Morphological and Physical Properties of Dehydrated Holocene Carbonate Limnic Deposits in Post-Bog Areas of NW Poland

Holocene limnic deposits characteristic of the average latitudes have partially outcropped as a result of young glacial sculpture aging. The change of the environment from limnic to telmatic and often the interference of a man associated with the regulation of water relations led to the emergence of limnic deposits that underwent the process of pedogenesis. In this work, 137 samples of carbonate deposits from 6 sites in NW Poland were analyzed in terms of their physical properties. Carbonate sediments were subject to determination of specific and bulk densities, total porosity and air porosity, current and capillary water capacity. On the basis of CaCO 3 content, combustion loss, and non-lime mineral content, the studied sediments were classified into three groups: lacustrine chalk, calcareous gyttja, and clay-calcareous gyttja. Studies have shown that the sediments subject to pedogenesis in the top levels have characteristic morphological features in the form of cracks and numerous channels and iron fills in the form of spotted, streaked or marbled mosaic. The top levels of sediments, as a result of dehydration, clearly increase their bulk density. Properties of the lake chalk were formed mainly by the proportion of organic matter and CaCO 3 , while in the case of carbonate gyttja, the influence of mineral parts of the non-lime substances is also highlighted. In the top of carbonate sediments, there is a decrease in general and capillary porosity and an increase in the share of macropores

ESTIMATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF FARM INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE POLLUTION OF GROUND WATER

In farm areas, evacuations of animal excrements (manure, liquid manure, slurry) and domestic sewage are most dangerous for pure groundwater. For betterment sanitary condition villages and pure waters in their area will be necessity of right infrastructure and good condition (canalization, water treatments and proper animal excrements management). Researches conducted in 2001–2011 years in six farms located in the area of a few villages in the basin of Miedwie lake. Researches points were put (piezometer and wells) in the area of these farms. High concentration of NH4+, NO3- and PO43- were found in ground water which is exposed to contact inflow of pollutant from farms areas, and sources which are occurred in outlying from a source of pollutants. Also water from a farm wells, which are periodically used, showed the presence of large concentrations of chemical elements especially NO3- and PO43- what proves constant inflow of pollutants. For monitoring ground water we marked concentration of NH4+, NO3- i PO43- and pH in the samples

Identifying causes of poor water quality in a Polish agricultural catchment for designing effective and targeted mitigation measures

The Gowienica Miedwiańska catchment is a small agricultural catchment located in the NW of Poland draining into Lake Miedwie, on which a drinking water source for the city of Szczecin is located. The catchment is characterized by very rich soils. Subsequently, agriculture is intensive and this is thought to influence the poor water quality in the local area. Despite more than 20 years since first programmes of measures towards protection of water quality have been introduced into the catchment, these have not been produced the expected results, and the local farming community cites other sources such as poor sewage management rather that agricultural activity, as responsible for this problem. Evaluation of flow pathways in the catchment and identification of the areas responsible for the highest impact on local water quality was therefore conducted within the EU funded project Waterprotect. The aim of this study was to clarify sources of pollution precisely in space and time, in order to increase trust from stakeholders, so that targeted measures can be used effectively to improve water quality. The study included water quality monitoring, isotopic analysis and numerical flow modelling. Results showed that water quality in the catchment is spatially and temporally variable. 93% of nitrogen loadings into the Miedwie lake have been attributed to agriculture and only 7% to wastewater inputs. The local hydrology and hydrogeology play an important role in the distribution of the impacts from these inputs. As a result, three sub-catchments were identified which are differentiated by dominant pollution source, land use, and hydraulic characteristics. The highest inputs from agriculture have been identified in the most upper sub-catchment and this area have been pointed out as most suitable for implementation of agricultural best management practices towards protection of water quality at a local level

Characterization of some physical and chemical properties of post-bog soils developed from limnic deposits in vicinity of lake Dubie (Western Pomerania, NW Poland)

Post-bog soils developed from limnic calcareous sediments are closely related to a young-glacial landscape and postglacial lakes in Northern Poland. The studies conducted in 2010–2012 on post-bog soils near lake Dubie (Równina Drawska, NW Poland), partially used as an arable land. The goal of research was to characterise some chemical and physical properties of post-bog soils developed from carbonate deposits near lake Dubie. The soils of the analysed area developed from lacustrine chalk and calcareous gyttja belong to black earth and mucky soils. Organic matter content in surface horizons ranged from 5.0 to 14.2%, content of CaCO3 from 27.2 to 55.2%, the highest carbonate content was found in arable soil. The soils of the study area were characterised by a narrow C/N ratio, low level of total form of P and a high content of Ca. Specific density of surface horizons was in the range 2.49 to 2.58 Mg · m−3, bulk density from 0.445 to 1.212 Mg · m−3. High porosity was also found in the examined formations, from 0.826 in surface horizons and 0.700 m3 · m−3 in limnic deposits

Some physical properties of mursh developed on limnic limestones in NW Poland

Post-bog soils developed on carbonate sediments are closely related to a young-glacial landscape and postglacial lakes. Drainage of biogenic accumulation area leads to a series of transformations in accumulated formations, including the process of decession. The studies conducted in the years 2009–2012 were focused on post-bog soils near lakes: Strzeszowskie, Sitno and Drawskie in Western Pomerania. The examined soils belong to murshic soils and gleysols (The classification of Polish soils). Mursh horizons contained from 0.2 to 43.3% of carbonate and from 27.2 to 77.6% of non-carbonates fractions (Ncf), and varying amount of organic matter depending on the degree of mineralisation. Specific density of surface horizons was in the range from 1.76 to 2.33 Mg·m−3, and bulk density from 0.28 to 0.68 Mg·m−3. Higher porosity was found in mursh organic soils in comparison to gleysols. The studies showed that the content of carbonate fraction was related with specific density, bulk density, porosity and water capacity. Obtained results of physical and physico-chemical analysis indicate that dewatering depth of post-bog soils developed on limnic limestone are reflected in worsened water retention properties and reduced capillary ascent in the upper layers of carbonate formations of gleysols

Chemical properties of organic soils developed from lacustrine chalk near the lakes Strzeszowskie, Sitno, and Sierakowo (Western Pomerania, north Poland)

The genesis of organic soils is closely connected with water. The occurrence of carbonate deposits in the central and lower part of organic soil profile points to the link between their genesis and post-glacial lakes. The studies conducted in the years 2009–2012 focused on organic soils near lakes: Strzeszowskie, Sitno (Myśliborskie Lakeland) and Sierakowo (Ińskie Lakeland), north Poland. The goal of the present study was to characterize chemical properties of organic soils developed on carbonate deposits. The examined soils belonged to organic muck and sapric peat soils. They contained variable amount of organic matter (32,4–66,6%). The C/N ratio depended on the degree of mineralization. The soils under study, had a high level of available forms of Ca and low level of P, K, Cu, and Zn. Both in surface and subsurface horizons of muck and sapric peat soils the content of exchangeable cations may be ranked as follows: Ca > Mg > K > Na. Basic cations total in organic horizons was distinctly higher than in calcareous sediments. In organic horizons and limnic deposits, the share of exchangeable form of Ca in the sum of basic cations exceeded 95%

ESTIMATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF FARM INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE POLLUTION OF GROUND WATER

In farm areas, evacuations of animal excrements (manure, liquid manure, slurry) and domestic sewage are most dangerous for pure groundwater . For betterment sanitary condition villages and pure waters in their area will be a necessity of right infrastructure and good condition (sewers, water treatments and proper animal excrements management). Research conducted in 2001–2011 in six farms located in the area of a few villages in the basin of Miedwie lake. Researches points were placed (piezometer and wells) in the area of these farms. High concentration of NH4+, NO3- and PO43- were found in a ground water which are exposed to contact inflow of pollutant from farms areas, and sources which are occurred in outlying from the source of pollutants. Also water from a farm wells, which are periodically used, manifested the presence of large chemical elements concentration, especially NO3- and PO43-, what proves a constant inflow of pollutants. For monitoring ground water in samples we marked the concentration of NH4+, NO3- i PO43- and pH

Morphological and Physical Properties of Dehydrated Holocene Carbonate Limnic Deposits in Post-Bog Areas of NW Poland

Holocene limnic deposits characteristic of the average latitudes have partially outcropped as a result of young glacial sculpture aging. The change of the environment from limnic to telmatic and often the interference of a man associated with the regulation of water relations led to the emergence of limnic deposits that underwent the process of pedogenesis. In this work, 137 samples of carbonate deposits from 6 sites in NW Poland were analyzed in terms of their physical properties. Carbonate sediments were subject to determination of specific and bulk densities, total porosity and air porosity, current and capillary water capacity. On the basis of CaCO 3 content, combustion loss, and non-lime mineral content, the studied sediments were classified into three groups: lacustrine chalk, calcareous gyttja, and clay-calcareous gyttja. Studies have shown that the sediments subject to pedogenesis in the top levels have characteristic morphological features in the form of cracks and numerous channels and iron fills in the form of spotted, streaked or marbled mosaic. The top levels of sediments, as a result of dehydration, clearly increase their bulk density. Properties of the lake chalk were formed mainly by the proportion of organic matter and CaCO 3 , while in the case of carbonate gyttja, the influence of mineral parts of the non-lime substances is also highlighted. In the top of carbonate sediments, there is a decrease in general and capillary porosity and an increase in the share of macropores

ESTIMATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF FARM INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE POLLUTION OF GROUND WATER

In farm areas, evacuations of animal excrements (manure, liquid manure, slurry) and domestic sewage are most dangerous for pure groundwater . For betterment sanitary condition villages and pure waters in their area will be a necessity of right infrastructure and good condition (sewers, water treatments and proper animal excrements management). Research conducted in 2001–2011 in six farms located in the area of a few villages in the basin of Miedwie lake. Researches points were placed (piezometer and wells) in the area of these farms. High concentration of NH4+, NO3- and PO43- were found in a ground water which are exposed to contact inflow of pollutant from farms areas, and sources which are occurred in outlying from the source of pollutants. Also water from a farm wells, which are periodically used, manifested the presence of large chemical elements concentration, especially NO3- and PO43-, what proves a constant inflow of pollutants. For monitoring ground water in samples we marked the concentration of NH4+, NO3- i PO43- and pH

Evolution of shallow post-bog soils developed on Holocene carbonate sediments in NW Poland

This research presents the characteristics and inferred evolution of post-bog soils developed in the Last Glacial Maximum area of northwestern Poland near the southern Baltic coast. The study involved a total of five sites near existing lakes in NW Poland. In total, 21 soil pits were described and sampled and 17 piezometers were installed. In soil samples chemical and physical properties were determined. During the hydrological year the water level was checked and chemical properties of water were determined, the floristic composition at each location was also carried out. Mineralisation of post-bog soils initiated by dehydration leads to the decomposition of organic surface layers and an increase in CaCO3 content as well as mineral non-lime components at the expense of organic matter. A sequence of five soil types occurs in this landscape: Sapric Histosols (Limnic), Drainic Histosols (Calcaric, Limnic), Histic Gleysols (Murshic), Umbric Gleysols (Hyperhumic), Gleyic Phaeozems (Hyperhumic) that represent individual stages of soil genesis. Differences between the chemical properties of soils are apparent between organic vs organic-mineral and mineral layers. Man-induced drainage of post-bog soils changes their physical parameters. Bulk density increase and water retention decrease. The fluctuation of groundwater determines the moisture content of post-bog soils and affects the species composition of vegetation. Chemistry of groundwater is shaped mainly by the construction of catchment and the nature of its use, however, it is modified as a result of the inflow of macronutrients released during organic matter mineralisation processes and leaching of exchangeable forms from the sorption complex