BASIC PEDOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SLOVAK PEATLANDS

The consequences of climatic changes, the first of all raising of the temperature, may result in shifting the balance of humus formation from humification to mineralization. With increasing mineralization are particularly vulnerable natural soils with high content of organic carbon. In Slovak soil monitoring, part of natural soils (Alpine and forest soils) are included, however, peatlands are missing. Slovak peatlands were mapped in detail from fauna and flora point of view but without pedological characteristics. For this reason from 2008 gradually monitoring network of peatlands has been created. This network includes all types of peatlands in Slovakia and on all localities basic chemical (pH, nutrient and heavy metals contents) characteristics with an emphasis on detailed observation of soil organic matter in 10 years interval are monitored. In this work basic pedological characteristics of five different peatlands are presented. The highest concentration of organic carbon (OC) content (48%) on locality Klenovske Blata was found. Localization of this peat is in deep forest and it is typical trasitional mire. Klenovske Blata is very strongly acidic peat with the highest content of nutrients (P,K) from all observed peatlands. The high concentration of OC (44%) also on bog Rudne was found. This locality is situated in the Upper Orava region near cadaster Sucha Hora village. This is also extremely acidic bog with considerable stocks of potassium and phosphorus. The lowest concentration of organic carbon content (29%) on Belianske Luky locality was found. Belianske Luky is Slovak last large unworked peatland in territory of Spis region and at the same time the greatest fen in Slovakia. As this site is characterized as calcareous fen its pH is in slightly alkaline region with extremely low concentration of phosphorus. The highest concentration of nitrogen and the lowest concentration of available potassium from all observed localities on peat Sur were determined. This inland fen is situated in the Little Carpatiens mountains in the cadastral municipality Svaty Jur and Chorvatsky Grob. Medium concentration of organic carbon content, with low pH and quite low concentration of available nutrients on locality Abrod was determined. Abrod is fen meadow and it is situated in natural reserve Zahorie. On the basis the first preliminary results it can be concluded considerable differences in organic carbon content, pH and nutrients among observed localities due to different type of peatlands.