CHARACTERISTICS OF SOIL ORGANIC MATTER IN ECTOHUMUS HORIZONS OF FOREST SOILS IN THE STO£OWE MOUNTAINS

This paper describes the fractional composition of humus substances and physico-chemical properties of ectohumus horizons in forest soils (Haplic Cambisols (Distric) and Albic Podzols) developed from various parent materials and in various forest sites: mountain mixed forest witch beech tree, spruce forest witch spruce monoculture, mountain mixed forest witch beech, sycamore maple and larch and mountain mixed forest witch spruce and larch. Reactions of the analyzed soils were strongly acidic. Organic C content was in the range of 21-48% and total N reached values between 0.68-1.63%. The fractional composition of humus substances was analyzed using the Tiurin method. Fraction Ia (extracted with 0.05 mol dm-1 H2SO4) constituted a rather insignificant part (1.03-3.63% of Corg) of humus compounds. Humus was dominated by fraction I (extracted with 0.1 mol·dm-1 NaOH) (27.4 - 42.5% of Corg). The ratio of CHA:CFA was within the range of 0.75-1.35 and increased in deeper organic subhorizons. Non-extracted C was within the range of 55.7-69.7% of Corg. In all the ectohumus samples investigated, the highest humification degree was found in the deepest organic subhorizon

INFLUENCE OF FIRE TO POOLS OF CARBON AND WATER RETENTION IN MEADOW AND FOREST PYROGENIC SOILS

The research has aimed to determine the impact of fire on pools of soil organic matter and water retention in pyrogenic soil in meadow and forest areas. The following soil samples have been represented: moorsh, peat-moorsh, mineral moorsh and peat. The soil horizons represented: strongly dried peat-moorsh soil, medium-deep (MtIIc1 and MtIIIc1), mineral moorsh soil (Me11) and moorsh soil. Soil horizons have been determined on the basis of colour, decomposition of organic samples; bulk density and water retention have been analyzed in 100 cm3 stainless Kopecky metal rings. Bulk density was measured in undisturbed samples by the volumetric method. Soil water retention characterized by pF2.0 has been measured using sandbox analyzer. Soil organic carbon content was detected with Bushi analyzer. The lowest carbon content has been indicated by horizons with high ash content. As a consequence of various fire temperatures, we can observe different soil colour spectrum between N, 10YR and 5YR. Generally, the pools of water retention decreases because of the fire. We can observe differences between SOM pools and water retention pools in the meadow and forest soil. Water retention of pyrogenic soils drastically decreases in mineral-organic soils with angular sharply edged structure and peaty-ash or ash horizons

Meteoric 10Be as a tracer of soil redistribution rates and reconstruction tool of loess–mantled soils (SW, Poland)

Loess deposits are terrestrial archives that record progressive deposition and erosion events of varying intensities. Data on long-term erosion rates are crucial for tracking changes in the stability of a loess mantle and reconstructing the evolution of loess-enriched soils. We used meteoric 10Be to i) define the factors responsible for its distribution along the profile, ii) determine long-term erosion rates in loess-enriched polygenetic soils characterised by illuviation processes, and iii) evaluate initial soil thickness and stability over time. Distribution of meteoric 10Be along the soil profiles was mainly driven by its translocation with clay particles and accumulation in the illuvial horizons. However, in some cases (loess over serpentinite), the highest meteoric 10Be content was measured in the C horizons which may be related to the longer exposure of serpentinite to meteoric 10Be deposition before the occurrence of a major loess accumulation event. The estimated long-term erosion rates greatly depend on the assumed environmental settings and were in the range of about 0.1–3 t ha−1 yr−1. Based on the soil redistribution rates, we reconstructed the removed loess layer which was from a few dm to about 3 m. The results indicate four main soil evolutionary phases: a) pre-exposure of sediments to meteoric 10Be accumulation; b) formation of thick loess mantles during the Last Glacial Maximum; c) erosion events between 21 and 11.6 ka that significantly shallowed the initial loess mantles; d) pedogenesis (with subsoil clay accumulation) in the Holocene within the thinner relicts of the former Late Pleistocene loess mantle followed by a recent and strong erosional phase due to human impact. These phases are also believed to have occurred in several other areas of Central Europe

FRACTIONAL COMPOSITION OF HUMUS IN SELECTED FOREST SOILS IN THE KARKONOSZE MOUNTAINS

This paper describes the fractions of humus compounds present in the organic and mineral horizons of the forest soils in the area of the Karkonosze Mountains. Soil profiles that represented the mountain Podzols and Dystric Cambisol were located on the northern slope along an altitude gradient from 890 to 1255 m a.s.l. Two soils were located under the spruce forest, and one in the subalpine meadow. Soil samples were taken both from the surface organic layers (the ectohumus layer) and from the mineral horizons. Fractionation of humus compounds was made using the modified Turin method. The soils had the texture of loamy sand and sandy loam, an acidic or strongly acidic reaction, low base saturation, and the predomination of aluminum among exchangeable cations. A significant increase in the fulvic fraction (Ia) with depth in the soil profiles was observed that confirmed the high mobility of this fraction in the acid mountain soils, higher in the forest soils, and lower in the meadow soils. The content of fraction I decreased generally with depth in the soil profile; however, a secondary increase was observed in an illuvial Bh horizon of the Podzols. Fulvic acids predominated over the humic acids and this predominance increased with depth in the soil profile. The ratio of the humic to the fulvic acids in fraction I in the ectohumus horizons was influenced by the composition of a biomass inflow. TheCHA:CFA ratio had the highest values under a spruce forest compared to a mixed stand and a subalpine meadow. In the surface horizons of the forest soils, a predominance of humic over fulvic acids was always observed, while in the subalpine meadow soils, the fulvic acids predominated over the humic acids in all soil horizons. Based on this study, it can be stated that thevegetation type and the dominant soil-forming process rather than simply climate factors influence the fractional composition of humus in the mountain soils of the Karkonosze Mountains

Provenance and paleoenvironmental context of the Late Pleistocene thin aeolian silt mantles in southwestern Poland – A widespread parent material for soils

Thin loess deposits are widespread soil parent materials and important archives for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. The origin of loess in SW Poland is attributed to the Great Odra Valley (GOV), following the general concept that large rivers play a major role in regional silt supply. Yet, the precise provenance (glacier sources and/or local rocks) of silts, possibly deflated from dry GOV braided riverbeds, is not clear. Our study of thin and thick loess mantles in SW Poland for the first time indicates the provenance of thin loess based on mineralogical (MLA-SEM) and isotopic analyses (143Nd/144Nd, 87Sr/86Sr). Luminescence ages of five localities point to thin loess mantle formation during and shortly (23.0 to 17.7 ka yr) after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Our isotopic data indicate that thin loess deposits in SW Poland are the mixtures of two main components – local Sudetic and Scandinavian, the latter delivered by the Fennoscandian ice sheet (FIS). Also, detailed analyses of heavy minerals show that a single mineral (e.g., hornblende) may come from both Sudetic and Scandinavian sources. This research highlights the role of the (Pleistocene) GOV in collecting and homogenizing materials, while supplying the region with fine particles to be deflated by paleowinds from open surfaces. Anomalies in mineralogy and isotopic composition are connected with influence of Sudetic mountain rivers and locally blowing silt material by katabatic winds. Regional grain size differentiation of thin loess mantles explains transport distance and altitude. © 2021 The Author

Polish Soil Classification, 6th edition – principles, classification scheme and correlations

The sixth edition of the Polish Soil Classification (SGP6) aims to maintain soil classification in Poland as a modern scientific system that reflects current scientific knowledge, understanding of soil functions and the practical requirements of society. SGP6 continues the tradition of previous editions elaborated upon by the Soil Science Society of Poland in consistent application of quantitatively characterized diagnostic horizons, properties and materials; however, clearly referring to soil genesis. The present need to involve and name the soils created or naturally developed under increasing human impact has led to modernization of the soil definition. Thus, in SGP6, soil is defined as the surface part of the lithosphere or the accumulation of mineral and organic materials permanently connected to the lithosphere (through buildings or permanent constructions), coming from weathering or accumulation processes, originated naturally or anthropogenically, subject to transformation under the influence of soilforming factors, and able to supply living organisms with water and nutrients. SGP6 distinguishes three hierarchical categories: soil order (nine in total), soil type (basic classification unit; 30 in total) and soil subtype (183 units derived from 62 unique definitions; listed hierarchically, separately in each soil type), supplemented by three non-hierarchical categories: soil variety (additional pedogenic or lithogenic features), soil genus (lithology/parent material) and soil species (soil texture). Non-hierarchical units have universal definitions that allow their application in various orders/types, if all defined requirements are met. The paper explains the principles, classification scheme and rules of SGP6, including the key to soil orders and types, explaining the relationships between diagnostic horizons, materials and properties distinguished in SGP6 and in the recent edition of WRB system as well as discussing the correlation of classification units between SGP6, WRB and Soil Taxonomy

Anthropogenic transformation of soils in the Barycz valley – conclusions for soil classification / Antropogeniczne przekształcenia gleb w Dolinie Baryczy - wnioski dotyczące klasyfikacji gleb

Wielkoskalowa regulacja, odwodnienia oraz intensywne rolnicze zagospodarowanie doliny Baryczy zainicjowane w XVII wieku uruchomiły transformację pierwotnych gleb aluwialnych i błotno-aluwialnych. Gleby na holoceńskich terasach zale- wowych mają głęboki, kwraśny poziom próchmczny (umbric) i są płytko oglejone, a do głębokości 100 cm nie zaznacza się stratyfi- kacja materiału macierzystego} Mimo położenia na terenach zalewowych, gleb tych me można zaliczyć do mad czamoziemnych posługując się kryteriami Systematyki gleb Polski (2011). Gleby na plejstoceńskich terasach nadzalewowych mają głęboki, wysyco- ny zasadami poziom prócliniczny (mollic) i oglejenie w dolnej części profilu, co przybliża je do czarnych ziem. Dobrze widoczna stratyfikacja materiału macierzystego nie ma w tych glebach znaczenia klasyfikacyjnego ze względu na wiek osadów'. Niemal wszyst- kie poziomy próchmczne spełniają kryteria poziomu anthric, a ponad pokwa badanych gleb może być zaliczona do gleb kulturo- ziemnych - ngosoli, co podkreśla istotną rolę człowieka w transformacji i kształtowaniu cech morfologicznych tych gleb. Brak precyzyjnych kryteriów identyfikacji typów' w rzędzie gleb czamoziemnych w Systematyce gleb Polski (2011) powoduje trudności w klasyfikacji gleb na terasach rzecznych, a wr szczególności rozgraniczanie między madami czamoziemnymi oraz czarnymi ziemiami

Application of Infrared Spectroscopy Techniques for Identification of Ancient Vegetation and Soil Change on Loess Areas

The discussion on the formation of Chernozems still has no consensus, and one of the outstanding questions is the type of the vegetation that supported the persistence of these soils in Central Europe over the Holocene period. The transformation of Chernozems and related soil types may be clarified by paleoenvironmental studies, which integrate different investigation techniques and proxy data. We propose a procedure based on infrared reflectance spectroscopy of soil organic matter, that presumably contains specific fingerprints from land use and plant cover. A database of spectra for 337 samples representing vegetation classes (grassland, woodland and arable) and loess soil types (Chernozem, Phaeozem, Luvisol) was created to build a mathematical model, which allows to identify the origin of buried soils with unknown history. The comparison confirmed the applicability of both near-infrared and mid-infrared spectroscopy, with higher statistical affinity of MIR. A clear disjunction of land use/vegetation classes was proven and allowed reliable association of the samples from buried soils with grassland/woodland and episodes of arable land use, followed by prevailing forest vegetation after burial. The findings are consistent with proposed models in Poland and Czechia, and confirm the potential of spectroscopy techniques in identification of soil types and their evolution

Humic Substances as Indicator of Degradation Rate of Chernozems in South-Eastern Poland

Unfavourable quantitative and qualitative changes of soil organic matter result from degradation processes, such as water erosion connected with intense arable land use. In order to take adequate preventive action, the proper indicators of soil quality or degradation are urgently needed. In particular, tests considering the soil organic matter quality seem to be beneficial for soil monitoring. In this paper, we performed organic matter fractionation using the Tyurin and IHSS procedures on eight profiles of chernozemic soils (non-degraded, eroded, forest and accumulative soils). The study conducted confirmed the applicability of using humic and fulvic fractions in order to determine the pedogenesis processes and degradation rates of chernozemic soils. For example, the HA/FA ratio was higher in non-eroded and accumulative soils, compared with eroded or forest profiles. These findings were supported by statistical discrimination performed on the mid-infrared spectra of humic acids extracted from the selected profiles. Groups of samples were divided into classes depending on land usage or degradation rate. Considering the results, fractions of humic substances can be recommended as useful tools for the assessment of soil transformation