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Bartlová J., Badalíková B., Pospíšilová L., Pokorný E., Šarapatka B. (2015): Water stability of soil aggregates in different systems of tillage. Soil & Water Res., 10: 147-154.The influence of various agrotechnical measures on macrostructural changes in topsoil and subsoil was studied in the course of a four-year experiment. Macrostructure was evaluated according to the ability of soil aggregate to resist degradation. Three variants of soil tillage were established: ploughing to a depth of 0.22 m, reduced tillage (subsoiling to 0.35-0.40 m, and shallow disking of soil to a depth of 0.15 m). For observation, three locations were chosen in various production areas of the Czech Republic with differing soil and climatic conditions. In these locations crops were grown under the same crop rotation: rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), maize (Zea mays), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and barley (Hordeum vulgare). After four years of different tillage, a change in the water stability of soil aggregates (WSA) was evident. It was found out that reduced tillage of soil positively influenced both the WSA and the yield of the crops grown. A relationship of positive dependence between WSA, the content of humus substances, and cation exchange capacity of soil was also found. According to the obtained results, for agricultural practice a classification scale of structural quality was proposed on the basis of statistics of one variable (average, its mean error and distribution normality).

Organic matter is one of the key factors with a direct impact on the soil fertility. The lack of availability of organic matter and its lack in the soil represent a current pan-European problem. Organic matter in soil plays an unmistakable role in formation of soil and improvement of the physical properties, such as soil water retention, bulk density, soil aggregation capacity, water and air mode of soil, etc. This article discusses the evaluation of influence of compost and compost with Lignohumax applied in the treated strip on changes of selected physical properties of soils. The experiments started in 2017 at two experimental sites in Lednice and Velké Bílovice (Czech Republic). The physical state of the soil was determined by using "Kopecky physical cylinders", the soil structure, moisture and penetrometer resistance were evaluated as well. The obtained results show that the bulk density reduced at both sites ranged from 1.38-1.49 g•cm-3 , the total porosity ranged from 44.09-48.25 % and the water content and aeration of the soil were roughly at the same level. The structure of the soil evaluated according to the structural coefficient was found at Lednice at the beginning of the vegetation 0.71, at the end of the vegetation, after the compost incorporation the values were higher for the variants with the prepared compost (1.38-1.44). At the site of Velké Bílovice the initial values were 0.87 and for the fertilized variants the coefficient increased to 1.99. In addition, the water conditions were better for the fertilized variants at the Lednice station and reached the level of 16.24-17.05 % by weight, while at the site of Velké Bílovice they reached the level 19.46-23.02 % by weight. The penetrometric resistance values did not exceed critical limits for the fertilized variants. In the framework of sustainability, viticulture will address issues related to soil fertility in the upcoming period. Greater attention therefore has to be paid to the replacement of traditional fertilizers, such as manure, by the new fertilizers in the form of compost or digestate.

In the context of sustainability, viticulture will address issues related to soil fertility in the coming period. Greater attention will therefore be paid to replacing traditional manure-based fertilisers, such as farmyard manure, with new types of fertiliser in the form of composts, digestate, etc. Experience to date suggests that good-quality composts are not only a source of nutrients that the vines take from the soil each year, but also a source of organic matter. The application of compost and its subsequent decomposition in the soil profile can have a positive effect on the growth of the roots and above-ground parts of the vine. However, optimising the effects and action of compost is linked to determining the necessary doses and methods of application. The aim of this three-year study was to provide an overview of the results aimed at evaluating the effects of the application of compost (CO) and compost enriched with the addition of lignohumate (CO+L20), at a rate of 30 t·ha−1, in the areas around vineyard tree trunks on selected soil chemical properties and the vegetative growth of the vine (Vitis vinifera L.). The unfertilised variant (CWC) was used as a control. Each variant was established in three replicates that were 20 m long. Experimental measurements and evaluation were carried out in the period of 2018–2020 on two sites with different soil conditions (Lednice and Velké Bílovice) and two different grape varieties (Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris). Meteorological data were continuously monitored during the period under review. Chemical properties of the soil samples of the three experimental variants were determined (e.g., content of organic carbon, humic acids, humic substances, humification rate, etc.). The evaluations that were carried out confirmed that the addition of organic matter in the form of composts to the soil in the CO and CO+L20 variants positively influenced the quality of organic matter. The organic carbon content increased by 56–139% in variants with deep compost application (CO, CO+L20) during the monitored period compared to the CWC, depending on the location. Similarly, the degree of humification increased by 70–84%, and the soil microbial biomass increased by 38–136% in the treated variants compared to the CWC. In addition to the dynamics of the changes in the chemical properties, the aim of the performed measurements was to evaluate the rate of the growth shoots, which was linked to the fertilizing effects of the applied compost in the experimental vineyard. At the site in Velké Bílovice, the total difference in the length of the shoots was higher in the CO by 2.6–4.6% and in the CO+L20 by 7.5–12.5% compared to the CWC. At the site in Lednice, the situation was similar, and the total difference in the length of the shoots was higher in the CO by 4.6–7.2% and in the CO+L20 by 5.3–13.2%. The results that were obtained may constitute an important basis for the management of organic fertilization on plots with different soil conditions and cultivated varieties in order to optimize the vegetative growth of the vine.

One of the main objectives of crop establishment is adjustment of physical properties of soil, on which indicators of soil fertility as well as economic appreciation of the resulting yield depend. During 2014–2016 yield of corn and sorghum was observed in semi‑operational experiments of ZD Budišov in relation to the quantity of the applied digestate and simultaneously, the following physical properties of soil were analysed: porosity, compaction and soil structure. After the application of digestate the porosity and minimal air capacity decreased, and reduced bulk density increased. Soil structure was affected negatively too. Overall, a trend of degradation of physical state of soil in variant with doubled dose of applied digestate was registered. Yields were always higher in variants with digestate due to a higher supply of higher amount of nutrients. Results of this observation indicate that crop yields may be higher but at the same time physical properties of soil may be impaired which may, while increasing doses of digestate, lead to irreversible degradation of soil.