1st International Conference of Soil and Agriculture:
TOWARDS SOIL SUSTAINABILITY
11–13 June 2024 • Lublin–Nałęczów, Poland

https://doi.org/10.24326/ICSA1.PP.14
Published online: 4 October 2024

The impact of tourism trampling on the vegetation
and soil properties of scenic spots in the Dynów
and Przemyśl Foothills
Izabela Kaszycka, Iwona Makuch-Pietraś*

Institute of Agricultural Science, Land Management and Environmental Protection, University of Rzeszów, Zelwerowicza 4, 35-601, Rzeszów, Poland
* Corresponding author:

Abstract
Excessive tourist traffic in natural areas contributes to changes on tourist trails and around infrastructure facilities intended for visitors. In such areas, the soil cover is intensively trampled and valuable plant species are destroyed (Tracz 2004, Sylwan 6, 38–43). The aim of the study was to determine the impact of trampling on changes in vegetation and the physical and physicochemical properties of soil at selected scenic spots in the Dynów and Przemyśl Foothills. The research was carried out at six scenic spots in the foothills. The percentage of the area covered with vegetation was estimated based on 10 randomly selected squares with an area of 2×2 m. Moreover, plant species were identified in the indicated areas. In each of the points in spring and autumn, soil compaction measurements were made using a pocket penetrometer at 5 positions in 5 repeating: at the arbor, at the place designated for the bonfire and at the control point. Then, soil samples were taken from the same places to a depth of up to 10 cm. The following were determined: granulometric composition using the Bouyoucos-Casagrande method, modified by Prószyński according to the Soil Science Society of Poland standard (2008), soil pH in distilled water and in 1M KCl, and organic matter content using the Tyurin method. Normality of distribution was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine statistically significant differences. The average vegetation cover at all scenic spots ranged from 70 to 83%. The examined scenic spots areas differed slightly in vegetation composition. The soils of the studied scenic spots were characterized mainly by the granulometric composition of silt loam and sandy loam. No statistically significant differences were found for soil compaction, pH determined in water and in 1 M KCl, and organic carbon content between the examined seasons, sites (at the arbor, bonfire and control point) and between scenic spots. It should be noted, however, that there was an assumed increase in soil compaction in autumn, and the control points had different values from the sites where anthropopressure occurred. This similarities can be found for the organic carbon content for the sites, but its decrease is visible in autumn. Despite the lack of significant differences, it should be stated that trampling contributes significantly to changes in the natural environment, including soil properties.

Keywords: trampling, tourism, soil, organic carbon, compaction

How to cite
Kaszycka I., Makuch-Pietraś I., 2024. The impact of tourism trampling on the vegetation and soil properties of scenic spots in the Dynów and Przemyśl Foothills. 1st International Conference of Soil and Agriculture: Towards Soil Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICSA1.PP.14