractured hydrocarbon reservoirs exist in the metamorphic basement of the Pannonian Basin in Hungary. Many decades of experience in production have proven that these reservoirs are highly compartmentalised, resulting in a complex mosaic of permeable and impermeable domains situated next to each other. Consequently, in most fields, only a small amount of the total hydrocarbon reserve can be extracted. This paper aims to locate the potential migration pathways inside the most productive basement reservoir of the Pannonian Basin, using a multiscale approach. To achieve this, evaluation well-log data, DFN modelling and a composition analysis of fluid trapped in a vein-filling zeolite phase are combined. Data on a single well are presented as an example. The results of the three approaches indicate the presence of two highly fractured intervals separated by a barely fractured amphibolite. The two zones are probably part of the communicating fracture system inside the single metamorphic mass. The gas analysis further specifies the migrated fluids and indicates hydrocarbons of a composition similar to that of the recently produced oil. Consequently, we conclude that the two zones do not only form an ancient migration pathway but are also members of a more recent hydrocarbon system.

Review: Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori.

This review summarizes the recent knowledge on the epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori and the potential modes of transmission. In addition to English language publications, the authors have included original full-text publications from Russia and Latin America published in the original languages. High H pylori prevalence has been reported in Russia, Jordan, Iran, China, and Latin American countries as well as in Arctic populations in Canada. Indigenous inhabitants in the Arctic were found to be infected substantially more frequently than non-indigenous inhabitants. In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the ethnic minority groups were at a significantly higher risk of being H pylori seropositive compared to the Dutch population. For the first time, data on the prevalence from Armenia have been published indicating 41.5% H pylori prevalence. Convincing evidence on the decline of H pylori prevalence in Southeast Hungary and Taiwan was published. A study from Chile suggested high infection rates in newborns during the first month after birth. Two meta-analyses covered the potential correlation between H pylori and periodontal diseases, therefore addressing the potential oro-oral transmission rates. Periodontal disease was found to be more prevalent in H pylori-infected subjects. Other studies addressed the potential role of drinking water and food products as well as socioeconomic factors in transmitting the infection. Several studies in Asia addressed annual reinfection rates of H pylori, ranging from 1.5% in China to 3.1% in Korea. Finally, a review was published on the current evidence and future perspective of analysing H pylori in ancient human remains by a metagenomic approach.

Changes in spring arrival dates of Central European bird species over the past 100 years

Over the past decades, spring temperatures have increased in temperate regions, which resulted in birds arriving earlier in spring. Nonetheless, the timing of some species’ spring migration relies on endogenous rhythms that are not affected by climate change. In this study, we analysed changes in the spring arrival dates of 36 bird species over two periods in 22 towns and villages in Southeast Hungary and West Romania. The first period covered the national spring migration counts between 1894 and 1926, while the second period took place between 2005 and 2019 and is based on our recent observation data. Our results show, that the average spring arrival dates of most long-distance migrant species have not changed significantly over the past 100 years. In contrast, in cases of medium and short-distance migrants, most species arrive earlier recently than in the past. This may be caused by the fact, that the migration habit of long-distance migrants is characterized by strong genetic determinants, so they can not react as quickly to the warmer spring weather in Europe as the medium and short-distance migrants. However, in cases of some long-distance migrants, the timing of spring migration changed due to the drying of wintering grounds.

The role of reedbeds in secondary habitats during the migration and breeding of reed warblers

Abstract The reedbeds provide essential habitat for many Acrocephalus and Locustella species during both breeding and migration periods. The nesting and the migration of these species have been the subject of detailed research over the past half century in the Carpathian Basin. However, these studies have focused primarily on natural habitats and large reedbeds and thus, little is known about the role of smaller habitat fragments in the migration and nesting of these species. During my work, I studied the spring and autumn migration of five passerines in a landscape dominated by agricultural land in Southeast Hungary. Field observations were carried out to survey the populations of different species between 2010–2019. To study their migration, I used the method of bird ringing between 2016–2019 in an oleaster forest and a drainage canal. I was able to determine the migration periods of the species and in autumn, to calculate the time spent in the research area based on the recaptures. In conclusion, reedbeds in secondary habitats play a similar role in the migration of the most common Acrocephalus and Locustella species as in the natural habitats in different regions of the Carpathian Basin. There are differences among species in the timing of migration, the length of time spent here, and the accumulated fat stores. As these species nest in small numbers in the area, primarily individuals from more distant populations occur here during the migration.

Impact of Low-Dose Municipal Sewage Sludge Compost Treatments on the Nutrient and the Heavy Metal Contents in a Chernozem Topsoil Near Újkígyós, Hungary: A 5-Year Comparison

Abstract Agriculture is one of the major fields, where sewage sludge can be used. Its high nutrient content can contribute to the improvement of important soil properties, such as nutrient content, water balance and soil structure. However, sewage sludge may contain hazardous components, such as pathogens and pollutants. Therefore, it is important to monitor the effects of its field application. In this paper, we assessed the impacts of two low-dose (2.5 m3/ha) municipal sewage sludge compost applications (in 2013 and in 2017) in a 5.6 ha arable land in southeast Hungary (near Újkígyós), located in the Hungarian Great Plain. The nutrient and the heavy metal contents in the upper soil layer (0-30 cm) of the studied Chernozem soils were compared between two sampling campaigns in 2013 (before the compost applications) and in 2018 (after the compost applications). Basic soil properties (pH, salinity, humus content, carbonate content, Arany yarn number) complemented with nutrient content (K2O, P2O5, NO2+ NO3) and heavy metal content (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) analyses were performed. The results show that no significant change can be noticed in the baseline parameters over the 5-year period. The slight increase in the P2O5, NO2+ NO3 content is closely related to the beneficial effects of the sewage sludge deposition. The soil-bound heavy metal load did not increase significantly as a result of the compost treatments, only nickel showed a slight increase in the topsoil. In all cases the heavy metal concentrations did not reach the contamination thresholds set by Hungarian standards. The results provided positive evidences proving that low dose municipal sewage sludge compost disposal on agricultural land is safe, and can be considered as a sustainable soil amendment for agriculture in compliance with legal requirements.

Migration and wintering of Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) in southeastern Hungary

Abstract The Fieldfare is a bird species widely distributed in the Palearctic region. In Hungary, the species is considered as a rare breeder and common, sometimes abundant migrant in autumn and spring, and also as winter visitor. It is prone to invasion, since northern breeding populations leave the breeding sites in large numbers only when the available food is inadequate or inaccessible to the birds. Most populations follow a southern-southwestern migration pattern, and in the course of their movement they also migrating through the Carpathian Basin. In this study, we examined the migration and wintering of the species in an area of southeast Hungary between 2004 and 2019. Data were collected between the beginning of October and the middle of April and during that period we saw Fieldfares a total of 416 times. In addition to the description of migration, the effect of weather on bird numbers was also investigated. According to our results, the species appears in the area in October and disappears in late March and the first half of April. The individuals that migrate in October are likely belonging to the Central European breeding population, while from November the Scandinavian birds can be seen. The maximum number of birds observed during the different years showed significant differences, as did the patterns of movements within the seasons. The relationship between the local weather and the number of birds has been demonstrated over several seasons, which is typical of species with an escape migration.