QUANTIFICATION OF THE VEGETATION COVER EFFECT UPON THE SOIL WATER STORAGE DYNAMICS

During the vegetation season is the water storage in the soil aeration zone influenced by meteorological phenomena and vegetation cover. If the soil profile is in contact with the ground water table, this also affects the water storage. The water amount stored in the soil aeration zone is determined by a combination of these components. The influence can be either monitored directly or simulated by a mathematical model for soil moisture regimes. Water requirements of cultivated agricultural crops differ during the vegetation season. In the present study the results obtained by direct monitoring of the effect of agricultural crops on the water storage dynamics under the conditions of the East Slovakian Lowland (ESL) are presented, particularly: The mean water storage in the aeration zone during the vegetation period (April through September), under maize in the locality Vysoka nad Uhom during the years 1972-1976, and 1998-2003. The mean water storage in the aeration zone under plant species in the locality Vysoka nad Uhom during the vegetation period 2003 Interpretation of the results has been made with regard to the actual evapotranspiration (Ea), and taking into account the measured precipitation (P) for the relevant periods of monitoring.