The use of orthophoto map for soils mapping of dwindling lakes catchment areas: a case study of Sumowskie Lake, NE Poland

The aim of the study was to assess the suitability of aerial photos for mapping the soils of dwindling lakes catchment areas. The study area is located in the North Poland, within the Brodnica Lakeland and it includes the direct catchment area of dwindling Sumowskie Lakes. There were three test area established for soil mapping. The photointerpretation was based on both immediate properties (colour of topsoil) for ploughed cultivated fields, and intermediate properties (vegetation and relief) for the areas of forests, shrubs or permanent pasture. The obtained results confirm the high usability of the cartographic materials such as aerial photographs and topographic maps for studies on specifications of areas such as the vicinities of dwindling lakes

Application of aerial photographs for the assessment of anthropogenic denudation impact on soil cover of the Brodnica Landscape Park plateau areas

The aim of the study was to assess suitability of colour aerial photographs for mapping of soil cover transformed due to effect of anthropogenic denudation. The investigation was carried out in south-western part of the Brodnica Landscape Park, within the boundaries of rolling and hilly moraine plateau, used for agricultural purposes. The soil cover of that area is exposed to intensive influence of slope processes triggered by human agricultural activity. The anthropogenic denudation leads to truncation of soil profiles of top convex sections of slopes and hills’ summits. Soil material moved down the slopes is accumulated in the form of diluvium in hollows and lower sections of slopes. Two study sites were selected – Sumówko and Zbiczno. Within the boundaries of both study sites, detailed soil mapping took place consisting in preparation of irregular boreholes projection. Next, four sites were selected for soil pits, representing broad spectrum of transformations related to anthropogenic denudation. Based on obtained results and colour diversity of surface horizons, the spatial range of individual soil types was specified. It also enabled determination of anthropogenic denudation impact on formation of the soil cover. Totally eroded soils, classified as pelosols, located on hills’ summits, are characterized by very bright colours of surface horizons, resulting from content of calcium carbonate in glacial tills. The range of soil lessivés, prevailing within the slopes boundaries, where the erosion resulted in exposure of argic horizons rich in iron compounds and clay fraction, coincided with occurrence of brown colours. Bright grey surface horizons are characteristic of deluvial soils. This colour arises from sandy texture of deluvial material (low content of iron) in combination with humus nature. The soils located in relatively vast field depressions were covered with small thickness of diluvium, which was reflected in dark grey colours of surface horizons. These horizons are relatively rich in soil humus. Significant amounts of humus are related with mix of deluvial material with material formed in humus horizons, originally occurring on surfaces of soils rich in organic matter – black earths and organic soils.

Technogenic soils in Toruń

Chapter 5 in: Przemysław Charzyński, Maciej Markiewicz, Marcin Świtoniak (Eds.) 2013. Technogenic soils atlas. Polish Society of Soil Science. Toruń

THE IMPACT OF CORN TILLAGE SYSTEM ON THE PROPERTIES OF ORGANIC MATTER IN THE HUMUS HORIZON OF BLACK EARTH (HAPLIC PHAEOZEMS) IN POZNAŃSKI LAKE DISTRICT

The subject of the study was the impact of three different combinations of corn tillage on the properties of organic matter – direct seeding into stubble as a  control, seeding after deep plowing and seeding after application of manure and deep plowing. The experiment included humus horizons in black earth (Haplic Phaozems) in Poznański Lake District in the field of a  ten-year conservation tillage system of corn monoculture. There are no significant differences in the fractionalcomposition of humus one year after the introduction of the specified cultivation system

Classification of technogenic soils according to WRB system in the light of Polish experiences

Technosols are relatively young soil group in WRB soil system, and there is still a lot of to do to better understand processes taking place in these soils and to classify them in a proper way. The objectives of this paper were to (1) evaluate Technosol and 'technogenic' qualifiers for other Reference Soil Groups, and (2) propose new solutions which would improve the classification of technogenic soils in WRB. New qualifiers – Edific, Nekric, Misceric, Artefactic, Radioactivic and new specifier – Technic – are proposed to be added to keys to Technosols. Moreover, Salic and Sodic qualifiers should be also available for Technosols. Furthermore, the supplementation of definitions of thionic horizon and sulphidic material with reference to Technosols is also suggested.Technolose są młodą jednostką glebową w klasyfikacji WRB. Konieczne są dalsze badania naukowe, ukierunko wane na zrozumienie procesów zachodzących w tych glebach oraz na prawidłową ich klasyfikację. Celem artykułu jest (1) ocena kwalifikatorów używanych w stosunku do technosoli oraz związanych z technogeniczną naturą gleb, jak również (2) zaproponowanie nowych rozwiązań, które ulepszyłyby WRB w kontekście klasyfikacji gleb Technosols. Proponuje się wprowadzenie nowych kwalifikatorów (Edific, Nekric, Misceric, Artefactic, Radioactivic) oraz przedrostka uściślającego Technic do klucza dla grupy Tech nosols. Proponuje się również dodanie do tego klucza kwalifikatorów Salic i Sodic. Ponadto potrzebne jest uzupełnienie definicji poziomu thionic i materiału sulphidic oraz dopuszczenie stosowania kwalifikatora thionic w Technosolach

Rola glonów glebowych w inicjalnych etapach rozwoju gleby na zanieczyszczonych obszarach piaszczystych

Research to evaluate the role of the soil algae in the initiation of pedogenesis in sandy areas and to establish the mineral, chemical and organic composition of soil-algal crusts was done. The investigations area is located in southern Poland in a landscape of drift sand (Bledowska Desert) formed as a result of medieval deforestation related to Ag, Pb and Fe mining activities. Fifteen species of algae (Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta and Heterokontophyta) were identified. In the soil-algal crusts, Corg contents ranged from 0.35-2.23%, Pavail from 9-34 mg · kg–1 and Nt was variable. In investigated area the ground on which soil algae developed was acidic (pH 4.4-5.7 in KCl). Among mineral components in the crust, phases rich in Fe and K dominated (776.5(±2.3) - 2803(±31) mg · kg–1 and 230.5(±3.7) - 696(±22) mg · kg–1, respectively) and elevated concentrations of Zn, Mn and Pb occurred. Soil-crust organic matter includes aliphatic and aromatic compounds, carbohydrate derivatives, phenols, furan and pyrene structures. N compounds have significant contribution in composition of soil-algal crusts - the algae are main source of organic matter in this stage of soil formation. It could accelerate the regeneration of disturbed ecological systems