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The evaluation of the aerobic stability of silages primarily involves monitoring temperature, while changes in composition are often neglected. In the present study, the effect of aeration on high-moisture corn ensiled with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was investigated and compared with that of the control without inoculant. The corn used in this study was grown in five plots in a split-plot experimental design, and each plot represented the repetition of silage preparation, both with and without inoculant. In the silages, the temperature changes and the content of acids and alcohols were monitored during the 6 days of aeration, while the content of the main nutrients was compared before and after 6 days of aeration. The temperature difference between the silages and the environment was below 3 °C during the entire aeration period, regardless of the ensiling method. The content of lactic acid was higher in L. plantarum silages, while the contents of acetic and propionic acid, methanol and ethanol were higher in the control (p < 0.001). The content of all compounds changed during the aeration period (p < 0.05), regardless of the ensiling method and the stable silage temperature. Aeration affected the content of soluble crude protein and starch (p < 0.05), suggesting starch degradation in high-moisture corn during aeration. Therefore, in addition to monitoring silage temperature, monitoring lactic and acetic acid and the main nutrients should be considered, as the nutritional value of high-moisture corn could decrease during aeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central European Agriculture is the property of Journal of Central European Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Major losses of agricultural production and soils are caused by erosion, which is especially pronounced on hillslopes due to specific hydrological processes and heterogeneity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of agricultural management on the compaction, infiltration, and seasonal water content dynamics of the hillslope. Measurements were made at the hilltop and footslope, i.e., soil water content and potential were measured using sensors, wick lysimeters were used to quantify water flux, while a mini-disk infiltrometer was used to measure the infiltration rate and calculate the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (K_unsat). Soil texture showed differences between hillslope positions, i.e., at the hilltop after 50 cm depth, the soil is classified as silty clay loam, and from 75 cm onward, the soil is silty clay, while at the footslope, the soil is silt loam even at the deeper depths. The results show a higher K_unsat at the footslope as well as higher average water volumes collected in wick lysimeters compared to the hilltop. Average water volumes showed a statistically significant difference at p < 0.01 between the hilltop and the footslope. The soil water content and water potential sensors showed higher values at the footslope at all depths, i.e., 8.0% at 15 cm, 8.4% at 30 cm, and 27.3% at 45 cm. The results show that, even though the vineyard is located in a relatively small area, soil heterogeneity is present, affecting the water flow along the hillslope. This suggests the importance of observing water movement in the soil, especially today when facing extreme weather (e.g., short-term high-intensity rainfall events) in order to protect soil and water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quantitative understanding of actual evapotranspiration (ETa) and soil–water dynamics in a hillslope agroecosystem is vital for sustainable water resource management and soil conservation; however, the complexity of processes and conditions involving lateral subsurface flow (LSF) can be a limiting factor in the full comprehension of hillslope soil–water dynamics. The research was carried out at SUPREHILL CZO located on a hillslope agroecosystem (vineyard) over a period of two years (2021–2022) by combining soil characterization and field hydrological measurements, including weighing lysimeters, sensor measurements, and LSF collection system measurements. Lysimeters were placed on the hilltop and the footslope, both having a dynamic controlled bottom boundary, which corresponded to field pressure head measurements, to mimic field soil–water dynamics. Water balance components between the two positions on the slope were compared with the goal of identifying differences that might reveal hydrologically driven differences due to LSF paths across the hillslope. The usually considered limitations of these lysimeters, or the borders preventing LSF through the domain, acted as an aid within this installation setup, as the lack of LSF was compensated for through the pumping system at the footslope. The findings from lysimeters were compared with LSF collection system measurements. Weighing lysimeter data indicated that LSF controlled ETa rates. The results suggest that the onset of LSF contributes to the spatial crop productivity distribution in hillslopes. The present approach may be useful for investigating the impact of LSF on water balance components for similar hillslope sites and crops or other soil surface covers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interplay of surface and shallow subsurface fluxes plays a critical role in controlling water movement in hillslope agroecosystems and impacting soil and plant health during prolonged dry periods, demonstrating a need for in-field monitoring. This study was conducted for two years (2021–2022) by combining field monitoring of the grass-covered inter-row area (passive wick lysimeter, surface runoff, and meteorological data), laboratory determination of soil hydraulic properties (SHPs), and numerical modeling with the aim to explore near-surface fluxes at the SUPREHILL Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) located on a hillslope vineyard. Additionally, sensitivity analysis for basic root water uptake (RWU) parameters was conducted. The model was evaluated (R2, RMSE, and NSE) with lysimeter (hillslope) and runoff (footslope) data, producing good agreement, but only after the inverse optimization of laboratory estimated hydraulic conductivity was conducted, demonstrating that adequate parameterization is required to capture the hydropedological response of erosion-affected soil systems. Results exhibit the dependence of runoff generation on hydraulic conductivity, rainfall, and soil moisture conditions. The data suggest different soil-rewetting scenarios based on temporal rainfall variability. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that Leaf Area Index (LAI) was the most responsive parameter determining the RWU. The study offers an approach for the investigation of fluxes in the topsoil for similar sites and/or crops (and covers), presenting the methodology of self-constructed soil–water collection instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil and water loss due to traditional intensive types of agricultural management is widespread and unsustainable in Croatian croplands. In order to mitigate the accelerated land degradation, we studied different cropland soil management strategies to obtain feasible and sustainable agro-technical practices. A rainfall simulation experiment was conducted at 58 mm h–1 over 30 min on 10 paired plots (0.785 m2), bare and straw covered (2 t ha−1). The experiment was carried out in maize cultivation (Blagorodovac, Croatia) established on Stagnosols on slopes. Measurements were conducted during April (bare soil, after seeding), May (five-leaves stage), and June (intensive vegetative growth) making 60 rainfall simulations in total. Straw reduced soil and water losses significantly. The highest water, sediment loss, and sediment concentrations were identified in tillage plots during May. Straw addition resulted in delayed ponding (for 7%, 63%, and 50% during April, May and June, respectively) and runoff generation (for 37%, 32%, and 18% during April, May and June, respectively). Compared with the straw-mulched plot, tillage and bare soil increased water loss by 349%. Maize development reduced the difference between bare and straw-mulched plots. During May and June, bare plots increase water loss by 92% and 95%, respectively. The straw mulch reduced raindrop kinetic energy and sediment detachment from 9, 6, and 5 magnitude orders in April, May, and June, respectively. Overall, the straw mulch was revealed to be a highly efficient nature-based solution for soil conservation and maize cultivation protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the bonfire impact on microbial properties in soil. This work aimed to study moderate- to high-severity experimental burning (250 °C) compared to unburned Cambisol in a natural Mediterranean environment (Croatia) on selected soil properties. The soil was sampled immediately and 1, 2, 4, and 6 months after the fire. The fire increased the mean weight diameter, water stable aggregates, and water repellence in different soil fractions, and the observed effect was the strongest immediately after the fire. It also altered soil pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen carbon, and sulphur content, and completely destroyed carbapenem-resistant bacteria, but did not significantly affect the soil's mineralogical properties. Six months after the fire, most microbial properties (save for pH) returned to near control values. Heterotrophic, sporogenic, and phosphate-solubilising bacteria started to recover after a month, whereas the population of carbapenem-resistant bacteria was destroyed initially, but recovered by the fourth month after the fire. Dehydrogenase activity was not significantly affected, but proper recovery started four months after the fire. Even though Cambisol showed some resilience to fire and its properties mostly returned to normal by the sixth month, and a full recovery is expected to occur later, as vegetation returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrient leaching from agricultural soils presents an economic loss for farmers and can degrade the quality of the surrounding environment. Thus, leachates from 18 in situ wick lysimeters, installed at 40 cm soil depth at the vineyard hilltop, backslope, and footslope intra- and inter-row area (SUPREHILL Critical Zone Observatory, Croatia) were collected monthly over two years and analyzed for major plant nutrient ions. Our objectives were to quantify nutrient losses via leaching from the hilltop towards the backslope and to the footslope, and to compare leaching from vine plant rows (intra-row) with grassed areas between vine rows (inter-row). We found that the concentrations of nitrate, orthophosphate, and potassium were significantly higher in leachates collected at the footslope as compared to the hilltop and backslope only at intra- and not at inter-row positions, while ammonium was independent of the slope and row positions. The vineyard intra-row is identified as the probable spatial origin of nutrient leaching along the slope, thus confirming spatially different contributions of overall hillslope to major plant nutrients leaching. The experimental field scheme used in this study, which separately analyses vineyard intra- and inter-row, was confirmed to be an adequate approach for optimizing vineyard management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural landscapes in the Mediterranean ecosystem have experienced extensive changes over the last two centuries due to wildfire activity. Resulting interactions between climatic warming, vegetation species, soil natural, and meteorological condition before and after a wildfire create substantial abrupt landscape alterations. This study investigates the evolution (2 days, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after a fire) of topsoil (0–5 cm) chemical properties in burned Cambisols (Zadar County, Croatia) with respect to different wildfire severities (HS—high severity, MS—medium severity, C—unburned) and vegetation species (Quercus pubescens Willd. and Juniperus communis L.). Soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), calcium carbonates (CaCO3), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total sulphur (TS), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were significantly higher in HS than in MS and C. Total soil potassium (TK), Fe and Ni were significantly higher in C than in HS. The increase of TOC and TN was more pronounced in Quercus p. than Juniperus c., especially in the first three months. Soil pH, EC, CaCO3, TOC, TN, and TS were most affected by wildfire severity. The distinction between C, MS and HS categories was less visible 9 and 12 months post-fire, indicating the start of the recovery of the soil system. Post-fire management and temporal recovery of the soil system should consider the obvious difference in soil disturbance under HS and MS between vegetation species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in climate, land use, and land management impact the occurrence and severity of wildland fires in many parts of the world. This is particularly evident in Europe, where ongoing changes in land use have strongly modified fire patterns over the last decades. Although satellite data by the European Forest Fire Information System provide large-scale wildland fire statistics across European countries, there is still a crucial need to collect and summarize in-depth local analysis and understanding of the wildland fire condition and associated challenges across Europe. This article aims to provide a general overview of the current wildland fire patterns and challenges as perceived by national representatives, supplemented by national fire statistics (2009–2018) across Europe. For each of the 31 countries included, we present a perspective authored by scientists or practitioners from each respective country, representing a wide range of disciplines and cultural backgrounds. The authors were selected from members of the COST Action "Fire and the Earth System: Science & Society" funded by the European Commission with the aim to share knowledge and improve communication about wildland fire. Where relevant, a brief overview of key studies, particular wildland fire challenges a country is facing, and an overview of notable recent fire events are also presented. Key perceived challenges included (1) the lack of consistent and detailed records for wildland fire events, within and across countries, (2) an increase in wildland fires that pose a risk to properties and human life due to high population densities and sprawl into forested regions, and (3) the view that, irrespective of changes in management, climate change is likely to increase the frequency and impact of wildland fires in the coming decades. Addressing challenge (1) will not only be valuable in advancing national and pan-European wildland fire management strategies, but also in evaluating perceptions (2) and (3) against more robust quantitative evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central European Agriculture is the property of Journal of Central European Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Conservation tillage harmonizes soil protection with demands of the crop, soil and climate. The continuous conservation tillage improves soil properties and modifies impact of weather extremes. The aim of the paper was to investigate the changes in four soil physical states affected by soil conservation tillage and to evaluate soil water content in a critical period. The study was carried out on Chernozems applying six tillage treatments, that are loosening, ploughing, tine tillage (a deeper, and a shallower), disk tillage and direct drilling. The investigation suggested that soil conservation was the major solution resulting in the balanced water content (SWC) and penetration resistance values in both treatments under peculiar weather conditions. However, the crumb ratio and the crusted area resulted in significant differences between the treatments, presumably due to the level of surface preservation. Soil water content differed significantly between months, with higher contents in spring and lower values in the end of summer. The higher SWC expected at the beginning of the growing season was reliably fulfilled, but the SWC level for workabilty differed from the optimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic matter plays a crucial role in soil health and represents one of the key functions for determining soil suitability for crop production. Recently, intensive agricultural production and climatic changes have led to a decline in organic matter level in soils. This paper is to provide the most accurate spatial predictor using different interpolation methods in order to evaluate in detail the status of organic matter in agricultural soils in the Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia. We applied three different interpolation methods, including inverse distance weighting, ordinary kriging and empirical Bayesian kriging. A total number of 9099 soil samples from 0-30 cm layer were compiled and analysed in the laboratory. The average value of soil organic matter in the study area was 2.66% with moderate variability (CV = 30.62%). The best fit variogram model is exponential in the direction of 20 and its spatial variability indicates that soil organic matter varies widely under pedogenetic and soil management practices. Empirical Bayesian kriging method was the most precise (RMSE = 0.457), followed by ordinary kriging (RMSE = 0.466) and inverse distance weighting (RMSE = 0.476). The investigated area shows a heterogeneous spatial pattern of soil organic matter content, with levels below 3% found mostly in western and south-western parts of county. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central European Agriculture is the property of Journal of Central European Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper aims to evaluate the ability of VNIR proximal soil spectroscopy to determine post-fire soil chemical properties and discriminate fire severity based on soil spectra. A total of 120 topsoil samples (0–3 cm) were taken from 6 ha of unburned (control (CON)) and burned areas (moderate fire severity (MS) and high fire severity (HS)) in Mediterranean Croatia within one year after the wildfire. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) and an artificial neural network (ANN) were used to build calibration models of soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), CaCO3, plant-available phosphorus (P2O5) and potassium (K2O), soil organic carbon (SOC), exchangeable calcium (exCa), magnesium (exMg), potassium (exK), sodium (exNa), and cation exchange capacity (CEC), based on soil reflectance data. In terms of fire severity, CON samples exhibited higher average reflectance than MS and HS samples due to their lower SOC content. The PCA results pointed to the significance of the NIR part of the spectrum for extracting the variance in reflectance data and differentiation between the CON and burned area (MS and HS). DA generated 74.2% correctly classified soil spectral samples according to the fire severity. Both PLSR and ANN calibration techniques showed sensitivity to extract information from soil features based on hyperspectral reflectance, most successfully for the prediction of SOC, P2O5, exCa, exK, and CEC. This study confirms the usefulness of soil spectroscopy for fast screening and a better understanding of soil chemical properties in post-fire periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrate leaching through soil layers to groundwater may cause significant degradation of natural resources. The aims of this study were: (i) to estimate soil hydraulic properties (SHPs) of the similar soil type with same management on various locations; (ii) to determine annual water dynamics; and (iii) to estimate the impact of subsoil horizon properties on nitrate leaching. The final goal was to compare the influence of different SHPs and layering on water dynamics and nitrate leaching. The study was conducted in central Croatia (Zagreb), at four locations on Calcaric Phaeozem, Calcaric Regosol, and Calcaric Fluvic Phaeozem soil types. Soil hydraulic parameters were estimated using the HYPROP system and HYPROP-FIT software. Water dynamics and nitrate leaching were evaluated using HYDRUS 2D/3D during a period of 365 days. The amount of water in the soil under saturated conditions varied from 0.422 to 0.535 cm3 cm−3 while the hydraulic conductivity varied from 3 cm day−1 to 990.9 cm day−1. Even though all locations have the same land use and climatic conditions with similar physical properties, hydraulic parameters varied substantially. The amount and velocity of transported nitrate (HYDRUS 2D/3D) were affected by reduced hydraulic conductivity of the subsoil as nitrates are primarily transported via advective flux. Despite the large differences in SHPs of the topsoil layers, the deeper soil layers, having similar SHPs, imposed a buffering effect preventing faster nitrate downward transport. This contributed to a very similar distribution of nitrates through the soil profile at the end of simulation period. This case study indicated the importance of carefully selecting relevant parameters in multilayered soil systems when evaluating groundwater pollution risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of information in the rural Mediterranean area about agricultural pile burning impacts on soil nitrogen (N) dynamic and the N loss. Therefore, this research aims to study the impacts of moderate (MS), and high (HS) severity burn on N transformation and N losses, compared to an unburned (C) during the first year. The experimental plots (10 m2) were established in Croatia (43°58′ N 15°31′ E), in a slope ~18°, with a southwest exposition. Five days after the burn, C treatment had a significantly higher total N (TN) than MS and HS. Generally, the runoff was significantly different between burned and C treatments. Sediment yield, concentrations, and TN loss were significantly higher in MS than in C treatment. The concentrations of ammonium (NH4-N) and nitrate (NO3-N) in the runoff, and their losses were higher in burn treatments than in C treatment. These values were high in the first three months after burn, although the peaks in later periods correspond to extreme rainfall events. Principal component analysis showed that sediment yield was associated with sediment concentration, runoff, and TN loss (Factor 1). In addition, rainfall amount and intensity were inversely related to NH4-N concentration and losses (Factor 2). The NO3-N concentration was positively related to NO3-N losses. Overall, MS treatment had severe effects on N loss and, sediment yield can be used as an indicator of soil degradation after pile burns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic amendments are often reported to improve soil properties, promote plant growth, and improve crop yield. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the biochar and compost produced from sewage sludge and olive pomace on soil hydraulic properties, water flow, and P transport (i.e., sorption) using numerical modeling (HYDRUS-1D) applied to two soil types (Terra Rosa and Rendzina). Evaporation and leaching experiments on soil cores and repacked soil columns were performed to determine the soil water retention, hydraulic conductivity, P leaching potential, and P sorption capacity of these mixtures. In the majority of treatments, the soil water retention showed a small increase compared to the control soil. A reliable fit with the modified van Genuchten model was found, which was also confirmed by water flow modeling of leaching experiments (R2 0.99). The results showed a high P sorption in all the treatments (Kd 21.24 to 53.68 cm3 g−1), and a high model reliability when the inverse modeling procedure was used (R2 0.93–0.99). Overall, adding sewage sludge or olive pomace as compost or biochar improved the Terra Rosa and Rendzina water retention and did not increase the P mobility in these soils, proving to be a sustainable source of carbon and P-rich materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive agricultural practices increase agrochemical pollution, particularly nitrogen (N) based fertilizers, which present an environmental risk. This study aims to evaluate long-term (2009–2020) data on soil water regime and nitrate dynamics at an agricultural experimental site on fine-textured soils and to better understand the implications of N management in relation to groundwater pollution. The field site is located in the Biđ field (eastern Croatia), in the proximity of the Sava river. Zero-tension lysimeters were installed at six selected locations. Lysimeters were used to monitor the water regime, i.e., outflows in which nitrate concentration was measured, while additional soil-water samples were collected via 4 and 15-meter-deep monitoring wells. Soil hydraulic parameters were estimated by combining the laboratory measurements, and estimation in RETC software. Water regime and nitrate leaching in lysimeters were simulated using HYDRUS-1D for each year to allow crop rotation and to evaluate their effects individually. The HYDRUS-1D model successfully reproduced lysimeter outflows and nitrate dynamics, which was confirmed with high R2 values (water: 93% above 0.7, and nitrate: 73% above 0.7) indicating the good performance of the model simulating nitrification chain reactions. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to identify the relationships among all soil properties and environmental characteristics. The results showed the complex interaction of soil hydraulic properties, precipitation patterns, plant uptake, and N application. All locations have a decreasing trend of nitrate leaching over the investigation period. Most of the lysimeter outflows and elevated nitrate concentrations were connected to the wet period of the year when the soil was saturated, and evapotranspiration was low. The results of this study show that it is important to optimize N fertilizer applications for each particular environmental condition to reduce nitrate loss. The study indicates the importance of long-term field studies, key for agro-hydrological modeling and the improvement of agricultural practices. [Display omitted] • Interaction of soil hydraulic parameters, rainfall, crops, and nitrogen is presented. • HYDRUS-1D successfully reproduced long-term lysimeter outflows and nitrate dynamics. • Field conditions and evapotranspiration affected outflows and nitrate concentrations. • Long-term field data is key for modeling and improvement of agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lysimeters provided the data on soil water fluxes for model validation. • Soil hydraulic properties were optimized using Shuffled Complex Evolution algorithm. • Mutual Information suggests a concurrent role of the hydrological processes. • Significance of the upward fluxes was identified during shallow groundwater levels. This study aims to explain complex vadose zone hydrology of fine-textured (gley) agricultural soils influenced by a shallow and dynamic groundwater (GW) levels. The field site was located in the Biđ field (Eastern Croatia), where a detailed soil survey was performed. The simulations included a three-year period (2016–2018) at four locations. Soil hydraulic parameters (SHP) were estimated based on variables determined in the laboratory, while soil water flow was monitored using in-field zero-tension lysimeters. Piezometers were installed and used to monitor daily oscillations of groundwater levels (average depth to GW 2.2 m), while data from nearby Sava River was monitored. Unsaturated flow and water regime assessment was performed using HYDRUS-1D numerical modeling. Additional SHP optimization of van Genuchten-Mualem parameters (α and n) was performed using Shuffled Complex Evolution algorithm (SCE). The autocorrelation analysis was used to detect patterns in the precipitation, GW, and river level time series, while the Mutual Information (MI) was used to estimate the codependence of the processes in unsaturated zone and the main hydrological events. The model successfully (R2 0.72 – 0.94) reproduced measured lysimeters outflows. The outflows from lysimeters were connected to precipitation patterns, transpiration intensity, and soil moisture content influenced by the shallow water table. Comparable MI values obtained for precipitation, GW, and river level suggest a concurrent role of these parameters in the unsaturated flow dynamics. The relationship between upward flux/water storage change into the domain, and transpiration/growth stages, suggests a strong connection between the water fluxes and the root water uptake. Results confirm the importance of GW for the agricultural production due to the major influence on upper soil layer moisture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]