METHODOLOGY OF SOIL MONITORING IN A FORESTED ZONE OF THE KARKONOSZE NATIONAL PARK WITH REFERENCE TO THE DIVERSITY OF SOIL PROPERTIES

摘要

This paper presents the introductory considerations for soil monitoring to be established in the forested zone of the Karkonosze National Park. The strategy and techniques of soil sampling are discussed with reference to the variability of soil properties. Based on the examples of 12 monitoring areas and the detailed analysis made for 5 of them, it was found that particularly high spatial differentiation (with SD> 50%) was typical for several soil parameters, i.e. the thickness of organic horizon, concentrations of available nutrients and total concentrations of heavy metals. On the contrary, the soil pH reaction did not vary significantly. Calculated total pools of nutrients and pollutants present in soil organic layers were comparable with those accumulated in mineral soil horizons to a depth of 20 cm. The data proved that such parameters as mean thickness of organic layer, surface coverage with rocks and the contribution of skeletal fractions in the mineral soil are of great importance for correct estimation of soil quality, in particular for the correct assessment of nutrient supply and the amount of pollutants accumulated in soils.