160 JOZEF VARGA, RADOSLAVA KANIANSKA, JÁN SPIŠIAKSOIL SCIENCE ANNUAL Vol. 69 No. 3/2018: 160–168 DOI: 10.2478/ssa-2018-0016

JOZEF VARGA*, RADOSLAVA KANIANSKA, JÁN SPIŠIAK

Matej Bel University Banská Bystrica, Faculty of Natural Sciences Tajovského 40, 974 01 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia

Impact of land use and geological conditions on selected physical properties in relation to the earthworm abundance and biomass along an altitudinal gradient in Slovakia

Abstract: The aim of the study was to analyse the impact of land use and altitudinal gradient including geological conditions on selected soil physical properties with subsequent effect on earthworms as important soil organisms. The research was conducted at three study sites (Oèová – OC, Tajov – TA, Liptovská Teplièka – LT) situated in the different climatic and natural conditions of Slovakia each with 3 plots differing in land use (arable land - AL, permanent grasslands – PG, forest land – FL). During 2014 over two periods, we measured soil penetration resistance (PR) with total depth of the measurement (DP) and (SM). - worms were hand sorted counted and weighed. We found out high variability of measured parameters conditioned by time, space (altitudinal gradient) and land use. PR values of all measurements ranged from 0.19 to 5.00 MPa, DP values from 0.02 to 0.80 m and soil moisture from 2 to 50%. Paired samples test confirmed differences between different land use types mainly between AL and FL plots. There were confirmed significant differences between three ecological gradients in all observed properties with one exception. Correlations among observed variables under different altitudinal gradients and land use types were found. The earthworm density and biomass was significantly higher in permanent grasslands compared to forest and arable land. In arable land, the earthworm density and biomass negatively correlated with the penetration resistance and positively with the depth of the total measurements. In permanent grasslands earthworm biomass positively correlated with soil moisture. Keywords: Penetration resistance, soil moisture, soil depth, land use change, earthworms

INTRODUCTION by forest. The dominant rocks include sedimentary formations, but with granite and metamorphite Natural conditions and land use has permanent mountain cores. Among the causes of landscape influence on soil properties and vegetation cover change are urbanization, agricultural intensification, (Dupouey et al. 2002). Any change can affect the land abandonment and forest expansion, international aboveground and belowground part of ecosystems commerce and trade, new demands of land for nature including soil. The duration and land use type deter- conservation and development of renewable energy mines the soil physical and chemical properties with uses (Plieninger and Bieling 2012). Nowadays, land subsequent effect on soil biota. A large part of European abandonment is becoming a serious trend in Slovakia, land is currently devoted to agricultural activities Poland and other parts of Europe accelerated by the (Vliet et al. 2015). Twenty-five per cent of Europe´s retirement of the older generation of farmers and the land is covered by arable land and permanent crops, significant migration of young people to urban areas 17% by pastures and mixed mosaics and 35% by (Kanianska et al. 2014, Bucala-Hrabia 2017). forests (European Environment Agency 2010). Simi- Land use changes driven by intensification of larly, about 50% of the present Slovak land territory agriculture over the past century have resulted in is agricultural land even though Slovakia is a predo- widespread deterioration of many soil properties minantly mountainous country situated in the western influencing abundance and diversity of soil biota. Soil Carpathian arch. Only a small part of Eastern Slovakia compaction is a physical form of soil degradation that belongs to the eastern Carpathian region and the west- alters , limits water and air infiltration southern and east-southern part to the Panonian and reduces root penetration in the soil. The conse- lowland. Communities vary from thermophilous in quences of soil compaction are still underestimated southern parts of the country, to mountainous in the (Nawaz et al. 2013). Soil compaction has direct higher altitude. Mountain regions cover more than effects on physical soil properties and can be measured 55% of the total land territory. The climate is temperate. by penetration resistance. Soil compaction is mostly Thus most of the Slovak territory should be covered affected by water content, bulk density,

* MSc. J. Varga, [email protected] http://ssa.ptg.sggw.pl/issues/2018/693 Impact of land use on physical soil properties in relation to soil biota 161 and porosity. Soil susceptibility to compaction is the and an integrated approach of the evaluation of abiotic probability that soil becomes compacted when exposed and biotic parameters is required. Because of the to compaction risk. It can be low, medium, high and abovementioned, the objective of this research was very high in dependence of soil properties and the set to analyse of the impact of land use type and altitudinal of external factors like, e.g. climate, soil use, etc. gradient on the soil physical properties related to soil (Houšková and Montanarella 2008). Soil compaction compaction having an impact on the earthworm abun- influences soil productivity (Mueller et al. 2010) often dance and biomass. resulting in yield reduction of most crops and decrease of soil fauna diversity and abundance. Earthworms STUDY AREA are very sensitive to physical soil parameters thus they are used as good bioindicators of microclimate and The research was conducted at three study sites, physical status of soil. Soil compaction in cultivated situated in the different climatic and natural condi- lands affects mostly the upper layer of soil but tions of Slovakia, each with 3 plots differing in land so-called compaction is also observed. use (arable land – AL, permanent grasslands – PG, Subsoil compaction is a serious problem because it is forest land – FL) and altitudinal gradient. Oèová expensive and difficult to alleviate and it has been study site (OC) is situated in Po¾ana Mountain from acknowledged as a serious form of soil degradation 418 to 422 m a.s.l. with Haplic developed by the European Union (Jones et al. 2003). There are on polygenic sediments. Tajov study site (TA) is about 200 000 hectares of compacted agricultural situated at Kremnica Mountain from 580 to 595 m and about 500 000 hectares potentially compacted a.s.l. with Haplic developed on slope agricultural soils in Slovakia (Kobza 2014). deposits. Liptovská Teplièka study site (LT) is Earthworms are exposed to a range of natural and situated in Low Tatras Mountain from 931 to 950 m human induced disturbances including land use and a.s.l. with Rendzic Leptosol developed on dolomitic management. Assessment of this impact is difficult limestones (Fig. 1, Table 1, 2, and 3) (MESR, 2002).

FIGURE 1. Location of the study sites in Slovakia. Abbreviations: OC – Oèová, TA – Tajov, LT – Liptovská Teplièka 162 JOZEF VARGA, RADOSLAVA KANIANSKA, JÁN SPIŠIAK

TABLE 1. Geographic characteristics and land management at 3 study TABLE 2. Climatic characteristics from the metero- site under different land use logical stations nearest to the 3 study sites (according to Slovak Hydrometeorological ydutS lacihpargoeG lioS etartsbuS lioS –edutitlA dnaL Institute) etis noitacol epyt erutxet )m(LA tnemeganam CO ana¾oP cilpaH cinegyloP ymaoL 814-LA evisnetni-LA ydutS lacigoloroeteM mret-gnoL mret-gnoL niatnuoM losonalP stnemides 024-GP gnimraf etis noitats riaegareva egareva 224-LF wodaem-GP erutarepmet llafniar )C°( )mm( AT acinmerK cilpaH epolS ymaoL 595-LA evisnetxe-LA niatnuoM losibmaC stisoped 795-GP gnimraf CO ša¾gíV 7.7 966 085-LF peehs-GP AT áksnaB 1.8 597 erutsap acirtsyB TL sartaTwoL cizdneR citimoloD ymaoL 059-LA cinagro-LA losotpeL enotsemil 139-GP gnimraf TL darpoP 2.6 059 549-LF wodaem-GP Abbreviations: OC – Oèová, TA – Tajov, LT – Liptovská Abbreviations: OC – Oèová, TA – Tajov, LT – Liptovská Teplièka, AL – Ara- Teplièka. ble land, PG – Permanent grasslands, FL – Forest land. TABLE 3. Soil chemical properties at 3 study sites under different land use

METHODS ydutS dnaL Hp lCK COT tN P K gM etis esu g( ⋅ gk 1– ) gm( ⋅ gk 1– ) During 2014 over two periods (summer – CO LA 09.4 72.71 68.1 88.31 57.171 52.206 beginning of June, autumn – end of Septem- GP 42.6 18.15 90.6 10.322 47.923 94.236 ber, and beginning of October), we measured LF 98.3 57.56 48.3 67.2 57.171 03.957 penetration resistance of soil (PR) total depth of the penetration resistance measurement AT LA 48.4 54.51 26.1 65.33 09.122 63.721 (DP), and soil moisture (SM) at each study GP 91.4 03.24 41.4 25.0 22.631 08.136 sites and plots in 10 replications. Soil mo- LF 60.5 44.541 83.7 94.31 47.923 75.717 isture level (SM) was measured at 0.05 m TL LA 07.6 05.43 50.3 32.83 63.991 21.949 depth by soil moisture sensor (ThetaProbe) GP 49.6 03.15 61.5 28.3 33.003 51.3321 in the soil moisture volume percentage by LF 21.7 00.03 12.4 90.11 22.911 75.3721 measuring the changes in the dielectric con- Abbreviations: OC – Oèová, TA – Tajov, LT – Liptovská Teplièka, TOC – Total stant. Penetration resistance (PR) was organic carbon, Nt – Total nitrogen, P – Available phosphorus, K – Available potassium, measured with an electronic penetrometer Mg – Available magnesium. (Eijkelkamp Penetrologger) with a cone dia- meter of 1 cm2 and a 60° top angle cone with the We used a paired samples test to examine the maximum operational depth of 0.80 m. Cone resistance differences in physical properties between the three land was recorded in MPa per 0.00–0.80, and sub use types (arable land, permanent grasslands and sequently recalculated per layers of 0.00–0.20, and forest land) and the three altitudinal gradients. Corre- 0.20–0.80 m with the aim of observing the differences lation analyses were conducted using the Spearman in penetration resistance in upper soil layer and sub- correlation coefficients to identify relationships between soil. The measurement gives a continuous record of earthworms and selected physical soil properties. All the penetration resistance of the cone with depth analyses were performed with the statistical software (DP – total depth of the penetration resistance measu- PASW Statistics (version 18.0). rement). Some areas were so dry, compacted or shallow that the probe couldn´t be inserted to the RESULTS AND DISCUSSION depth of 0.80 m. Soil and substrate conditions play here an important role. We found out high variability of measured para- At each study site and plots, earthworms were meters determined by time, space (altitudinal gradient) hand sorted from seven soil monoliths (35 cm×35 and land use types. Penetration resistance values of cm ×20 cm) placed in line in 3 m distance. The all measurements ranged from 0.19 to 5.00 MPa, earthworms were counted and collected. Earthworms depth of penetration measurement from 0.02 to 0.80 m, from deeper soil layers were expelled by 1.5 L of and soil moisture from 2 to 50% (Table 4, 5, and 6). 0.2% formalin. The collected earthworms were The penetration resistance of all depth, at all weighed. The earthworm density and biomass from study sites and in all different land use types was soil monoliths were recalculated per square meter. higher in summer compared to autumn aspect when Impact of land use on physical soil properties in relation to soil biota 163

TABLE 4. Descriptive statistics for the penetration resistance (MPa)

epytesudnaL LA GP LF htpeD 08.0–0 02.0–0 08.0–02.0 08.0–0 02.0–0 08.0–02.0–0 08.0 02.0–0 08.0–02.0 tcepsaremmus–ávoèO naeM 86.4 37.3 00.5 32.4 18.2 87.4 43.4 71.3 18.4 muminiM 91.4 87.1 00.5 86.1 06.0 60.2 51.2 15.1 93.2 mumixaM 09.4 16.4 00.5 87.4 31.4 00.5 77.4 01.4 00.5 .D.S 02.0 97.0 00.0 88.0 12.1 19.0 47.0 17.0 18.0 tcepsanmutua–ávoèO naeM 37.2 14.1 02.3 17.1 91.1 19.1 91.3 22.1 98.3 muminiM 88.1 59.0 09.1 74.1 38.0 85.1 36.1 98.0 09.1 mumixaM 69.3 49.1 08.4 90.2 84.1 93.2 33.4 33.2 00.5 .D.S 77.0 62.0 40.1 02.0 81.0 42.0 58.0 04.0 80.1 tcepsaremmus–vojaT naeM 51.4 25.2 47.4 86.4 27.3 00.5 46.4 55.3 00.5 muminiM 82.3 55.0 09.3 24.4 86.2 00.5 52.4 89.1 00.5 mumixaM 78.4 84.4 00.5 28.4 62.4 00.5 98.4 75.4 00.5 .D.S 26.0 35.1 04.0 11.0 34.0 00.0 12.0 68.0 00.0 tcepsanmutua–vojaT naeM 80.3 14.1 86.3 19.3 51.2 55.4 54.3 50.2 89.3 muminiM 75.1 85.0 77.1 82.2 32.1 93.2 14.1 28.0 36.1 mumixaM 06.4 24.3 00.5 56.4 06.3 00.5 28.4 82.4 00.5 .D.S 31.1 39.0 33.1 66.0 16.0 28.0 13.1 01.1 84.1 tcepsaremmus–akèilpeTáksvotpiL naeM 49.3 17.1 37.4 52.4 50.2 00.5 82.4 62.2 00.5 muminiM 14.3 38.0 71.4 57.3 66.0 08.4 57.3 78.0 37.4 mumixaM 25.4 90.3 00.5 95.4 73.3 00.5 66.4 36.3 00.5 .D.S 43.0 16.0 23.0 32.0 97.0 80.0 82.0 98.0 21.0 tcepsanmutua–akèilpeTáksvotpiL naeM 73.3 26.0 03.4 39.3 94.1 97.4 20.4 24.1 69.4 muminiM 97.2 91.0 56.3 22.3 05.0 21.4 05.3 05.0 15.4 mumixaM 20.4 01.1 00.5 93.4 55.2 00.5 24.4 86.2 00.5 .D.S 93.0 13.0 64.0 14.0 18.0 33.0 03.0 47.0 22.0

Abbreviations: AL – Arable land, PG – Permanent grasslands, FL – Forest land, – S.D. Standard deviation. soil moisture content was higher. This confirmed that study site in arable land and at TA and LT study sites soil compaction is mostly affected by water content in forest land and permanent grasslands (Table 4). (Nawaz et al. 2013). The degree of compaction Thus could be observed the influence of soil types on significantly depends also on soil texture (Gomez et soil susceptibility to compaction. According to al. 2001, Hettiaratchi 1987) that is loamy at all three Houšková and Montanarella (2008), Planosol (in OC) study sites. Loamy soils are moderately susceptible is with high, Cambisol (in TA) with me- to soil compaction. At LT study site, the highest PR dium, and Leptosol (in LT) with low susceptibility to 0–0.8 values were recorded in forest land and the compaction. lowest in arable land with organic farming. Similarly, The lowest variability in the depth of penetration at TA study site the lowest PR 0–0.8 values were resistance measurements was observed between three recorded in arable land, but the highest in permanent different land use types at LT study site. The soil (Ren- grasslands. On the contrary, at OC study site, PR dzic Leptosol) was developed on dolomitic limestone, 0–0.8 values in permanent grasslands were the which determined its shallowness and skeletness. The lowest. The variable situation was also in PR values deepest values were measured at OC study site in of top soil (PR0–0.20) and sub soil (PR0.20–0.80). permanent grasslands (0.78 m), at TA and LT study The most compacted sub soil was in summer, at OC sites in arable lands (0.45 and 0.30 m) (Table 5). 164 JOZEF VARGA, RADOSLAVA KANIANSKA, JÁN SPIŠIAK

TABLE 5. Descriptive statistics for the depth of penetration resistance measurement (m)

etisydutS CO AT TL esudnaL LA GP LF LA GP LF LA GP LF tcepsaremmuS naeM 60.0 51.0 41.0 81.0 60.0 70.0 42.0 41.0 41.0 muminiM 20.0 40.0 40.0 30.0 40.0 20.0 11.0 80.0 60.0 mumixaM 61.0 36.0 86.0 63.0 11.0 51.0 43.0 32.0 52.0 .D.S 40.0 71.0 81.0 31.0 20.0 40.0 80.0 40.0 60.0 tcepsanmutuA naeM 85.0 87.0 14.0 54.0 92.0 63.0 03.0 12.0 81.0 muminiM 52.0 07.0 31.0 70.0 80.0 30.0 71.0 21.0 11.0 mumixaM 08.0 08.0 97.0 08.0 08.0 08.0 83.0 63.0 82.0 .D.S 12.0 30.0 22.0 92.0 02.0 13.0 60.0 80.0 60.0

Abbreviations: OC – Oèová, TA – Tajov, LT – Liptovská Teplièka, AL – Arable land, PG – Permanent grasslands, FL – Forest land, S.D. – Standard deviation.

TABLE 6. Descriptive statistics for the soil moisture in % by volume

etisydutS CO AT TL esudnaL LA GP LF LA GP LF LA GP LF tcepsaremmuS naeM 04.31 00.42 09.01 04.31 07.31 00.11 03.72 05.62 02.11 muminiM 00.4 00.81 00.6 00.7 00.9 00.2 00.12 00.02 00.7 mumixaM 00.22 00.92 00.51 00.81 00.91 00.51 00.33 00.531 00.7 .D.S 02.6 66.3 95.2 41.3 09.2 09.3 44.3 20.5 45.3 tcepsanmutuA naeM 02.53 09.93 09.63 06.83 09.04 04.33 08.91 00.64 00.13 muminiM 00.82 00.53 00.72 00.82 00.33 00.12 00.6 00.14 00.81 mumixaM 00.04 00.74 00.34 00.64 00.64 00.34 00.72 00.054 00.9 .D.S 34.3 12.4 10.4 45.4 64.4 67.6 06.6 16.2 97.9 Abbreviations: OC – Oèová, TA – Tajov, LT – Liptovská Teplièka, AL – Arable land, PG – Permanent grasslands, FL – Forest land, S.D. – Standard deviation.

The higher soil moisture values were measured in the altitudinal gradient point of view, significant autumn compared to summer. The highest soil differences in all observed properties with the exception moisture content among all study sites and in all of penetration resistance measured in 0–0.2 m depth different land use types was measured in permanent were proved between OC and LT as well as TA and grasslands. On the other hand, the lowest soil LT study sites. There were found no statistical diffe- moisture content values were measured in forest land rences only between OC and TA, with study sties (Table 6). The positive influence of grasslands on soil differing only about 170 m at altitude. There were water holding capacity was confirmed. Vegetation confirmed significant differences between three type has a significant influence on soil moisture ecological gradients in all observed properties with dynamics (Chen et al. 2008) and can mediate the soil the exception of penetration resistance measured in moisture response to precipitation and change the 0–0.2 m depth (Table 7). spatial distribution of soil moisture (Vivoni et al. 2008). This trend is consistent with a number of worl- The paired samples test on differences between dwide studies that have examined the impact of three different land use types (AL, PG and FL plots) altitudinal gradient and land use on abiotic and biotic confirmed statistical significant differences between soil properties (e.g. Bojko and Kabala 2016; Bucala AL and FL plots in several observed soil physical et al. 2015, Taguas et al. 2015, Trabaquini et al. 2015, properties (PR, PR20, PR20–80, DP). Between AL Zhao et al. 2015). Correlations among the variables and PG as well as PG and FL plots statistical significant under different altitudinal gradient and land use type difference was observed only in soil moisture. From are presented in Table 8. Impact of land use on physical soil properties in relation to soil biota 165

40

35

) 30 -2 25

20

Biomass (g.m Biomass 15

10

5

0 AL PG FL

FIGURE 2. Earthworm number at 3 study Earthworm mean biomass sites under different land use type (ind⋅m–2) OC TA LT

100 90 80

) 70 -2 60 50 40

Number (ind.m Number 30 20 10 0 AL PG FL

Earthworm mean number FIGURE 3. Earthworm fresh body biomass at OC TA LT 3 study sites under different land use type (g⋅m–2)

TABLE 7. Paired samples test on differences between 3 different land use types and 3 different altitudinal gradients of selected soil physical properties (n=60)

seitreporpderapmoC derapmoC RP 02RP 08–02RP PD MS riap t p t p t p t p t p GP–LA 998.0- 273.0 000.2- 050.0 754.0- 946.0 319.0 563.0.4- 809 000.0 LF–LA 864.2- 710.0 493.2- 020.0 832.2- 920.0 165.2 310.0 026.1 111.0 LF–GP 324.1- 061.0 392.0- 077.0 435.1- 031.0 336.1 801.0.8 065 000.0 AT–CO 065.0- 421.0 753.0- 227.0 848.1- 070.0 195.1 711.0.0 593 496.0 TL–CO 144.5- 000.0 767.1 280.0 554.6- 000.0 703.6 000.0 356.4 000.0 TL–AT 167.3- 000.0 620.1 903.0 507.4- 000.0 309.4 000.0 129.3 000.0 t – test value, significant at p ≤ 0.05. Abbreviations: PR – Penetration resistance in the depth of 0–0.80 m, PR20 – Penetration resistance in the depth of 0–0.20 m, PR20–80 – Penetra- tion resistance in the depth of 0.20–0.80 m, DP – Depth of penetration resistance measurement, SM – Soil moisture in the depth of 0.05 m, AL – Arable land, PG – Permanent grasslands, FL – Forest land, OC – Oèová, TA – Tajov, LT – Liptovská Teplièka. 166 JOZEF VARGA, RADOSLAVA KANIANSKA, JÁN SPIŠIAK

TABLE 8. Spearman’s correlation coefficients for penetration resistance in different depth, depth of penetration resistance measurement and soil moisture under 3 different land use types and 3 different altitudinal gradients (n=60) RP 02RP 08–02RP RP 02RP 08–02RP RP 02RP 08–02RP esudnaL LA GP LF PD **099.0- **417.0- **179.0- **489.0- **988.0- **958.0-99.0- **4 **159.0- **118.0- MS **454.0- 231.0 **924.0- **106.0- **755.0- **784.0- **845.0- **325.0-14.0- **3 tneidarglanidutitlA CO AT TL PD **779.0- **215.0- **969.0- **589.0- **647.0- **869.0-79.0- **5 **778.0- **119.0- MS **574.0- **234.0- **714.0- 451.0 332.0 531.0 140.0 060.0 001.0

** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level; * Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level. Abbreviations: PR – Penetration resistance in the depth of 0–0.80 m, PR20 – Penetration resistance in the depth of 0–0.20 m, PR20–80 Penetration resistance in the depth of 0.20–0.80 m, DP – Depth of penetration resistance measurement, SM – Soil moisture in the depth of 0.05 m, AL – Arable land, PG – Permanent grasslands, FL – Forest land, OC – Oèová, TA – Tajov, LT – Liptovská Teplièka.

Significant negative correlation rate was measured (0.82 g⋅m–2) and the highest in permanent grasslands between penetration resistance and depth of the at LT study site (40.35 g⋅m–2) (Fig. 3). measurement under all different altitudinal gradients The correlation analysis between earthworm and land use types. Moreover penetration resistance characteristics and soil physical properties under negatively correlated with soil moisture under all land different land use and altitudinal gradient is reported use types and at OC study site. There were two excep- in Table 9. tions, TA and LT study sites. In arable land the earthworm density and biomass As our results confirmed natural characteristics negatively correlated with the penetration resistance determined by elevation including land use types with and positively with the depth of the total measure- applied specific management have strong effect on ments. This negative effect of soil compaction on abiotic soil properties. And soil biota is subsequently earthworms is consistent with other studies that have affected by abiotic soil properties. shown mechanical loosening to be a source of earth- The lowest mean number of earthworms was worm mortality (Smith et al. 2008, Ernst and found in intensively managed arable land at OC Emmerling 2009; Vogel et al. 2017). In permanent study site (4.66 ind⋅m–2) and the highest in perma- grasslands, earthworm biomass positively correlated nent grasslands used for sheep grazing at TA study with the soil moisture. Soil moisture is considered, site (95.63 ind⋅m–2) (Fig. 2). Among three different apart from food supply, to be a key environmental land use types, the highest earthworm density was factor for earthworm activity, growth and reproduction measured in permanent grasslands at all three study (Perreault and Whalen 2006) and high soil moisture sites followed by arable land at LT (with organic content could contribute to higher earthworm biomass farming) and TA and by forest land at OC study site. (Tian et al. 2000). From the altitudinal gradient point The same trend was observed in case of earthworm of view, the earthworm density and biomass negatively biomass. The lowest mean fresh body biomass of ear- correlated with the depth of the measurement and thworms was found in arable land at OC study site positively with the soil moisture at TA study site. At

TABLE 9. Spearman´ s correlation coefficients for earthworm density, biomass and soil physical properties

DE BE DE BE DE BE esudnaL LA GP LF 02RP *874.0- **975.0- 451.0- 390.0- 682.0- 152.0- ** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level; * Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level PD *644.0 **885.0 281.0 861.0 903.0 823.0 Abbreviations: ED – Earthworm density, MS 592.0 362.0 362.0 *044.0 551.0 442.0 EB – earthworm biomass, PR20 – Penetration lanidutitlA CO AT TL resistance in the depth of – -0.20 m, DP – Depth tneidarg of penetration resistance measurement, SM – soil moisture in the depth of 0.05 m, 02RP 422.0- 503.0- 133.0 404.0 260.0- 720.0- AL – Arable land, PG – Permanent grasslands, PD 313.0 483.0 **365.0- **685.0- 062.0- 192.0- FL – Forest land, OC – Oèová, TA – Tajov, LT – Liptovská Teplièka. MS **755.0 114.0 *445.0 *794.0 981.0 832.0 Impact of land use on physical soil properties in relation to soil biota 167

OC study site the earthworm density positively impact on soil physical and biological properties, correlated with the soil moisture. At LT study site in which should be taken into account in landscape shallow Rendzic Leptosol no correlations were planning and management. recorded. The abundance of the earthworms is deter- mined also by geological substrate. Substrate deter- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS mines soil texture and grain´s size and shape. Earth- worms prefer fine particles. Coarse particles from This work was supported by the Slovak Research dolomitic limestone in LT can be negative factor for and Development Agency pursuant to the contract no. earthworms either because the abrasive action of such APVV-15-0050. Research of abiotic soil parameters grains that damages earthworm skin or because this was conducted with equipment supported by Opera- soil retains less water (Laossi et al. 2010). tional Programme Research and Development via contract no. ITMS-26210120024. 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Received: February 23, 2018 Accepted: August 14, 2018 Associated editor: J. Chojnicki