Significant part of our work was developing a new type of CO2 and H2O gas exchange chambers fit for measuring stand patches. Ground areas of six chambers (ranged between 0.044-4.531 m2) constituted a logarithmic series with doubling diameters from 7.5 to 240.0 cm. We demonstrate one of the first results for stand net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) rates and temporal variability for two characteristic Central European grassland types: loess and sand. The measured mean NEE rates and their ranges in these grasslands were similar to values reported in other studies on temperate grasslands. We also dealt with the spatial scale dependence from ecophysiological point of view. Our chamber-series measurement was performed in a perennial ruderal weed association. The variability of CO2-assimilation of this weed vegetation showed clear spatial scale-dependence. We found the lowest variability of the vegetation photosynthesis at the small-middle scales. The results of spatial variability suggest the 0.2832 m2 patch size is the characteristic unit of the investigated weed association and there is a kind of synphysiological minimi-area with characteristic size for each vegetation type. and Sz. Czóbel ... [et al.].
The character of soil cover in anthropogenically affected areas was determined on the basis of soil morphology, particle size distribution, soil chemical properties, soil organic matter properties and mineralogy of clay fraction. The degree of anthropogenic influence was variable in the individual soil profiles. This is probably the first time that data on hot-wate rextractable carbon distribution in soil profile were obtained from the territory of Prague., Anna Žigová, Martin Šťastný, Jana Krejčová and Pavel Hájek., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
The study was performed in the territory of the Skryje-Týřovice Basin, in the Buchava Formation. The study area falls within the Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area. Samples were collected from Albic Luvisol. Parent material was characterized on the basis of thin section study. Soil development was evaluated by parameters such as macromorphological analysis, particle size distribution, pH, base saturation, cation exchange capacity, soil organic matter and mineral composition of clay fraction. Results of the analyses, especially the thickness of Bt horizon and distribution of clay fraction in the soil profile, confirm the process of intensive pedogenetic clay differentiation. Trioctahedral 1:1 regularly interstratified mineral (R=1) containing chlorite and smectite layers (low-charge corrensite) was described for the first time in the soils of the Czech Republic. Corrensite was detected in the Ah horizon of Albic Luvisol under weakly acid reaction conditions in the increasing amount of organic matter using the X-ray diffraction analysis. The distribution of clay minerals in Albic Luvisol showed that soil development is influenced by loess and also volcanic rocks in the lower part of the profile.
With biocrusts playing a cardinal role in C and N fixation in arid zones, information regarding the factors that determine their limits of growth is of uttermost importance for the study of ecosystem structure and function. This is also the case in the western Negev dunefields, where although abundant on the sandy surfaces, biocrusts are scarce on finegrained (mainly loessial) sediments, termed playas. In the Nizzana research site (NRS), visibly distinct surfaces, with and without biocrusts were noted within a single playa. In an attempt to characterize these distinct surfaces, a set of random measurements were carried out, which included measurements of crack density, microrelief and chlorophyll content of the upper 0-1 cm. Following a cluster analysis, four distinct types of surfaces (hereafter habitats) were defined, one with substantial amount of chlorophyll content which can be regarded as biocrust (P4), and three non-crusted surfaces (P1- P3). Within each type, two 50 cm-deep pits were dug and the pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and fine (silt and clay) content (FC) of samples collected at 1-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40 and 40-50 cm-depth were analyzed. In addition, periodical moisture measurements were carried out (in pairs) to a depth of 0-20 cm at each surface type during 2013/14. All non-crusted habitats (P1-P3) were characterized by loessial subsurface sediments. Conversely, P4 was either characterized by loessial subsurface sediments (and in this case it was characterized by a slightly concave surface) or having a sandy subsurface (at ~5-10 cm depth). While the non-crusted surfaces exhibited low moisture content, P4 exhibited deeper and higher moisture content explained either by the more sandy sediments or by lower water loss through runoff. The findings point to the close link between surface and subsurface properties and indicate that water availability may explain biocrust establishment and growth also at the loessial playa surfaces. Biocrusts may thus serve as bioindicators for habitats with high moisture content.