Fluvisols Contribution to Water Retention Hydrological Ecosystem Services in Different Floodplain Ecosystems

Radoslava Kanianska (), Nikola Benková, Janka Ševčíková, Matej Masný, Miriam Kizeková, Ľubica Jančová and Jianying Feng
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Radoslava Kanianska: Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica, Tajovského 40, 974 01 Banska Bystrica, Slovakia
Nikola Benková: Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica, Tajovského 40, 974 01 Banska Bystrica, Slovakia
Janka Ševčíková: Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica, Tajovského 40, 974 01 Banska Bystrica, Slovakia
Matej Masný: Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica, Tajovského 40, 974 01 Banska Bystrica, Slovakia
Miriam Kizeková: National Agricultural and Food Centre, Grassland and Mountain Agriculture Research Institute, Mládežnícka 36, 974 21 Banska Bystrica, Slovakia
Ľubica Jančová: National Agricultural and Food Centre, Grassland and Mountain Agriculture Research Institute, Mládežnícka 36, 974 21 Banska Bystrica, Slovakia
Jianying Feng: College of Information and Electrical Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 9, 1-20

Abstract: Water retention is an important hydrological ecosystem service of active floodplain soils. The aim of the study was to evaluate the soil chemical, physical, and hydrological properties in Fluvisols in three different ecosystems that have an impact on water retention hydrological ecosystem services (WRHESs). We selected 16 localities along the Štiavnica River in Central Slovakia, 8 located in riparian zones (RZ), 5 in arable lands (AL), and 3 in grasslands (GL). Soil samples were collected from two layers (0–10 and 20–30 cm). In the laboratory, the soil physical (soil texture) and soil chemical properties (pH, soil organic carbon content, humic and fulvic acid ratio) were determined. Using undisturbed soil samples, the soil physical characteristics (particle density, bulk density, porosity, and actual soil moisture–SMa) were measured. With the help of pedotransfer functions, hydrological soil properties (field water capacity–FWC, wilting point–WP, available water capacity–AWC) were estimated. The recorded properties differed between the localities, ecosystems, and two layers. The SMa values showed a higher soil water retention potential of extensively used ecosystems, such as GL and RZ. However, the hydrological properties estimated by pedotransfer functions (FWC, WP, AWC) showed a higher soil water retention potential in AL localities. This indicated that for calculations, selected pedotransfer functions (particle size fractions, organic matter, and bulk density) and other soil or ecosystem properties (e.g., vegetation cover, meteorological conditions) have an impact on WRHESs. One such soil factor can be the quality of organic matter. On the basis of the results of the ANOVA, significant differences emerged between the different ecosystems for selected basic chemical, physical, and hydrological properties. The effect of the soil layer on the soil properties was revealed only in the case of SOC. The results indicated the effect of different ecosystems on soil WRHES and the importance of extensively managed ecosystems, such as RZ and GL. From this point of view, the reduction in the RZ and GL areas during a period of the last 70 years is negative. The findings should be taken into account in future sustainable floodplain management and landscape architecture.

Keywords: fluvisol; ecosystem; soil hydrological property; water retention hydrological ecosystem service (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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