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Abstract:

Frequent and excessive flooding not only affects the yield of crop but also the processes that take place in the soil. In the present study, we monitored the activity of soil enzymes (activity of urease, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase, catalase) and hydrophysical soil properties of different ecosystems (arable land, permanent grassland and forest land) in the years 2012–2014 in environmentally sensitive areas that are affected by irregular flooding. Dry polder Besa is in the southeastern part of the Eastern lowlands of Slovakia and construction of dry polder Besa necessitated the flood situation in the rivers of the Eastern lowlands. Measured values of monitored enzymes (activity of urease, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase, catalase) pointed out the differences in their activity between the types of ecosystems and the depth of the soil profile. Statistical testing showed some correlation dependence between almost all selected biological and hydrophysical parameters, as well as the enzymes themselves. Based on the obtained results, we can conclude that the occurrence of continuous water on the soil surface for a certain period of time can have a negative impact on the hydrophysical and biological properties of the soil.