1. HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES CROP PRODUCTION COMMITTEE SOIL SCIENCE AND AGROCHEMISTRY COMMITTEE PLANT PROTECTION COMMITTEE VI ALPS-ADRIA SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP 30 April – 5 May, 2007 Obervellach, Austria THE ROLE OF SOIL MOISTURE REGIME IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN BOTH SIDE OF RIVER DANUBE IN 2002 AND 2003 Viliam NAGY 1 – Vlasta STEKAUEROVÁ 1 – Miklós NEMÉNYI 2 – Gábor MILICS 2 –Gábor KOLTAI 3 1 Slovak Academy of Sciences Institute of Hydrology 2 University of West Hungary, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Institute of Biosystems Engineering 3 University of West Hungary, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, „Szigetköz” Research Centre Slovak Academy of Sciences Institute of Hydrology

2. VI ALPS-ADRIA SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP 30 April – 5 May, 2007 Obervellach, Austria Introduction Water resources in the Carpathian Basin are limited. According to the predictions the resources will not be increasing - more probably will be decreasing - in the future. On the other hand they have to fulfill the society demands in the future. Further problem is that the limited water resources differ in space and time (Várallyai, 2005). Sustainable society development depends also on the effective water resources utilization. One key factor for the rational water management is the soil. Soil is the largest natural water storage

3. VI ALPS-ADRIA SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP 30 April – 5 May, 2007 Obervellach, Austria The liquid water in the pore spaces can be handled as stored water, and the unused pore spaces could be also used as a water storage space (Rajkai, 2004). Soil moisture in the unsaturated soil layer is one of the most frequently utilized source of water for the biosphere (the third water resource). The first water resource – surface water and the second water resource – groundwater can be directly used as a water source however, plants has the “right tool” the roots to uptake and use third water resource: the soil. The energy consumption is continuously rising all over the world. On the other hand we know about limited fossil fuels resources (no more than 80 years). The industrially developed countries recognized in the 60th the there is a need for research how to alternate the fossil fuels by another sources of energy.

4. VI ALPS-ADRIA SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP 30 April – 5 May, 2007 Obervellach, Austria For the food production only 50-60% of agricultural fields fulfill the society needs and that the remaining part can be used for energetic biomass production. To use the rest of the agricultural land for biomass production leads to less fossil energy needs and also for cleaner environment (Sinóros- Szabó, ex.verb. 2005). Before the Second World War the agriculture of the developed countries in 15-20 % of the crop land produced its energy needs (Neményi, 2006). Plant based liquid energy sources for motor propellant, oil, etc., are great interest of the agricultural engineers. The role of bioenergy most probably significantly will increase in the future (Kacz-Neményi, 1998). Soil moisture regime determine - among other factors - the yield in a given field. In order to collect sufficient information about soil moisture regime a monitoring system have to be used.

5. VI ALPS-ADRIA SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP 30 April – 5 May, 2007 Obervellach, Austria Material and methods To use the advantage of the similarity of the research area in both sides of river Danube (Zitny Ostrov and Szigetköz, alike geological and meteorological properties) the soil moisture regime measurements are comparable. In this contribution 2-2 soil moisture regime monitoring points are compared with the help of hydrolimits. A relatively low groundwater level (2,8-3,6 m) monitoring point pair and a relatively high groundwater level (0,7-1,6 m) monitoring point pair were chosen on both side of the river. The reason of the comparison is that year 2002 was an average year but 2003 was very dry. The monitoring points are located in an agriculturally used field in both side of the river.

6. VI ALPS-ADRIA SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP 30 April – 5 May, 2007 Obervellach, Austria Localities of the study area Halászi Asvanyráró Báč Čilížska Radvaň

7. VI ALPS-ADRIA SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP 30 April – 5 May, 2007 Obervellach, Austria During the investigated years soil moisture monitoring data was collected and evaluated according to hydrolimits. The three hydrolimits are:  field capacity (FC) (the amount of water soil can hold against the force of gravity),  point of decreased availability (PDA) (hardly available water),  wilting point (WP) (the amount of water in a soil when a plant cannot obtain enough water to remain turgid). The data was integrated into ArcGIS software in order to map the results.

8. VI ALPS-ADRIA SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP 30 April – 5 May, 2007 Obervellach, Austria Results and discussions Comparing the data collected and evaluated for 2002 and 2003 we can conclude that in locations Báč and Halászi especially in 2003 the integrated soil water was permanently around the wilting point. However, in locations Čilížska Radvaň and Ásványráró this level was between FC and PDA, that means there was enough water for the plants. With the help of ArcGIS software a map shows which area was suitable for corn. Additionally a 3D picture was created where the water table and the capillary water level can be seen. This picture also shows the root depth of corn.

9. VI ALPS-ADRIA SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP 30 April – 5 May, 2007 Obervellach, Austria PDA WP The course of soil water storages in the soil layer 0-60cmduring years 2002 nd 2003 in Báč

10. VI ALPS-ADRIA SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP 30 April – 5 May, 2007 Obervellach, Austria The course of soil water storages in the soil layer 0-60cm during years 2002 nd 2003 in Halászi

11. VI ALPS-ADRIA SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP 30 April – 5 May, 2007 Obervellach, Austria The course of soil water storages in the soil layer 0-60cm during years 2002 nd 2003 in Čiližská Radvaň

12. VI ALPS-ADRIA SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP 30 April – 5 May, 2007 Obervellach, Austria The course of soil water storages in the soil layer 0-60cm during years 2002 nd 2003 in Asvanyráró

13. VI ALPS-ADRIA SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP 30 April – 5 May, 2007 Obervellach, Austria

14. The depths of groundwater levels

15. VI ALPS-ADRIA SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP 30 April – 5 May, 2007 Obervellach, Austria Conclusions Knowing the water uptake capability of given agricultural plants (depth of the root, width of the root, seasonal water need etc.) the locations of the suitable area can be mapped where according to soil moisture regime the conditions are ideal. This method can help sustainable agricultural planning in case of predicted global climate change.