Degradacja próchnicy czarnoziemów ornych na przykładzie Ponidzia

The paper presents the results of research on the degradation of chernozems in part of the Proszowice lobe (near Pińczów). The currently progressing process of degradation of chernozems is showed in the decline of their physical and chemical properties (among others increased predisposition to soaking, changes in the content of organic carbon and nitrogen). The results were analyzed in the context of changes in the technology of farming. For the analysis, samples from areas with different types of use and different history of use (including archaeological sites) were collected. A significant decline of soil properties was found. They were expressed by destruction of the soil structure of humus horizon. It starts increase in the susceptibility of the soil clumping, soaking and erosion. The humus contents in researched samples are low (as content for Chernozem), but there is no different in this parameter determined half century ago. Currently, low values of the C/N coefficient indicate the impact of mineral fertilization (increasing the nitrogen content) and are part of the anthropogenic degradation of the analyzed Chernozems.