The Impact of Deforestation on the Quality of Drainage Water in the &#381elezná Model Area

Abstract

The article is focused on the changes in soil characteristics caused by the drainage of agricultural soils in the Czech Republic. The basis of the research was to compare current state with the state before drainage using available historical data. To resolve the subject of the research, two smaller study areas with different soil uses were chosen. The Haklovy Dvory area is an arable land that is intensively used. The other area is used mainly for grazing (extensively) and it is called Železná study area. In many cases, historical data regarding the quality of surface water and groundwater (well water) in the two areas is readily available; therefore, the same approach was taken for monitoring the current quality of drainage water. Several chemical indicators were measured in the water: pH, alkalinity-acidity, overall hardness, concentration of selected cations (magnesium, calcium, potassium, ammonia), concentration of bicarbonates, nitrates, nitrites, sulphates, phosphates, chlorides and the electrical conductivity of the water. During the entire course of the monitoring, no serious water pollution was found in Železná study area (with the exception of one sample point). In case of the intensively managed Haklovy Dvory study area, a significant pollution in all drainage water samples was confirmed. We can safely formulate a hypothesis that the drainage water quality is related to the type of agriculture procedure practiced on the land. Mainly the intensive type of agriculture, because of the use of fertilizers, has a negative impact on drainage water quality, and subsequently on the quality of surface watercourses.

Soil water dynamics in drained and undrained meadows

“…This station was placed close to the soil profile which was excavated in the drained meadow. The soil profile in the drained meadow was also close to sampling point K3/D where Vopravil at al. (2018) collected the drainage water samples in the previous years.…”

“…The drainage lines were placed at a depth of 1 m (Vopravil et al 2008) and the system is still functional. According to Vopravil et al (2008), the spacing of drains is between 7.5 and 11 m. In this locality, Vopravil et al (2018) collected drainage water samples (plus stream and underground water samples) and measured different chemical indicators in these samples. Vopravil et al (2008) reported that the drainage water collected in the locality was not polluted and its flow rate was relatively low.…”

“…Soil and Water Research https://doi.org/10.17221/51/2021-SWR For example, the systematic tile drainage system was realised to improve both the water regime and soil properties (e.g., aeration, temperature, texture and structure, sorption ability, soil organic matter mineralisation, nitrification and denitrification, etc. ), development of the soils and it enabled both the conversion of grasslands into arable land and the better use of fertilisers (e.g., Fučík et al 2015;Karásek et al 2015;Vopravil at al. 2018).…”