Grasslands intensification by use of mineral fertilization has contributed substantially to the increase in forage production. Intensification, however, can degrade the other beneficial functions or soil properties. The effects of mineral fertilization on soil and plant chemical qualities of a permanent wet grassland (Festucetum pratense association) were investigated in Slovakia. The grassland was treated using 3 different N, P, and K rates of mineral fertilizers in kg. ha⁻¹. yr⁻¹ plus the Control (0NPK) almost over 60-year period (1961–2017). The N, P, and K rates in low NPK treatment (LNPK) were N50, P15.4, and K 41.5, in the medium NPK treatment (MNPK) were N100, P30.8, and K83, and in the high NPK treatment (HNPK) were N200, P 61.6, and K 166, respectively. Overall, soil variables (pH, soil organic carbon, plant-available K) showed the most significant changes. A more balanced development was observed in case of soil total nitrogen, C:N ratio, and plant-available P. ANOVA revealed a significant effect between treatments only on plant-available P. In the case of plant functional group development, long-term mineral addition significantly disfavors legumes and forbs. However, analyses of the botanical composition over the last 5 years showed that legume cover significantly differs only in the HNPK treatment. Plant C:P, N:P, and N:K ratios were significantly reduced when fertilizers were added. In terms of grasslands yields, the highest biomass and content of macronutrients were obtained under the HNPK rates. However, with regard to the quality and quantity of the soil organic matter, the most appropriate treatment has been with the MNPK rates. Our findings demonstrate that medium fertilization seems to be an acceptable compromise to meet both productivity and environmental aspects and to connect ecological benefits with social benefits in the long term.

Forest management practices and droughts affect the assemblages of carabid species, and these are the most important factors in terms of influencing short- and long-term population changes. During 2017 and 2018, the occurrences and seasonal dynamics of five carabid species (Carabus coriaceus, C. ulrichii, C. violaceus, C. nemoralis and C. scheidleri) in four oak hornbeam forest stands were evaluated using the method of pitfall trapping. The climate water balance values were cumulatively calculated here as cumulative water balance in monthly steps. The cumulative water balance was used to identify the onset and duration of drought. The number of Carabus species individuals was more than three times higher in 2018 than in 2017. Spring activity was influenced by temperature. The extremely warm April in 2018 accelerated spring population dynamics; however, low night temperatures in April in 2017 slowed the spring activity of nocturnal species. Drought negatively influenced population abundance, and the effect of a drought is likely to be expressed with a two-year delay. In our investigation, a drought in 2015 started in May and lasted eight months; however, the drought was not recorded in 2016, and 2016 was evaluated as a humid year. The meteorological conditions in the year influenced seasonal activity patterns and the timings of peaks of abundance for both spring breeding and autumn breeding Carabus species.

Leaching of nitrogen from the soil is a natural but unfavorable effect that generates N₂O emissions. Exact quantification of nitrogen leakage is a challenging process. Intensive leakage occurs mainly when the soil is without vegetation and under specific climatic conditions. This paper aims to quantify the amount of nitrogen leakage from arable land and grassland, and to estimate N₂O emissions in 2017. Estimating the country-specific fraction of leached nitrogen (Frac_LEACH) is important for the emission balance from this source. Emissions are underestimated when the fraction is low; on the contrary, a high fraction causes overestimation. The internationally recognized fraction is 30%, according to the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Control (IPCC) Guidelines. This factor represents the fraction of nitrogen losses compared to total nitrogen inputs and sources. In this study, we analyzed the effects of climatic conditions on agricultural soils in Slovakia to evaluate the area of nitrogen loss through leaching.

Except for food production the sector of agriculture contribute significantly to emissions of some Greenhouse gases (GHGs), especially N2O. Agricultural practices (especially increase of N consumption in the sector) are now recognized as a major factor influencing increase of N2O emissions into the atmosphere. Estimates of greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector both at a local and regional level are necessary to create possible mitigation strategies with respect to environmental efficiency and economic possibility. We used the DNDC (DeNitrification and DeComposition) model that simulates a full carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) balance, including different C and N pools, and the emissions of all relevant trace gases from soils as NH3, N2O, NO, NO2 and N2. However, for this study only N2O was considered. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 1997) includes methodologies for calculating both direct and indirect emissions of N2O related to agricultural production. Finally, the modeled emissions by DNDC were compared with those estimated according to IPCC methodology at a regional level. The rules of a good practice in GHGs inventory in agriculture were taken into account. The N2O emissions estimated by DNDC model ranged 0,09–0,68 kg N2O‐N/ha yr with an average value of 0,28 kg N2O‐N/ha yr. The N2O emissions estimated according to IPCC methodology ranged 0,46–2,86 kg N2O‐N/ha yr with an average value of 1,66 kg N2O‐N/ha yr. Simulated N2O emissions were lower than the N2O emissions estimated by IPCC methodology (1997). The simulated N2O emissions ranged 0,04–0,51 % of the total N applied to a field as a mineral N‐fertilizer. If DNDC and IPCC emissions are compared in this study, it can be concluded that simulated (DNDC) emissions are in the range of default emission factors (1,25 ±1 %) defined by IPCC methodology (1997), except for 2002.

An air humidity sensor based on the capacity principle and programmable digital air temperature sensors are designed in the work. The wind direction and wind speed sensor (anemometer) is based on the optoelectronic principle. Sensors register frequency impulses from the wind fan of the anemometer. Methods and materials conformable with modern electronics and informatics were used. The method of linear regression was used for calibration of sensors. The accuracy of an air temperature sensor was found better than 0,1 °C in the range from ‐55 to 125 °C, and an air humidity sensor was better than 1 % in the range from 0 to 98 %. The anemometer works in the range of wind velocity from 0 to 150 km.h⁻¹ with accuracy better than 1 % to 90 km.h⁻¹ and over 90 km/h better than 3 %. First of all these sensors were proposed for automatic weather stations widely used in the sector of agriculture (microclimatic weather stations), industry and for other technological operations where monitoring of temperature, wind speed, wind direction and humidity is required. The sensors will be used as models for educational purposes at the lessons of biometeorology and climatology too. Oro temperatūros ir drėgnio bei vėjo krypties ir greičio matavimo stebėsenos sistemos kūrimas Santrauka Straipsnyje aprašomi sukurtieji oro drėgnio, oro temperatūros bei vėjo krypties ir vėjo greičio (anemometras) jutikliai, pagrįsti optiniu-elektroniniu principu. Jutikliai registruoja anemometro menčių sukeliamus dažnio impulsus. Kuriant įrenginį taikyti nūdienos elektronikos ir informatikos metodai ir medžiagos. Jutikliai kalibruoti remiantis tiesinės regresijos metodu. Nustatytas oro temperatūros jutiklio, matuojant nuo –55 iki 125 ºC, tikslumas buvo didesnis nei 0,1 ºC, o oro drėgnio jutiklio, matuojant nuo 0 iki 98 % , – didesnis nei 1 %. Matavimo anemometru ribos yra nuo 0 iki 150 km/h, tikslumas – didesnis nei 1 %, kai vėjas siekia iki 90 km/h greičio, bei didesnis nei 3 %, kai vėjo greitis viršija 90 km/h. Jutiklius rekomenduota naudoti automatinėse mikroklimatinių sąlygų matavimo stotyse, plačiai taikomose žemės ūkyje, pramonėje bei kitiems tikslams, kai būtini temperatūros, vėjo greičio, vėjo krypties bei drėgnio matavimai. Jutikliai bus naudojami ir švietimo tikslams, dėstant biometeorologiją bei klimatologiją. Reikšminiai žodžiai: oro drėgnio jutiklis, oro temperatūros jutiklis, mikroklimatinių sąlygų nustatymo stotys, vėjo krypties jutiklis, optinis-elektroninis principas. Проектирование и реализация системы мониторинга для измерения температуры воздуха, атмосферной влажности, направления и скорости ветра Резюме Описаны сенсоры атмосферной влажности, температуры воздуха, а также скорости и направления ветра (анемометр), который работает по опто-электронному принципу. Сенсоры фиксируют частные импульсы, создаваемые лопатками анемометра. Для создания аппарата были применены новейшие методы и материалы современной электроники и информатики. Для калибрации сенсоров был использован метод линейной регрессии. Установленная точность сенсора температуры воздуха была больше, чем 0,1 ºC, в пределах от 55 до 125 ºC, а точность сенсора атмосферной влажности была больше, чем 1 %, в пределах от 0 до 98 %. Пределы измерения анемометра составили от 0 до 150 км/ч, точность – больше, чем 1 %, когда скорость не превышала 90 км/ч, и больше, чем 3 %, когда скорость превышала 90 км/ч. Созданные сенсоры рекомендуется использовать в качестве оборудования станций для измерения микроклиматических условий. Такие станции широко используются в сельском хозяйстве, промышленности и для других целей, требующих измерения температуры или влажности воздуха, скорости и направления ветра. Сенсоры будут также использоваться при изучении студентами курсов по биометеорологии и климатологии. Ключевые слова: сенсор атмосферной влажности, сенсор температуры воздуха, станции для измерения микроклиматических условий, сенсор направления ветра, опто-электронный принцип. Firstd Published Online: 14 Oct 2010 Keyword : air humidity sensor, air temperature sensor, weather stations, anemometer, wind direction sensor, optoelectronic principle