Black soils in Slovakia

Abstract

Black soils in Slovakia can be divide into the two basic groups: black soils according to the INBS (International network of black soils) and black soils outside the INBS specified criteria. Numerous soil profiles of soil databases (17 620 soil profiles from the General Soil Survey of Agricultural Land and 318 monitoring sites in Slovakia) were reviewed for their evaluation. According to the INBS criteria, the following parameters were evaluating: a thick layer of humus, a soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil organic matter (SOM). In addition, some qualitative parameters of black soils have been also evaluated (total nitrogen content – Nt, C/N ratio, C_HA/C_FA ratio and colour quotient Q⁴₆). Based on obtained results there was determined that the area of black soils according to INBS criteria represents 93,654.63 ha what is 19.7% of all black soils mapped on agricultural land using land evaluation soil ecological unit’s database in Slovakia. These soils are characteristic with average thick humus layer of 57 cm and soil organic carbon content (SOC) of 2.66% with high base saturation (96.65%) represented mostly by Chernozems and Phaeozems soil types. The 2^nd group of black soils have depth of humus horizon often less than 25 cm with similar soil properties as previous group, resp. the soil properties are rather different (e.g. low value of pH/H₂O < 5.5), low base saturation (< 50%) with high content of SOM (≥ 5%) represented mostly by Andosols, particularly by Umbrisols in Slovakia.

Keywords: black soils, INBS criteria, soil monitoring, soil properties, Slovakia