SERVICE OFFERED

The Department of Geology and Soil Science also undertakes supplementary activities through which it provides various services within the fields of the pedological and geological sciences. As a workplace of Mendel University’s Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, the Department of Geology and Soil Science has the status of a forensic expert in the fields of forestry, pedology, geology and ecology.

•  Representation as ‘experts’
• Advisory and consulting activities
• Complex services
• Forensic expertise
• Preparation of expert opinions

 Within the soil sciences:

• Assessment of soil fertility, with an emphasis on optimising plant nutrition for the needs of forestry, horticulture, viticulture, horticulture and agronomy
• Soil evaluation for the establishment of forest nurseries and other methods of productive land use
• Evaluation of the suitability of tree plantings - evaluation of water and air regimes and irrigation planning
• Nutrition and fertilisation of forest trees
• Creation and evaluation of composts and substrates
• Creation of soil and derivative maps
• Anthropogenic influences on soil: assessment of physical, chemical and biological soil degradation (soil contamination, acidification, production loss, erosion and erodibility, compaction, etc.) With proposed remedial measures
• Assessment of soil ecological stability and ecological risks
• Assessment of damage due to illegal deforestation on land intended to fulfil forestry functions
• Evaluation of the soil environment in urbanised areas (soil salinisation, exhalate contamination, revitalisation through planting, etc.)
• Establishment of pedologically-themed research projects

 Within the geological sciences:

• Assessment of slope stability and delineation of landslide areas
• Evaluation of the mineral strength of rocks and soil-forming substrates
• Investigation of hydrogeological conditions
• Assessment of spring areas
• Mineralogical and petrological characteristics of natural resources, including total analysis
• Landscape-concept engineering-geological works
• Establishment of geologically-themed research projects

 Laboratory analysis:

Basic principles of the methodologies used in the laboratories of the Department of Geology and Soil Science

Physical properties

Physico-chemical properties

Chemical properties

Biochemical properties

Biological properties

 Physical properties

• Constant weight determined by drying: drying at 105 °C in a hot air oven to constant weight, at which point non-crystalline soil water is removed;
• Total stock of overlying humus: sampling at the study area followed by immediate weighing and determination of constants in the laboratory. Weights and constants converted to t/ha of sample dry matter;
• Determination of soil granularity according to Kopecky: determination of soil type by leaching. Fractions = sand - 2-0.1mm, powdered sand - 0.1-0.05mm, dust - 0.05-0.01mm, clay particles - < 0.01mm;
• Determination of soil granularity by pipetting, inclusive of physical clay: sedimentation at rest, based on the assumption that particles of specific diameters will rest at a particular height in the water column after a set time;
• Specific gravity (using a pycnometer): weight of 1 cm³ of soil completely free of gas and liquid phases. Also used to determine soil porosity;
• Volumetric weight and reduced volumetric weight: the weight of 1 cm³ of soil in its natural (dried) state. Determined in physical cylinders;
• Sample dryness and water content: indicates grammes of water per 100 g of constantly dried soil. Determination takes place in drying dishes;
• Maximum capillary water capacity: the amount of water, expressed as a percentage, that an intact sample is capable of holding within its capillary pores and can retain during suction;
• Porosity, bulk moisture, aeration, minimum air capacity, relative humidity and pore saturation: Parameters of the soil air and water regime determined through calculations.
• Determination of soil granular composition (soil texture) via granulometry;
• Determination of soil retention curves (pF curves).

 Physico-chemical properties

•  Active and potential exchange soil reactions (KCl, CaCl2): The ratio of hydroxonium and hydroxyl ions expressed by the hydrogen exponent (pH) in soil leachate;
• Determination of soil conductivity: Contact sensors emit a weak electric current and electrodes in direct contact with the soil measure the soil’s electrical conductivity. The soil acts as a medium for the  electrical current and its resistance can be calculated by the drop in voltage between the electrodes. The reciprocal of resistance is conductance, which is given in units of milli-Siemens per metre (mS.m-1);
• Determination of soil redox potential.

 Chemical properties

•  Loss by annealing: indicative determination of the percentage of humic substances. All organic matter in soil lost at 550 °C;
• Determination of carbonates: the action of weak HCl produces CO², which is measured in a Janka lime meter;
• Oxidisable carbon: determined through oxidation of soil organic matter (organic carbon) with a chromium-sulphur mixture. Measured through spectrophotometric absorbance;
• Nitrate and ammonia mineral nitrogen: nitrogen is extracted from the soil with a neutral salt solution. Measured through spectrophotometric absorbance and evaluated according to a calibration curve;
• Elemental analysis of total C, H, N and S content, determined by combustion;
• Elementary analysis of thermal differentiation of C fractions (organic labile, organic stable/recalcitrant and inorganic) on a temperature ramp of 400 – 600 – 900 °C;
• Determination of carbon and nitrogen content in liquid samples extracted from soil samples;
• Determination of labile carbon (POxC) content in soil samples.

 Biochemical properties

•  Soil catalase activity: production of O² through decomposition of hydrogen peroxide;
• Soil enzyme activity, determined spectrophotometrically;
• acid phosphomonoesterase;
• urease;
• protease;
• arginine deaminase;
• dehydrogenase;
• Soil enzyme activity, determined using fluorogenic substrates (fluorescence method);
• hydrolytic enzymes (β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, β-xylosidase, phosphatase, arylsulfatase, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (chitinase), alanine aminopeptidase, leucine aminopeptidase, l-tyrosine aminopeptidase;
• lignolytic enzymes (phenol oxidase, peroxidase).

Biological properties

•  Aerobic N mineralisation, nitrification and ammonification: increase in concentration of NH⁴ and NO³ ions during incubation at constant temperature and humidity;
• Activity of soil biota through basal and potential respiration: incubation in a closed bottle with NaOH solution, with released CO² determined by back titration;
• Determination of microbial C content in soils using fumigation-extraction;
• Quantification of soil DNA;
• Determination of soil functional diversity, using Biolog EcoPlates;
• Community level physiological profile (CLPP) assessment, using the MicroResp™ method.

 The aforementioned services are provided contractually at a price determined by agreement.

 A selection of previously undertaken work within the Department of Geology and Soil Science’s additional activities:

•  VAVŘÍČEK, D. -- KUČERA, A. -- PECHÁČEK, J. -- DUNDEK, P. -- JUŘIČKA, D. Expert opinion number 30/2013 on the possibility of the proposed acquisition of PUPFL in the draft ÚP Loučná pod Klínovcem in terms of the provisions of §§ 7-8 of the Act on Forests.2013.
• KUČERA, A. -- ZICH, T. -- BOHÁČOVÁ, L. Expert opinion number 35/2014 on the soil environment with a focus on soil salinization due to winter road maintenance with chemical sprinkling in Střelecká Street, Hradec Králové. 2014.
• KUPEC, P. -- KUČERA, A. -- OPRCHAL, J. -- KRIEGLER, Š. "BAWANUR" Feasibility Study $ Design for Bawanur Dam & Garmian Irrigation Canal in Garmian, Stage 3 - Garmian Irrigation Scheme and Canal Projects, C3. Garmian Irrigation Scheme Project.
• VAVŘÍČEK, D. -- KUČERA, A. -- PECHÁČEK, J. -- DUNDEK, P. Expert opinion number 29/2013 on the scope and effect of mining modifications on the disturbance of the soil cover on the plots intended to fulfil the function of the forest at plot no. 718/4, 718/5, 718/6, 718/9, 718/34, 718/35, 2483 in the administrative office Dolní Lomná PLA Beskydy. 2013.
• VAVŘÍČEK, D. -- PECHÁČEK, J. -- DUNDEK, P. -- MAROSZ, K. -- ŠAVRDA, Z. Possibilities of intensification of regrowth and optimization of the health status of stands of the 2nd-4th growth phase in the ML Vítkov area.
• VAVŘÍČEK, D. -- PECHÁČEK, J. -- DUNDEK, P. Partial values of physical properties and hydrolimits at the site of the proposed forest nursery LZ Židlochovice. Map of summary categorization of risks.
• MADĚRA, P. -- ŠENFELDR, M. -- TIPPNER, A. -- ŠPINLEROVÁ, Z. -- BUČEK, A. -- VAVŘÍČEK, D. -- ROŠTÍNSKÝ, P. -- CULEK, M. -- FRIEDL, M. 2012. Knee categorization map according to the effect on intraskeletal erosion. VAVŘÍČEK, D. -- TIPPNER, A. 2012.