Lisnyak A.

Soil investigation oriented to soil reaction study took place in two agricultural farms in 2004 and it was repeated after four years again. The pH value change at total absence of liming was balanced. It was confirmed that liming ab-sence resulted in soil reaction rapid decrease in natural way - by calcium and magnesium resorption with crops, their leaching into deeper soil horizons, their outflow with erosion but also physiologically acid fertilization. In the agricul-tural enterprise Nemsova neutral and alkaline soil acreage (pH value above 6.6) decreased from 1008 ha to 190 ha in period 2004-2008 (decrease 82 per cent) and contrary soil acreage with pH value below 5.5 increased from 274 ha to 569 ha in the same period. There is even more unbeneficial situation in the agricultural farm Osikov. Acreage with pH value above 6.6 was reduced in period 2004-2008 from 1548 ha to 178 ha (decrease 90 per cent), while acid and strong acid soils (pH lower than 5.5) increased from 138 ha to 838 ha in the same period.

The assessment of the spatial structure the land cover has great significance for the research of landscape especially from the aspect of the maintaining landscape ecological stability and the sustainable development as well as the landscape potential. At the same time it has an important role in identifying of impacts the industry on the landscape. The classes of land cover layers can be considered as the basis for other analyses of landscape. Purpose.: In the contribution we decided to compare the changes in landscape structure between the years 1958 - 2009 in territory of city Krompachy. Methods: field, analytical and mathematical. Results: For evaluating changes in the landscape structure we used topographic map from 1958 and orthophotomaps of the actual situation in 2009. The changes in the landscape structure were evaluated through GIS technologies in time horizon 1958 - 2009. Absolute and percentage differences in the land cover classes for the time horizon 1958 - 2009 are expressed by means of contingency tables transformation. The trends in the development classes of land cover are documented by the graph of the land cover classes on the second hierarchical level.

Purpose. To differentiate rural land of Slovakia with aspect to the possibility of effective spring barley growing. Methods. Soil investigation oriented to soil reaction study took place in two agricultural enterprises in 2010 and it was repeated after four years again. Results. At soil categorization, correlation relationships between the site properties (soil and climatic conditions) and crop biological and agrotechnical requirements were considered. Spring barley requirements were included into yield databases using the software filters in the way that the given site property excluded or limited barley growing, what was reflected in predicted production. The prediction was subsequently interpolated into four suitability categories: soils not suitable for spring barley growing, less suitable soils, suitable soils and very suitable soils. The database formed and each of the Bonited Pedo-Ecological Unit (BPEU) was added in it as well as particular category of suitability for barley growing. By mediation of the Geographic Information System on BPEU distribution in Slovakia, the map of categories of soil suitability for spring barley growing was also generated. Conclusions. In Slovakia, there is 20 % of farmland very suitable for spring barley growing, 24 % suitable, 24 % less suitable and 32 % non suitable soils for spring barley growing according to our calculation. In the paper, these categories are characterized in details and specified from the view of geographic, soil, climatic, productivity, economic and energetic parameters.

In consequence of the mining and processing of the magnesite ore, some areas of Slovakia have strongly damaged soil, when pH increased to 9 and more. The physical and chemical characteristics of the soil were changed, the erosion increased and phytocenosis decreased. A large number of the soils is impossible to use for agriculture. The fertilization requires huge resources. The future for the fertilization and prospective use of the soils is seen in the possible cultivation of Phragmites australis, which was selected in given area. It is an invasive plant with the possible technical and agricultural use. The use of Phragmites australis against strongly alkalized soils was suggested by previous investigation, as it grows also on the soils with pH 9.1 and produces very large biomass. Thence during three years the most suitable method of the reproduction of this plant was investigated, i.e. generatively and vegetatively. On the basis of the statistical evaluation of the results it can be concluded that generative reproduction is technically more demanding and less successful, that the vegetative root segment reproduction is more suitable and can be recommended under these conditions.

The landfill of waste from nickel production is situated to the south of Sereď in Slovak Republic. The landfill area covers around 50 ha. Volume is in present day 5.5 - 6.5 mil. [t] and in 1993 it was about 9 mil.[t]. The land-fill was formed during 30 years of manufacturing process, which was stopped due to the economic and ecologi-cal reasons in 1993. The pollution of base rocks, underground waters, soils and air pollution was noticed during production in the Nickel smelting plant and continues up to the present days. In this paper we focused on the current structure on the landfill of waste from nickel production and its impact on the environment. Physical and chemical properties of the waste are responsible for the creation of a specific ecosystem, not peculiar to the natural landscape, which negatively affects the quality of the environment. It is proposed to reduce waste using microwave vitrification method, although it is very expensive, but the most effective, because procedure in converting waste glass provides high chemical stability and water resistance.

Water and soil belong to basic natural resources that are essential for the existence and development of human civilization. These resources represent part of natural capital which provides or can provide ecosystem services - goods and services. Definition of significant ecosystem services related to agricultural land and inland waters is basic precondition to evaluate these systems. While in the case of freshwater ecosystems (rivers, lakes and also groundwater) we are at the start, in the case of ecosystem services of agricultural land (cropland, permanent grasslands) there are already available spatial results of bio-physical and economic evaluation of soil functions in GIS format. Suitability for water use for a specific purpose (that in fact represents ecosystem service) in Slovak conditions is assessed according to a particular set of water quality parameters and corresponding limit values. Evaluation of freshwater ecosystem services can serve as support for the selection of cost-effective measures, and for the mapping and assessment of ecosystems services as part of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020. Ecosystem service approach is considered as extension of soil function approach that can be perceived as core of ecosystem services evaluation that integrates soil and biotic aspects. The bio-physical evaluation of soil functions or services serves as basic precondition for it local use with regard to mitigate the anthropogenic pressures and its consequences. At present, the real possible utilisation of soil ecosystem services/functions can be seen at improvement of soil protection especially via modification of soil price at its permanent sealing.