Mollic soils situated in non-Chernozem regions in Slovakia

Abstract This study is focused on an evaluation of some important soil properties as a result of the genesis of mollic soils which are located outside of the main Chernozem regions in Slovakia. Several soil profiles selected from the Soil Monitoring Network in Slovakia were evaluated and interpreted. Unified analytical procedures used in soil monitoring system have been applied. Following soil indicators: pH, humus content, and qualitative components as humic acids (HA) and fulvic acids (FA) as well as the fractional composition of HA, the content of labile carbon (CL), potentially mineralisable nitrogen (Npot) have been analysed. Based on obtained results in more details, it may be said that the dark-coloured soils in non-Chernozem regions opposite dark-coloured soils in Chernozem regions have a higher content of labile carbon and higher index of lability as well as higher CL: Npot ratio. This indicator seems to be more significant than the often used C/N ratio. In addition, the darkcoloured soils in non-Chernozem regions are characteristic with higher content of aliphatic carbon as well as lower content of carboxylic groups (-COOH) and lower value of the optical parameter (E1% 6). These indicators in more detail are of higher interpretation value for a better evaluation of dark-coloured soils in non-Chernozem regions compared with similar soils in Chernozem regions.