IMPACT OF COMPOST APPLICATION IN VINEYARDS ON CHANGES OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

Organic matter is one of the key factors with a direct impact on the soil fertility. The lack of availability of organic matter and its lack in the soil represent a current pan-European problem. Organic matter in soil plays an unmistakable role in formation of soil and improvement of the physical properties, such as soil water retention, bulk density, soil aggregation capacity, water and air mode of soil, etc. This article discusses the evaluation of influence of compost and compost with Lignohumax applied in the treated strip on changes of selected physical properties of soils. The experiments started in 2017 at two experimental sites in Lednice and Velke Bilovice (Czech Republic). The physical state of the soil was determined by using "Kopecky physical cylinders", the soil structure, moisture and penetrometer resistance were evaluated as well. The obtained results show that the bulk density reduced at both sites ranged from 1.38-1.49 g.cm(-3), the total porosity ranged from 44.09-48.25 % and the water content and aeration of the soil were roughly at the same level. The structure of the soil evaluated according to the structural coefficient was found at Lednice at the beginning of the vegetation 0.71, at the end of the vegetation, after the compost incorporation the values were higher for the variants with the prepared compost (1.38-1.44). At the site of Velke Bilovice the initial values were 0.87 and for the fertilized variants the coefficient increased to 1.99. In addition, the water conditions were better for the fertilized variants at the Lednice station and reached the level of 16.24-17.05 % by weight, while at the site of Velke Bilovice they reached the level 19.46-23.02 % by weight. The penetrometric resistance values did not exceed critical limits for the fertilized variants. In the framework of sustainability, viticulture will address issues related to soil fertility in the upcoming period. Greater attention therefore has to be paid to the replacement of traditional fertilizers, such as manure, by the new fertilizers in the form of compost or digestate.