Pedosphere Research, vol. 3, 2023, no. 1: 3 – 16
Original paper
PEDOCLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF SWEET CHESTNUT (CASTANEA SATIVA MILL.) USED FOR AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS IN SLOVAKIA
Jaroslava Sobocká1, Martin Saksa1, Michal Pástor2,3, Eva Pekárová1
1National Agricultural and Food Centre – Soil Science and Conservation Research Institute Bratislava, Slovak Republic
2National Forest Centre – Forest Research Institute Zvolen, Slovak Republic
3Technical University in Zvolen, Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Slovak Republic
Corresponding author: doc. RNDr. Jaroslava Sobocká, CSc., National Agricultural and Food Centre, Soil Science and Conservation Research Institute, Trenčianska 55, 821 09 Bratislava, Slovakia, e-mail: jaroslava.sobocka@nppc.sk, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5471-1519
Citation: Sobocká, J., Saksa, M., Pástor, M., Pekárová, E. (2023). Pedoclimatic conditions of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) used for agroforestry systems in Slovakia. Pedosphere Research, vol. 3, 2023, no. 1, pp. 3-16. NPPC – VÚPOP 2023. ISSN 2729-8728.
https://doi.org/10.64122/j.pedosres.2023.03.01
Abstract
Pedological and climate (agro-ecological) conditions of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) trees were tested on the pilot research-demonstration plot of Suchá and Parnou (soil survey and laboratory analyses). Potential of sweet chestnut for agroforestry can generate very interesting and promising commodity for farmers in terms of fruit and wood production. Methodology is based on identification of agro-ecological conditions of the sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) growing and proposal of areas suitable for these trees planting (ranked as very suitable, suitable, and unsuitable). The land evaluation units (BPEJs (© VÚPOP Bratislava) and their components were separately evaluated based on agro-climate region, soil type, soil texture, sloppiness, exposure, soil depth, and skeleton content. The ArcGIS mapping software system was applied for mapping of the suitability of agricultural land for the sweet chestnut cultivation. Own soil survey was supported by soil sampling and analyses of soil properties. By results only 610,011 ha from agricultural land acreage are very suitable for sweet chestnut cultivation in Slovak Republic, and 765,558 ha is moderately suitable. This identification of areas can support creating methodologies modifying national legislation that allow the creation of the new agroforestry systems in Slovakia in accordance with the European Union legal order. It can be state that his woody plant is very promising for agroforestry systems in Slovakia.
Keywords: sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.), agroforestry, suitability of agricultural land, Slovakia