Abstract:The article focuses on the issue of agricultural soil sealing in the Dolní Věstonice and Modřice cadastres (South Moravian Region). Available data and map resources were used for this purpose (historical and up-to-date). Data was processed using manual digitalisation which helped to generate the needed map output. The decrease in area of agricultural land is analysed in individual periods starting in the year 1824 (source of data stable cadastre -the first half of the 19 th century) until the present, and the sealing of different types of plots and soil kinds is assessed according to Evaluated Soil-Ecological Units (ESEU). In most cases, agricultural land sealing is associated with municipal expansion. To compare future development, potential (forthcoming) agricultural land sealing proposed within the valid landscape plans was also explored. Likewise, the overall price of sealed plots in both locations was calculated. The results show that there was a significant change in the use of both model territories between 1824 and the present. In Modřice, the area of the built-up area was changed from 16 ha (1824) to 409 ha (2016). The area of the site has expanded from 90% to agricultural land. The most significant change in this area is the development of builtup areas on agricultural land. In the model territory of Dolní Věstonice, the area of the built-up area increased from 16 ha (1824) to 48 ha (2016). The area of the site has expanded from 70% to agricultural land. Due to the construction of water reservoirs "Nové Mlýny", the area of water bodies increased by 569 ha (during the period 1824-2016). The water reservoirs occupy 65% of the cadastral area of Dolní Věstonice.The most significant change in landscape is the increase in water areas in Dolní Věstonice. Should this trend persist, an extensive reduction in agricultural soil and ensuing problems associated with sustainable agriculture, potentially also deficient food resources must be anticipated.
The water retention capacity of a territory is mainly defined by the land conditions, type of soil cover and manner of land management. The manifestations of the climate change reflect the need for better water capture from precipitation in agricultural catchment areas. The effect of the soil cover on the water retention capacity was studied in two localities with different soil types (chernozem and cambisol). The results have shown significant effects of permanent grass covers on increasing the water retention capacity. The mean retention capacity measured at permanent grass covers was 1.7-fold higher than at arable land. The soil type did not play a significant role. To some extent, the retention capacity is also influenced by the used agro-technology. After stubble-tillage, the water from precipitation was better infiltrated by arable land than by permanent grass cover. However, during a major part of the vegetation period, arable land is at the rest, and the short-term increase of its retention capacity has no impact on the overall outcome.
The agricultural land found in the Czech Republic is strongly degraded by water erosion. The main reasons for this situation are the changes in the landscape caused by large-area agricultural production in the second half of the 20 th century. In the model locality Starovice-Hustopeče (223.5 ha) (South Moravia Region), we analysed the changes in the landscape structure and land use for the period 1825-2018. In 1825, the mean size of a land block was 0.4 ha. In 1968, the studied locality consisted of just one land block of a size of 223.5 ha. This period marks the beginning of massive water erosion. In 2003, the locality was proposed for land consolidation. Its goal was to reduce erosion and the risk of floods. To date, a number of protective measures have been applied in the locality. The risk of water erosion was assessed for the landscape state in 1968 and 2018 in GIS using the USLE method. The effect of the adopted measures was strongly manifested in the reduction of the erosion risk (by 44%). The transport of sediment out of the locality was assessed for 1968 and 2018 by means of the WaTEM-SEDEM model. The protective measures resulted in a decrease of sediment transport out of the locality by 111 t/year (40% reduction). The economic balance of the soil loss showed a positive impact of the applied protective measures. On the basis of the mean price of arable land in the Czech Republic and the costs of the soil relocation within the locality, the application of protective measures brought an economy of at least € 5,000 per year. This sum does not include the losses caused by a potential decrease of agricultural crop yields due to the soil degradation, reduction of ecosystem services, and other factors in the past years. The actual benefits of applying the protective measures aimed at reducing erosion and increasing water retention in the landscape are significantly higher.
To analyse the potential changes in soil characteristics and associated impacts on the land price, the region of South Moravia was selected, strongly threatened by erosion and by claiming the most valuable land in suburban territories due to industrial and housing expansion. For the detailed analysis of the impacts of erosion and land appropriation in the region of South Moravia, the model territories of Brno surroundings with the municipality of Dolní Heršpice and Hustopeče surroundings with the municipality of Starovice were selected. The price of land degraded by potential erosion in the South Moravian region fluctuates between 88 and 2 400 EUR/ha. In the past 180 years, 148 ha of agricultural land in the total value of 822 815 EUR have been used for construction in the location under study in Dolní Heršpice. Further growth of the municipality should involve additional appropriation of agricultural land in the value of 411 000 EUR. In the studied land block of 100.5 ha, located in the Starovice municipality area, water erosion caused degradation in the total value of 92 000 EUR in the period 1978–2013. Extensive losses of fertile agricultural land are to be expected in the future. Their main causes are continuing land appropriation and degradation processes – soil erosion.
Dirt roads and footpaths together with landscape elements form a landscape mosaic. As the density of the dirt road network increases, the fragmentation of the landscape increases. The landscape is becoming more varied and, above all, more accessible, whether for the management of agricultural land or free tourism and recreation. This article deals with the analysis of the historical development of transport infrastructure on the example of the Vilémovice u Macochy model area -part of the Moravian Karst protected area. The Moravian Karst belongs to the most important karst areas in the Czech Republic and also in central Europe. The Macocha gorge, which is frequently visited by tourists is located in the area of interest. The territory is also crossed by the Moravskoslezská svatojakubská tourist Route and Srdcem jižní Moravy cycle Route. It is a popular tourist and recreational area. The density of the road network and its quality indicate the degree of recreational and tourist development of the region. The network of dirt roads in the open countryside has undergone significant changes in the last century. Unfortunately, the roads got in the way of this trend. This resulted in an inaccessible and impenetrable landscape. Recently, this trend is reversing and new dirt roads are being designed and implemented. These are mainly implemented as part of the land consolidation process. The newly realized roads serve to make land available for land owners, for agricultural production, transport and to make the landscape more accessible. Harmonious integration of existing and newly implemented dirt roads into the landscape is important, including the selection of appropriate
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