The minimization agrotechnologies and their impact on hydro-physical soil properties

This report analyses the efficiency of different technologies of soil cultivation (conventional and minimization) in terms of physical properties and water regime of soils, where the infiltration of surface water is a major component of subsurface water subsidy. Research on an experimental plot at the cadastral territory Horní MeziÅ™Ã­Ä ko proceeded from 2005–2008 on Cambisol, a light loamy soil with indistinctive structure and humus content of 1.5 %. Arable land on the experimental area was divided into two parts; one part was cultivated by applying classical technology and the other one by minimization technology. The plots were sowed alternately with winter crops and summer crops. Soil physical properties (actual soil water content, reduced bulk density, total porosity, maximal capillary water capacity, pores distribution and soil aeration) were established by analysis of 100 cm³ undisturbed soil sample from soil horizon (10, 20, 30 cm) according to standard methodology. To observe the infiltration characteristics of topsoil surface layers there was used double-cylinder method; to evaluate the field measurement of infiltration there was used the three parameters equation of Philip type. This method provides a good estimation of saturated hydraulic conductivity K. The results of the experiment proved that when cultivating by minimization technology, physical characteristics of soil deteriorated (bulk density, porosity, consolidation of deeper layers of top soil horizon, lower activity of soil mezoedafon); consequently the retention and accumulation characteristics of the soil were lower. Owing to minimalization technology the soil cultivation infiltration rate v(t) reduced approximately in half and estimated values saturated hydraulic conductivity K cut by 1/2 to 1/3 . MinimalizaÄ ní agrotechnologie a jejich vliv na hydro-fyzikální vlastnosti půdy