Dlapa P., Bodi M.B., Mataix-Solera J., Cerdá A., Doerr S.H., 2013. FT-IR spectroscopy reveals that ash water repellency is highly dependent on ash chemical composition. Catena 108: 35-43.

Lichner Ľ, Dlapa P., Doerr S.H., Mataix-Solera J., 2006. Evaluation of different clay minerals as additives for soil water repellency alleviation. Applied Clay Science 31(3-4) :238-248.

Chrenková K., Mataix-Solera J., Dlapa P., Arcenegui V., 2014. Long-term changes in soil aggregation comparing forest and agricultural land use in different Mediterranean soil types. Geoderma 235–236: 290–299.

Dlapa P., Bodi M.B., Mataix-Solera J., Cerdá A., Doerr S.H., 2015. Organic matter and wettability characteristics of wildfire ash from Mediterranean conifer forests. Catena 135: 369-376.

Mataix-Solera J., Arcenegui V., Guerrero C., Jordán M.M., Dlapa P., Tessler N., Wittenberg L., 2008. Can terra rossa become water repellent by burning? A laboratory approach. Geoderma 147: 178–184.

Sekucia, F., Dlapa, P., Kollár, J., Cerdà, A., Hrabovský, A., Svobodová, L.,2020: Land-use impact on water retention of soils rich in rock fragments. Catena 195: 104807

Lu S, Dosseto A, Lemarchand D, Dlapa P., Šimkovic I., Bradstock R., 2022. Investigating boron isotopes and FTIR as proxies for bushfire severity. Catena 219: 106621.

Ryan R. Dosseto A, Lemarchand D, Dlapa P., Thomas Z., Šimkovic I., Bradstock R., 2023. Boron isotopes and FTIR spectroscopy to identify past high severity fires. Catena, 222: 106887.

Šimkovic I., Dlapa P., Schwarzinger C., 2023. Elucidating the composition of organic matter in water-repellent forest soils using analytical pyrolysis combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC–MS). Organic Geochemistry 179: 104586.

Ryan R., Thomas Z., Šimkovic I., Dlapa P., Worthy M., Wasson R., Bradstock R., Mooney S., Haynes K., Dosseto A., 2024. Assessing changes in high-intensity fire events in south-eastern Australia using Fourier Transform Infra-red (FITR) spectroscopy. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 33: WF24064.

Dlapa P., Bodi M.B., Mataix-Solera J., Cerdá A., Doerr S.H., 2013. FT-IR spectroscopy reveals that ash water repellency is highly dependent on ash chemical composition. Catena 108: 35-43.

Cit.: Gordillo-Rivero A.J., García-Moreno J., Jordán A., Zavala L.M., Granja-Martins F.M., 2014: Fire severity and surface rock fragments cause patchy distribution of soil water repellency and infiltration rates after burning. Hydrological Processes 28(24): 5832-5843.

Chrenková K., Mataix-Solera J., Dlapa P., Arcenegui V., 2014. Long-term changes in soil aggregation comparing forest and agricultural land use in different Mediterranean soil types. Geoderma 235–236: 290–299.

Cit.: Holthusen D., Brandt A.A., Reichert J.M., Horn R., 2018: Soil porosity, permeability and static and dynamic strength parameters under native forest/grassland compared to no-tillage cropping. Soil and Tillage Research 177: 113-124.

Chrenková K., Mataix-Solera J., Dlapa P., Arcenegui V., 2014. Long-term changes in soil aggregation comparing forest and agricultural land use in different Mediterranean soil types. Geoderma 235–236: 290–299.

Cit.: Nadal-Romero E., Cammeraat E., Pérez-Cardiel E., Lasanta T., 2016: Effects of secondary succession and afforestation practices on soil properties after cropland abandonment in humid Mediterranean mountain areas. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 228: 91-100.

Dlapa P., Bodí M.B., Mataix-Solera J., Cerdá A., Doerr S.H., 2015. Organic matter and wettability characteristics of wildfire ash from Mediterranean conifer forests. Catena 135: 369–376.

Cit.: White, A.M., Lockington, D.A., Gibbes, B., 2017: Does fire alter soil water repellency in subtropical coastal sandy environments? Hydrological Processes 31(2): 341-348.

Lichner. Ľ, Dlapa P., Doerr S.H., Mataix-Solera J., 2006. Evaluation of different clay minerals as additives for soil water repellency alleviation. Applied Clay Science 31(3-4) :238-248.

Cit.: Vogelmann E.S., Reichert J.M, Reinert D.J., Mentges M.I., Vieira D.A., de Barros C.A.P., Fasinmirin J.T., 2010: Water repellency in soils of humid subtropical climate of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Soil and Tillage Research 110(1): 126-133.

Project VEGA 2/0147/21 (2021-2024): Evolution of soil properties and vegetation on the former agricultural land (co-principal investigator)

The project was focused on the changes in soil properties and vegetation development in agricultural land, which has taken place since the end of 19th century due to the various socio-economic changes. Such research is essential for its optimal contemporary use and management also due to the fact that it covers large areas in Slovakia. Selected study areas included various conditions and history of land use: 1) Podunajská nížina lowland (former fields & vineyards, calcareous soils), 2) Borská nížina lowland (former fields & vineyards, sandy siliceous soils), 3) Malé Karpaty Mts. (former fields & vineyards, siliceous soils), 4) Považský Inovec Mts. (former fields & pastures, calcareous soils), 5) Liptov (former fields & pastures, siliceous & calcareous soils). The project had an interdisciplinary character and intersectoral team composition. Changes and development of basic and special soil properties were studied in soils, while the vegetation section focused on various aspects of secondary succession.

Project VEGA 1/0712/20 (2020 - 2022) Acquisition of representative soil data via application of innovative non-destructive methods (co-principal investigator)

The project was aimed at innovative methodological procedures for measuring soil properties, with a focus on obtaining the most representative data regards the in-situ conditions. Several soil properties have been quantified for many years using methods, in which the sample is exposed to aggressive solutions, that modify its original properties, and the result of subsequent measurement may not indicate the nature of the soil in conditions in-situ. As part of the project implementation, alternatives to destructive measurements of selected soil properties were sought and tested. We focused mainly on the properties of soil organic matter and the characteristics of the clay fraction.

Project VEGA 2/0074/25 (2025-2028) Abandonment of agricultural land with different historical uses in selected regions of Slovakia and its impact on the development of soil properties and vegetation (co-principal investigator)

Abandonment of agricultural land is a global, dynamic and multidimensional problem. To study this phenomenon, the project focuses on 1) changes in selected soil properties and processes, and 2) processes of secondary regressive succession (vegetation development) on abandoned agricultural land. To capture different natural conditions and historical use, attention is focused on selected model areas. In the soil part, the changes and development of basic as well as some special soil characteristics will be studied with an emphasis on hydropedological properties, the vegetation part is focused on the processes and mechanisms of secondary succession. Such landscapes have a considerable area in Slovakia confirming the topicality and relevance of the study of the issue. Due to the nature of the project, the research team includes the staff of ILE SAS and the Department of Soil Sciences, Comenius University.

Project VEGA 2/0118/18 (2018-2020) Changes in soil properties and secondary succession after afforestation of former agricultural soils (co-principal investigator)

The project results demonstrated differences between soils in vineyards, afforested vineyards, and reference forests were found. Slightly acidic-to-alkaline vineyard soils with low organic carbon content (Cox) changed to acidic with higher Cox following afforestation. Differences in pH and Cox are responsible for different soil hydrological properties. Susceptibility to water repellency is greater in the forest and afforested soils. Vineyard soils were wettable, the others were strongly to extremely water repellent, dependent on Cox. Differences in the soil wettability or repellency have a major effect on infiltration. Infiltration rate under near-saturated conditions was significantly lower in afforested soils. However, water repellency causes a gradual increase in the infiltration rate over time. This contrasts with wettable soil, where infiltration rate decreases with time. Afforestation leads to the restoration of original soil properties with increased water repellency and reduced soil matrix infiltration rate.

Project VEGA 1/0703/23 (2023 - 2026) The effect of soil structure on soil organic carbon stabilization (co-principal investigator)

Processes related to soil carbon dynamics, such as decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM), turnover or stabilization of soil organic carbon (SOC) are subject of intense research. These processes affect character of climate, soil fertility and its environmental functions. Although the results of current research suggest that processes of SOC stabilization are being significantly affected by physical and physico-chemical processes, they have not been described in much detail. The project assesses the relations between parameters of soil structure, associated processes, and stability of SOM. For this purpose, selected physical, chemical, and microbial properties of soils, with different genesis and land use, are determined by use of specific laboratory methods. We focus particularly on the relation between resistance of soil aggregates against disintegration and thermal stability of SOM. The proper assessment of the results will clarify the role of soil structure in SOC stabilization.