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The aim of the research paper is to evaluate the biomass accumulation potential of fast growing basket willow (Salix viminalis L.) cultivated for energy purposes on human planted plantation. The experiment was realized in two four-years periods (1996 - 1999; 2000 - 2003) of the agri-ecological conditions analysis for growing of different basket willow varieties at the Experimental Base of Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (Slovak Republic). The influence of these factors on dry matter yields of basket willow was reviewing: variety (ORM, RAPP, ULV), stand organization (arrangement A - double rows = 0.5 m × 0.75 m or 1.25 m; arrangement B = 0.5 m x 0.75 m) and growing seasons (1996 - 1999; 2000 - 2003). There can be determined an order between different basket willow varieties for cultivation in the warm south Slovakia conditions: 1. ULV: 56.47 t.ha-1; e.g. average of dry matter yield accumulated after two four-years cultivation cycles; 2. ORM: 43.37 t.ha-1; 3. RAPP: 25.10 t.ha-1. From the stand organization point of view better results were achieved in the arrangement B (44.63 t.ha-1) than in arrangement A (38.94 t.ha-1). These are results from two four-years cycles of basket willow cultivation (plantation was planted in 1996). Next part of contribution deals with the creation of agrometeorological models of phytomass production, which can be used for benchmark foreboding of phytomass yields by the occurrence of temperatures and rainfall. It showed that the yield of phytomass, which were established by agrometeorological model showed an average probability of 86%. In the approximately 40% of years was probability of appearance amount of yield phytomass provided with an accuracy of 96%. Finally, we can conclude that the simple mathematical - statistical model provides a solid ability for prediction of Salix viminalis phytomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil water erosion is one of the most dangerous degradation process which influences the soil fertility as well as the other important soil properties. This fact brings up need to more detailed research of erosive factors. One of these factors is rainfall erosivity factor (R). There are a lot of methodologies which calculate this factor and they depend on the data availability. The aim of this paper is to compare these different methodologies and evaluate their impact on the final value of rainfall erosivity factor. We compared equations which calculate only with annual precipitation data (equation designed by Šabata, Holý etc.) with modified methodology of Wishcmeier- Smith. The results showed that equations which calculate only with annual precipitation are several times higher than results obtained with modified Wischmeier-Smith methodology. These significant differences invoke the question if the applied anti-erosion measurements are adequate, because values of rain factor which are used in our conditions are significantly lower than calculated values with using of both methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementation of minimalization techniques is an indirect measure resulting from ecological standards of the European Union for securing good agricultural and environmental conditions (GAEC) (ecological conditionality for direct payment obtaining also in condition of Slovak Republic). Soil tillage practices usually affect production and emission of nitrous oxide (N2O). The field study was conducted at the experimental site in Nitra region of Slovakia (lat. 48°19'00''; lon. 18°09'00'') during growing season (April-August) of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in 2012 on a long-term tillage field experiment initiated in 1994. The objective of this study was to compare two tillage methods (conventional tillage-CT and reduced tillage-RT) combined with unamended control (N0) and addition of nitrogen fertilizers (N1). Experiment was arranged in a split plot design with tillage as the main plots and fertilizer rates as the sub-plots with three replicates. N2O emission decreased in order CT>RT where cumulative N2O fluxes from CT with N0 treatment (3.85 kg N2O-N ha-1) were higher by 43% compared to the RT (2.69 kg N2O-N ha-1). Addition of nitrogen fertilizer decreased the mitigation effect of reduced tillage and cumulative N2O fluxes from CT with N1 treatment (3.92 kg N2O-N ha-1) were higher by 13% compared to the RT (3.48 kg N2O-N ha-1). Since the conventionally tilled soils were better aerated, the soil aeration and diffusivity might played the role in higher emissions from CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]