Societas pedologica slovaca, o.z.
Czech pedological society, z.s.
Soil Science and Conservation Research Institute NPPC Bratislava
Pedological Days 2026
Soil Health in the Context of the Directive of the European Union
on Soil Monitoring and Resilience
Štúrovo (hotel Vadaš Thermal Resort)
September 8. – 10., 2026
| Scientific committee: Ass. prof. Jaroslava Sobocká, PhD. Dr. Emil Fulajtár, PhD. Dr. Beata Houšková, PhD. prof. Ing. Jozef Kobza, CSc. Ing. Pavol Bezák prof. Dr. Ing. Bořivoj Šarapatka, CSc. prof. Dr. Ing. Luboš Borůvka prof. Ing. Radim Vácha, Ph.D. Dr. Anna Žigová, CSc. |
Organizing committee: Ass. prof. Jaroslava Sobocká, PhD. Dr. Emil Fulajtár, PhD. Dr. Beata Houšková, CSc. prof. Ing. Jozef Kobza, CSc. Dr. Martin Saksa, PhD. Ing. Karol Végh Štepánka Kaničková |
Other cooperating organizations:
- European Society for Soil Conservation (ESSC)
- Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection of the Slovak Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SR)
- Department of Pedology of the Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CR)
CONFERENCE TOPICS
The Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive was adopted in the EU in October 2025 with the aim of ensuring healthy soils in Europe by 2050, was published in the Official Journal of the EU and entered into force on 16 December 2025. It sets out a framework for soil monitoring, introduces guiding principles for sustainable soil management and addresses soil contamination issues. The directive is a response to the alarming state of soil in the EU, with more than 60% of soils not in good condition. This is a new legislative proposal that promotes mandatory soil health monitoring to finally address contamination issues and long-term sustainable management. Soil health monitoring will entail the obligation to collect data on soil health and evaluate it according to a harmonised methodology. In 2021, the European Commission presented the new Soil Strategy to 2030, the first European legislation on soil protection, including a new EU science and innovation programme, the „Soil Deal for Europe“ mission. It aims to set up 100 living laboratories and lighthouses that will become milestones in the transition of EU countries to healthy soils across Europe.
The conference aims to highlight the need to address the current state of soils, to monitor the properties and evaluate agricultural, forest and urban soils, to propose sustainable management. The directive is very good news for soil scientists, the topics of soil sustainability should resonate not only among scientists, but also among experts in state and public administration or practice.
LECTURE´S BLOCKS
- Directive on monitoring and resilience of soils
- Soil indicators according to the Directive and their development
- Soil ecosystem services in relation to soil indicators
- Sustainable land management systems and sustainable measures for agricultural, forest and urban soils
PRELIMINARY PROGRAM
Tuesday September 8, 2026
8:00 – 10:00 Registration (coffee, tea, water)
10:00 – 10:30 Opening of the conference, key lectures
10:30 – 12:00 Lecture block
12:00 – 14:00 Obed
14:00 – 15:30 Lecture block
15:30 – 16:00 Break (coffee, tea, water)
16:00 – 17:00 Poster presentation block (3 minutes)
19:00 – Social evening (music)
Wednesday September 9, 2026
9:00 – 10:30 Lecture block
10:30 – 11:00 Break (coffee, tea, water)
11:00 – 12:00 Lecture block
12:00 – 14:00 Obed
14:00 – 15:30 Lecture block
15:30 – 16:00 Break (coffee, tea, water)
16:00 – 17:00 Poster presentation block (3 minutes)
17:00 – 18:00 Dinner
18:00 – committee´s meeting Czech Pedological Society, z.s. a Societas pedologica slovaca, c.o.
Thursday September 10, 2026
8:00 – soil science field excursion to the area around the southeastern part of the Danube Lowland and Hungary, ending at approximately 3:00 p.m.
FOOD
Meals on the days of the conference (except breakfast) are provided by the organizing committee and are part of the registration fee (Tue: lunch, social evening, Wed: lunch, dinner, Thu: meal package). Breakfast is provided by everyone themselves or is included in the accommodation price. Lunches and dinners will be provided in the dining room of the Vadaš Thermal Resort hotel.
ACCOMMODATION
Each conference participant is responsible for their own accommodation. Rooms are reserved at the VADAŠ THERMAL RESORT hotel (ubytovanie@vadas.sk, www.vadasthermal.sk). Please include the password „pedology“ in the reservation subject.
Double rooms – 9 pcs
|
Triple rooms – 22 pcs
|
Quadruple rooms – 12 pcs
|
Spacious Apartment – 4 pcs
|
The price of accommodation includes:
It does not include local tax: € 1.50 / person / night, paid by the guest upon departure. |
Note: In each room, the double bed can be divided into two separate (individual) beds as needed. |
TRANSPORT CONNECTION
Štúrovo (formerly Parkáň) is the southernmost and warmest city in Slovakia and is known for its historical and linguistic tolerance. For centuries, people of different nationalities and religions have lived peacefully together on its territory. The city has a population of about 11 thousand, located on the left bank of the Danube. On the Slovak Hungarian border, the bend of the Danube begins with a breathtaking view of the dome of the Esztergom Basilica, near the city the Hron River flows into the Danube, offering a beautiful panorama of the Kováčské and Pilišské vrchy hills.
Transport accessibility is excellent by train, car and bus. There is a direct train connection Prague – Štúrovo (EC Metropolitan).
FIELD SOIL EXCURSION
A field pedological excursion will be prepared in the vicinity of the southeastern part of the Danube Lowland (typical and unusual soil types of the given region: agriculturally used soils, saline soils), visit to Esztergom (Hungary). Digging and description of 2 pedological localities is expected:
1. Kamenín: Solonchak (Solonetz) (SKc),
2. Dvory nad Žitavou: Regosol Cultivated, variety Calcareous (RMac).
The soils will be part of the soil monitoring system in accordance with the EU Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience. Leaders of the field pedological excursion are: prof. Ing. Jozef Kobza, CSc. and Dr. Beata Houšková, CSc.
REGISTRATION, FEE
Registration for the conference is online at www.pedologia.sk. Registration includes submitting an abstract in A4 format.
Registration fees include organizational costs, refreshments during breaks, social evening, 2x lunches, 1 x dinner, pedological excursion.
Registration fee for SPS and ČPS members …………………. 200 euros
Registration fee for non-members of SPS and ČPS ………. 220 euros
Doctoral students, non-working pensioners ………………… 150 euros
Payment of registration fee: until June 30, 2026.
PAYMENT
Všeobecná úverová banka,
Bratislava-Ružinov branch, Kaštieľska 210/2, 821 05 Bratislava
IBAN: SK34 0200 0000 0022 4212 7951
SWIFT: SUBASKBX
CRN: 30858895
Account name: Societas pedologica slovaca
Constant symbol: 0308
Variable symbol: 2026
In the message for the recipient, please indicate the name(s) of the participants.
ABSTRACTS
An abstract is a short, precise, specific and concise description of the content of the paper without tables, figures and literature. It must not exceed 1800 characters without spaces (A4) and in the text should include the title, name and workplace, e-mail, keywords and acknowledgements. It can be in SK, CZ or EN language. Papers that will be proposed for oral presentations or posters will be announced in the second conference circular, which will be distributed during July/August 2026.
Posters will be presented without paper form in one-two slides of POWER POINT. Poster will be limited to a 3-minute presentation by one author within the conference program.
Abstracts will be part of the Proceedings of the Abstracts (with ISBN) after approval by the organizing committee. They can be sent as part of registration. The deadline for registration and abstract submission is June 30, 2026.
Registračný formulár / Registration form