PEDOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF PASTORAL ...

16th International Poster Day Transport of Water, Chemicals and Energy in the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere System Bratislava, 13.11.2008

PEDOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF PASTORAL RESEARCH ON TWO HORSE PASTURES, BALATON UPLAND NATIONAL PARK, HUNGARY Centeri, C., Szentes, Sz., Penksza, K. Szent István University, Dept. of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, H-2103, Gödöllő, Pater K. u. 1., Hungary e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract Pedology plays an important role in grass management processes. Investigation of basic soil characteristics is inevitable for establishing and for normal operation of a grazing land. Soil is considered as a solid, non-changing, always available portion of natural resources, its sensitivity and sustainability is not taken into account, otherwise it should not be degraded at the present scale all over the world. Hungary is rich in soil resources thus its protection should have had priority in the past and also, we should take better care for its quality and especially for its quantity, since it is considered to be a non-renewable resource, at the scale of human lifetime. The heterogeneity of the soil characteristics is the basis of diverse landscape and gives possibility of a diverse land use that is playing a strong formative factor in rural life and economical viability of rural population, too. Researches on a borderline between pedology and botany, pedology and geology, pedology and zoology have high importance. At the beginning of the 21st century we have limited knowledge about inter- and trans-scientific materials. Sample sites were in Nemesgulács and Köveskál in the Balaton Upland National Park, Hungary. Investigations show that there are big differences in pedological characteristics, depending not only on the natural background of the area but on the number of the grazing animals and on the botanical composition of the given association on a pasture, too. Results proved that basic pedological characteristics differ from site to site and even on a single site, too. On sloping land, e.g. in Nemesgulács, local geography made it possible to examine the upper and lower part of a slope. Pedological examination proved the difference between the two slope sections. Introduction The sample areas are situated in the Káli and Tapolca Basins, they are part of the Balaton Upland National Park. Káli Basin has very diverse geological heritage, there is basalt (Figure 3), sandstone, red sandstone, dolomite and limestone. The Káli Basin Landscape Protection District was formed in 1984 on 9111 ha. The area can be freely visited except some strictly protected peaty meadow areas. Geologic erosion played an important role in the formation of the basin. In present decades wind and water erosion is one of the most extreme forming factors, strengthened by human activity. Erosion is investigated in details on the Balaton Watershed because it plays a central role in the life of the country, mainly because it is the most visited area just as well as Budapest. Water quality is important to maintain attractive water for tourists and good quality for wild species in natural environment. There have been erosion researches (Szilassi et al. 2006), land use change researches in connection with calculation of sediment fluxes (Jordan et al. 2005), soil erodibility researches (Centeri Centeri et al. 2005), soil-plant-erosion research (Centeri 2002) and examination of connection between soil formation and degradation (Centeri and Császár 2003) etc. Potential hazards of soil loss (Gournellos et al. 2004, Evelpidou 2006) do not only belong to extreme events but soil, soil nutrient

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and soil organic matter loss are causing yield loss in agricultural production (Centeri and Vona 2006), effect climate change and sediments are filling up ditches, lakes and smaller waterways but extremely high nutrient content is non desirable either (Centeri and Pataki 2005).

Figure 3. Basalt organ-pipes at Hegyes-tű, in a former basalt mine, Balaton Upland, Hungary Peaty meadows carry high botanical values (Figure 4). Sásdi Meadow is protecting the almost only Primula farinosa population all over the world.

Figure 4. Iris pumila on a hill close to the Sásdi Meadow, Balaton Upland, Hungary

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Villages, water-mills, vineyards and cellars, medieval church and palace ruins, streets, houses are protecting a very special landscape spirit. The villages protected well their former image. The protection gave way to better protection of the cultural heritage. Botanical values of the Káli Basin and the Sásdi Meadow and their protection was subject of researches in the 20th century: Mágocsy-Dietz (1914), Albert (1989, 1990), Seregélyes and S. Csomós (1995), Salamon-Albert et al.(2002). Grass management programs of Hungary require improvement (Ángyán et al. 2003, Barczi 2006). The protection of protected species and associations are inevitable. Complex management of an area (soil management, soil nutrient supply, botanical surveys and planting grass species) is the basis of production healthy food. Traditional grazing methods are playing important role in the survival of native domestic plants and animals. Grazing lands can often be found on primeval grasslands where the tasks of agriculture and nature conservation have to be harmonized. At the beginning of the 1900’s semi-natural grasslands were well-known and abundant all over Mid-Europe. During the 20th century their numbers and their extension decreased significantly because of land use change, melioration and the decrease in the number of animal husbandry. Nowadays the main aim of extensive animal husbandry is the long term protection of the quality of the pasture and furthermore the use of the pasture and the animals as economically as possible. The majority of our grasslands are under extensive use. Year round soil cover is important and can be ensured with species rich grasses (Barcsák and Kertész 1990, Szemán 1994). Extensive methods can maintain permanent soil cover but still, technological disciplines must be followed (Tasi and Szél 1996). Furthermore, there are important plant species, herbs are related to grazing lands. There are about 500 species of herb living in Hungary, 400 of these are collected in wild habitats. 250 species of the 400, found in the wilderness, are living in grasslands (Vinczeffy 1992), so it is important to maintain or grazing lands and grazing activity for what it is important to maintain a certain number of animal. Materials and methods Examined areas can be found north of Lake Balaton, in the Tapolca and Káli Basins of the Balaton Upland National Park Directorate, near the settlements of Nemesgulács and Köveskál. Near Nemesgulács there are 4 horses grazing on 6 ha area in free grazing (0.7 horse/ha) on a Cynodonti-Poëtum angustifoliae grassland that is situated on a slope. Soil and plant samples were taken on the upper (UTS) and lower (LTS) third of the slope. This area formerly was used as vineyard. Near Köveskál there are 2 horses grazing on a 1 ha grassland (0.5 horse/ha) on a degraded association of Cynodonti-Poëtum angustifoliae. Control area was found close to the grazed grassland where Salvinio–Festucetum rupicolae association was found. The grassland was grazed formerly by sheep. 5-5 pieces of 2 by 2 m coenological quadrates were examined on each sample area. Quadrates were prepared by Braun-Blanquet method (1951, 1964) in July, 2007. Cover values were given in %. Total cover values were given as absolute cover, calculated for 100% were given as relative cover. Compositions of the characteristic groups of the grassland were evaluated according to Tasi (2007). For evaluation during the data processing we chose nature conservation value categories (TVK) (Simon 2000) from synthetic parameters. The pedological field examinations and laboratory experiments were done based on the Hungarian regulations. Soil profiles were examined and described at all sites. Upper 20 cm layers were sampled for laboratory analyses. The following soil parameters were examined in the laboratory: pH(H2O), pH(KCl), CaCO3 in %, soil organic matter in %, AL-P2O5 in mg*kg-1, AL-K2O in mg*kg-1. For examination of different slope thirds in Nemesgulács, methodology of the Hungarian Soil Protection Information and Monitoring System was used (Marth and Karkalik 2004).

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Results Results of pedological investigation in Nemesgulács, Hungary, 2007 The Nemesgulács site was situated in a 5-12%, complex slope where erosion was reaching medium to strong scale (Figure 3). Former small terraces of the vineyard can still be seen over the slope (Figure 3). The soil was formed on a sandy parent material (see Soil Field Examination Report (Nemesgulács)). The depth of the soil profile has reached 70cm but soil formation processes affected only the top 23 cm layer, out of which 0-5cm has higher soil organic matter content, however some smaller spots of organic matter can be seen until the depth of 10cm (Figure 4). The A horizon has dense root system, causing partly loamier texture and the higher soil organic matter content. It is possible that the formation of the A horizon and its darker colour is originated in changing the land use from vineyard to pasture since the effect of soil organic matter formation process can only be found in the upper 5 cm of the profile. Similar phenomena can be seen in the sandy soils of the Danube-Tisza region, where the bare, humusless surface of moving sand areas were fixed by vegetation, resulting in the formation of 5-10 cm dark layer, richer in organic matter content than its parent material. Deeper lamellic layer (Figure 4) should have been characterized as a B horizon but it is clearly separated from the soil forming processes of the upper layer and no connection could be established during the field examinations. It can be described as a sub-horizon in the deeper layers of the profile. The pedological situation is influenced by the former land use, the vineyards. The normal preparation process of the creation of a vineyard requires the change of the soil horizons however there is no sign of humic layer(s) in the deeper part of the profile.

Figure 3. Horse pasture, Nemesgulács, Hungary Figure 4. Soil profile, Nemesgulács, Hungary The Soil Field Examination Report (Nemesgulács) is fully describing the soil profile and basic soil parameters that can be examined in the field. The pH was not measured because of the high CaCO3 content. The area does not have salinic characteristics so with this high CaCO3 content the pH is between 7.2-8.5. Laboratory examination is supporting the field examination, too (Table 1). The colour of the horizons are giving additional information for the understanding the pedological processes. As we can see from the Soil Field Examination Report (Nemesgulács), only the A horizon could be found on the 10YR page of the Munsell Soil Color Chart, deeper horizons could only be found on the 2.5YR page, proving their reddish colour. The second research site was in Köveskál.

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SOIL FIELD EXAMINATION DESCRIPTION REPORT (NEMESGULÁCS) Soil profile code Site Slope % Slope category Depth (cm) Soil type Parent material

7 Nemesgulács 5-6 5-12 70 Arenosol Sand

Vegetation Land use Shape of the slope Water or wind erosion Depth of humic layer (cm) GPS coordinates (Hungarian Unified Map Projection

Meadow Pasture (horse) Complex Medium/strong 23 X 531310 Y 167208

Horizon

Depth (cm)

Color

Texture

Structure

Compactness

A B C

0-5 5-23 23-

10YR 4/4 2,5YR 5/6 2,5YR 6/4

Sand (loamy) Sand Sand

– – –

Slight Slight Slight

Horizon A B C

Wetness Fresh Fresh Fresh

CaCO3 (%) 15< 15< 15