Aim of the project, within the plots of systematic monitoring, is to get basic information on soil chemical composition and changes in time, and evaluation of the characteristics showing sensibility of the forest soil to air pollution and atmospheric deposition (acidification). The data can be further used in the studies, dealing with climatic change (carbon cycling and its supply in the soil), and sustainable forest management (nutrient circulation and water budget). The projects contribute to the evaluation of soil condition within Europe, and makes possible to get comparable data of individual countries (similar methods of soil sampling and chemical analyses, as specified in the manual). Monitoring of soil condition within the intensive monitoring plots (level II) is a base of evaluation of the role of forest soil in the ecosystem, study of the processes ongoing in the soil and the long-term dynamics.
In the plots of systematic monitoring (level I), repetition of the investigation is supposed once in ten years, in the intensive monitoring plots (level II) every 5 years. Up to date, two investigations were realized, the first in 1995, the second in 2005-2008. Considering high costs, the second investigation was included in EC demonstration project, called BioSoil. In CR 146 plots of the systematic network (level I) and 8 plots of intensive monitoring were included.
Within the project, in all plots soil pits were dug, soil profiles described and the soil type, humus form and mother rock stated. Soil samples were taken in the soil probe, in fixed depths, every 10 cm, and mixed samples of 8 sub-samples were taken with the soil-core (in the level I one set, in the level II 3 sets of mixed samples). To evaluate the volume mass of humus, samples were taken in L and FH horizon, from defined area (using the frame of 0.25×0.25 m).
Soil analyses were done in the accredited laboratory of the FGMRI. After drying and homogenization of the samples, active pH(H2O) was stated and pH(CaCl2) exchangeable, dry mass, content of exchangeable elements in BaCl2 extract (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na), and element content in agua regia extract (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, metals As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn), amount of Ntot, Stot, Ctot in the CNS analyser, and P available. Further Al and Fe content in oxalate extract was stated, Hg amount and grain size of the mixture, these analyses were done in the VÚMOP lab.
In 2010 repeated survay was done within the plots of intensive monitoring (sampling after 5 years). Samples were taken in the probes and mixed samples using the soil core. During first half-year of 2011 samples are being prepared for analysis and analysed.
