The quality and health of soil in terms of sustainable land use

Soil quality represents the ability of the soil to secure environmental functions in a particular way of using it. Health of soil expresses protection and increasing biological productivity, environmental quality and health promotion of all living forms, including humans. This study presents the results of long-term monitoring and evaluation of selected parameters of soil in terms of sustainable land use in the marginal areas of the northeastern Slovakia During 1997–2013 (48º57'N, 20°05'E). Physical (bulk density, porosity), chemical (pH, anorganic nitrogen, available phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and organic carbon content) and biological (soil enzyme activity – urease, alkaline and acid phosphatase) soil properties and available heavy metal content (Cd, Pb and Ni) were monitored and statistically evaluated. The results show that in assessing the quality of soil and environmental pollution of soil the microbial parameters (activity of soil enzymes) appear to be useful. These parameters rapidly respond to environmental stress and can lead to changes in physical and chemical properties leading to early detection of soil degradation