Properties and groundwater level of humogley soil of southern Bačka

The paper examines hydromorphic soils from the class of gley soils, soil type humogley. The examined soils are located in the protected part of the inundation of the middle course of the Danube. According to the chemical properties of the examined soils, the pH value ranges from 7,64 to 8,15 on average, and with depth there is an increase in alkalinity. The total salts of the examined soils had increased values in the humus horizon and ranged from 0,06 to 0,09%. The texture classes of the humus horizon of these soils are: clay loam to sandy clay loam, while the lower sub-horizons of the gley are textural classes of sandy loam, loamy sand and sand. The influence of the Danube water level on the groundwater level results in high correlation coefficients, which range from 0,67 to 0,88. The groundwater in these soils had the highest level from 28 cm to 70 cm depth, and the lowest level was from 110 to 175 cm deep. The amplitude of groundwater variation during the year in the examined humogley soils ranges from 66 to 132 cm. Groundwater quality classes according to U.S. Salinity Laboratories are unfavorable and range from C3S1 to C4S1, ie salt to very salty water with low sodium content, and according to the FAO classification the water quality is such that there is a moderate need for restriction. High groundwater level above the critical level, as well as watering the soil with water of this quality can have an impact on salinization of the surface horizon of humogley soil of the examined area.