Physical properties of urban soil in the campus of Slovak University of Agriculture Nitra

Abstract

DOI: 10.15414/afz.2015.18.02.30–35

Received 29. October 2014ǀ Accepted 24. November 2014ǀ Available online 29. June 2015

Soil is important ingredient of urbanized areas which are steadily increasing. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize selected physical properties of urban soil in the campus of Slovak University of Agriculture in town Nitra depending on different soil management practices. For studying, three soil pits were dug 100-400 meters from the left bank of the river Nitra. The soil under kept lawn in park was classified as Calcaric Fluvisol, under the herbicidal fallow and soil in main garden as Hortic Calcaric Fluvisol. Deposited material of river Nitra contained 9-47% of sand, 30-63% of silt and 23-41% of clay. Alluvial sediments close to the river bank were texturally quite homogenous, but with increased distance from river were more different. Natural compaction was strenghtened with anthropogenic one due to use of agricultural machinery. The amount of available water capacity was considerably low probably for high proportion of clay. To improve structural state, the cultivated soil in main garden requires organic fertilization and tillage reduction.