IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/caa/jnlswr/v19y2024i4id118-2024-swr.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How to measure soil quality? A case study conducted on cropland in the Czech Republic

Author

Listed:
  • Lenka Pavlů
  • Jiří Balík

    (Department of Agroenvironmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic)

  • Simona Procházková

    (Department of Agroenvironmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic)

  • Ivana Galušková

    (Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic)

  • Luboš Borůvka

    (Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic)

Abstract

This work presents the advantages and risks of selected soil quality criteria using data from the monitoring of agricultural soils in the Czech Republic. Soil samples were taken from 71 sites covering various soil types. Basic soil parameters and mid-infrared spectra were measured. Indicators describing the quality of soil organic matter (SOM), and soil were calculated. The results show that soil types differ significantly in the qualitative indicators of soil organic matter. More acidic soils with lower clay content contain lower proportions of aromatic and higher proportions of aliphatic organic compounds than neutral soils with higher clay particles content. These soils differ little in total carbon content and C/N ratio but considerably in C/clay ratio. Cambisols are the least degraded soils in the Czech Republic in terms of C/clay ratio, which is controversial in many respects. The results indicate that more aliphatic organic matter is important for the SOM content in the upper part of the agricultural soil, and more aromatic organic matter is mainly bound to the clay fraction. The results raise questions about the suitability of uniform C/clay target values proposed in European legislation as a criterion for assessing soil degradation due to carbon loss.

Suggested Citation

  • Lenka Pavlů & Jiří Balík & Simona Procházková & Ivana Galušková & Luboš Borůvka, 2024. "How to measure soil quality? A case study conducted on cropland in the Czech Republic," Soil and Water Research, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 19(4), pages 229-243.
    • Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:19:y:2024:i:4:id:118-2024-swr
    DOI: 10.17221/118/2024-SWR
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/118/2024-SWR.html
    Download Restriction: free of charge
    File URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/118/2024-SWR.pdf
    Download Restriction: free of charge
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.17221/118/2024-SWR?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Johannes Lehmann & Markus Kleber, 2015. "The contentious nature of soil organic matter," Nature, Nature, vol. 528(7580), pages 60-68, December.
    2. Lenka Pavlů & Jiří Balík & Simona Procházková & Petra Vokurková & Ivana Galušková & Ondřej Sedlář, 2023. "Soil organic matter quality of variously managed agricultural soil in the Czech Republic evaluated using DRIFT spectroscopy," Soil and Water Research, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 18(4), pages 281-291.
    3. Jakub Prudil & Lubica Pospíšilová & Tamara Dryšlová & Gabriela Barančíková & Vladimír Smutný & Luboš Sedlák & Pavel Ryant & Petr Hlavinka & Miroslav Trnka & Ján Halas & Štefan Koco & Jozef Takáč & Kat, 2023. "Assessment of carbon sequestration as affected by different management practices using the RothC model," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 69(11), pages 532-544.
    4. Lenka PAVLŮ & Marcela MÜHLHANSELOVÁ, 2018. "Differences in humic acids structure of various soil types studied by DRIFT spectroscopy," Soil and Water Research, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 13(1), pages 29-35.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. repec:caa:jnlswr:v:preprint:id:118-2024-swr is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Salih Demirkaya & Abdurrahman Ay & Coşkun Gülser & Rıdvan Kızılkaya, 2025. "Enhancing Clay Soil Productivity with Fresh and Aged Biochar: A Two-Year Field Study on Soil Quality and Wheat Yield," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Berazneva, Julia & McBride, Linden & Sheahan, Megan & Güereña, David, 2018. "Empirical assessment of subjective and objective soil fertility metrics in east Africa: Implications for researchers and policy makers," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 367-382.
    4. Ninghui Xie & Liangjie Sun & Tong Lu & Xi Zhang & Ning Duan & Wei Wang & Xiaolong Liang & Yuchuan Fan & Huiyu Liu, 2025. "Effects of Adding Different Corn Residue Components on Soil and Aggregate Organic Carbon," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, May.
    5. Jakub Bekier & Elżbieta Jamroz & Karolina Walenczak-Bekier & Martyna Uściła, 2023. "Soil Organic Matter Composition in Urban Soils: A Study of Wrocław Agglomeration, SW Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-12, January.
    6. Liudmila Tripolskaja & Asta Kazlauskaite-Jadzevice & Eugenija Baksiene & Almantas Razukas, 2022. "Changes in Organic Carbon in Mineral Topsoil of a Formerly Cultivated Arenosol under Different Land Uses in Lithuania," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-19, March.
    7. Guillermo Martínez Pastur & Marie-Claire Aravena Acuña & Jimena E. Chaves & Juan M. Cellini & Eduarda M. O. Silveira & Julián Rodriguez-Souilla & Axel von Müller & Ludmila La Manna & María V. Lencinas, 2023. "Nitrogenous and Phosphorus Soil Contents in Tierra del Fuego Forests: Relationships with Soil Organic Carbon, Climate, Vegetation and Landscape Metrics," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-18, April.
    8. Steffen Schlüter & Frederic Leuther & Lukas Albrecht & Carmen Hoeschen & Rüdiger Kilian & Ronny Surey & Robert Mikutta & Klaus Kaiser & Carsten W. Mueller & Hans-Jörg Vogel, 2022. "Microscale carbon distribution around pores and particulate organic matter varies with soil moisture regime," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    9. Yue Zhang & Guihua Liu & Zhixing Ma & Xin Deng & Jiahao Song & Dingde Xu, 2022. "The Influence of Land Attachment on Land Abandonment from the Perspective of Generational Difference: Evidence from Sichuan Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-15, September.
    10. Marianne V. Asmussen & Rafael Rubilar & Daniel Bozo & Rosa M. Alzamora & Juan Pedro Elissetche & Matías Pincheira & Oscar Jara, 2025. "Relationship Between Carbon Stock and Stand Cumulative Production at Harvesting Age of Pinus radiata Plantations: A Comparison Between Granitic and Metamorphic Soils," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-15, April.
    11. Duyen Minh Pham & Arata Katayama, 2018. "Humin as an External Electron Mediator for Microbial Pentachlorophenol Dechlorination: Exploration of Redox Active Structures Influenced by Isolation Methods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-17, December.
    12. Kristin Piikki & Mats Söderström & Rolf Sommer & Mayesse Da Silva & Sussy Munialo & Wuletawu Abera, 2019. "A Boundary Plane Approach to Map Hotspots for Achievable Soil Carbon Sequestration and Soil Fertility Improvement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-17, July.
    13. Lee, Jechan & Yang, Xiao & Cho, Seong-Heon & Kim, Jae-Kon & Lee, Sang Soo & Tsang, Daniel C.W. & Ok, Yong Sik & Kwon, Eilhann E., 2017. "Pyrolysis process of agricultural waste using CO2 for waste management, energy recovery, and biochar fabrication," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 214-222.
    14. Jacek Długosz & Bożena Dębska & Anna Piotrowska-Długosz, 2024. "The Effect of Soil Tillage Systems on the Soil Microbial and Enzymatic Properties Under Soybean ( Glycine max L. Merrill) Cultivation—Implications for Sustainable Soil Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-21, December.
    15. Elsadig Omer & Dora Szlatenyi & Sándor Csenki & Jomana Alrwashdeh & Ivan Czako & Vince Láng, 2024. "Farming Practice Variability and Its Implications for Soil Health in Agriculture: A Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-27, November.
    16. Jinyue Ying & Xi Zhang & Weixiang Wu & Qiong Nan & Guorong Wang & Da Dong, 2024. "The effects of long-term rice straw and biochar return on soil humus composition and structure in paddy soil," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 70(12), pages 772-782.
    17. Sebastiano Trevisani & Igor Bogunovic, 2022. "Diachronic Mapping of Soil Organic Matter in Eastern Croatia Croplands," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-16, June.
    18. Siddhartha Shankar Bhattacharyya & Pedro Mondaca & Oloka Shushupti & Sharjeel Ashfaq, 2023. "Interplay between Plant Functional Traits and Soil Carbon Sequestration under Ambient and Elevated CO 2 Levels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-20, May.
    19. Sheng-Hsien Hsieh & Teng-Pao Chiu & Wei-Shiang Huang & Ting-Chien Chen & Yi-Lung Yeh, 2019. "Cadmium (Cd) and Nickel (Ni) Distribution on Size-Fractioned Soil Humic Substance (SHS)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-11, September.
    20. Vladimír Šimanský & Ján Horák & Martin Lukac, 2024. "Addition of Biochar and Fertiliser Drives Changes in Soil Organic Matter and Humic Substance Content in Haplic Luvisol," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-12, April.
    21. Shuai Mei & Tong Tong & Shoufu Zhang & Chunyang Ying & Mengmeng Tang & Mei Zhang & Tianpei Cai & Youhua Ma & Qiang Wang, 2024. "Optimization Study of Soil Organic Matter Mapping Model in Complex Terrain Areas: A Case Study of Mingguang City, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-25, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:19:y:2024:i:4:id:118-2024-swr. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Ivo Andrle (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.cazv.cz/en/home/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.