Agriculture & Food, Volume 10, 2022

Abstract: Soil is the key resource for agriculture and horticulture. Most of our food production depends on this resource. The aim of the research is to evaluate the state of the soils and their fertility in fruit and vegetable field cultivation in central Europe. To achieve this goal, the status of 77 soil samples from 18 pilot farms was recorded. We investigated the relationship between different soil properties and analysed the influence of two types of field cultivation on soil microbial biomass. We differentiate between permanent cultures (apple orchards, PF) and yearly changing vegetable and arable cultures (AF). The results obtained indicate differences in the soil properties. Deficits regarding soil fertility could be observed. Soil pH values range from 3.9 to 7.5 in arable crops and from 5.3 to 7.3 in apple crops. The fluctuation range of the soil chemical and physical parameters is larger in the soils of the annual crops. No significant difference could be detected between the content of organic matter; both the total microbial biomass and the bacterial and fungal biomass in the soil organic carbon (SOC) were significantly higher in permanent crops. A high negative correlation was found between microbial biomass and sand content. The correlation analysis showed that SOC and total nitrogen (TN) were strongly correlated (R2 = 0.71). Pb and Cu show a negative correlation with sand but a positive correlation with adsorption on silt and clay. We suggest that the soil organic matter was the main reason for the increase in microbial biomass. It influences the soil physicochemical properties, especially nutrient availability and heavy metal content. Based on the determined current status, the derivation of individual area-specific measures should maintain and increase soil fertility and biodiversity. These measures are to be implemented in pilot farms, and their success in improving and maintaining good soil vitality is to be analysed and documented in the future.