The map of soils – types of soils
1. brown lixiviated and drown acidic
2. podsol and pseudopodsol
3. alluvial soils
Soils
Types of soils
Initial soils and weakly
formed soils
Rendzina
Humus
Brown soils
Lessives
Podsol soils
The parcipation of soils types
in the whole country area
Black soils
Alluvial soils
Marshy soils
Anthropogenic soils
Underwater soils
All remaining mark as in the legend of the map
The brown soil profile:
a) humus level
b) brown level
c) a matrix
In Poland, 20 percent of its area
consists of brown soil and it is
divided into:
- brown characteristic soil
- brown lixiviated soils
- brown acid soils
- brown podsolic soils
- dun soils
Brown soils have been
created from different matrixes
rich in calcium because of
deciduous or mixed forests
impact in moderate-humid
climate. The process of going
brown has the influence on its
creation. They do not undergo
acidity due to the intensive
biological cycle of the basic
elements that is characteristic of
multi-species broadleaved
forests. The brown colour of the
soil comes from iron
compounds and the brown
humus compounds which cover
the soil grains in the form of
thin membrane.
Brown soils in the lowlands and uplands are in a considerable percentage (about 26%)
used for field and garden crops.
They usually display higher value in use than podsolic soils which can be found in the similar
climatic conditions and have developed from the same formations.
The value in use is boosted by the favorable reaction (mildly acid or neutral), usually good structure
and the presence of alkaline components.
The brown soils provide a good environment for the forests. The acid brown soils appear
mainly at the mountain terrain and near the rocks which are poor in calcium carbonate(e.g.
sands). Usually, we can find them under forests or permanent grassland because their usability
for arable farming is rather low.
Soils are extremely important elements of geographical environment, constituting the
product and at the same time the appropriate basis for the world’s development. There are
many factors influencing the characteristic of the soil, like the type of climate, the surface
layout, the irrigation and most of all, organic world (including the man). Among the
mentioned factors the most significant is the biosphere, especially the floral world.
Soils in Poland started their forming just after the withdrawal of the glaciers. The oldest
types were tundra soils which were the first stage of soil genesis process. In Poland the most
common are podsols and brown soils, humus soil constitutes only 1% of the territory and in
the estuaries of valleys we can find alluvial soil.
The podsolic soil profile
a) forest bedding layer
b) eluvial layer
c) iluvial layer
d) a matrix
Podzols- poor soils of a
soil group developed in
sands which are
characterised by high acidity
and low humus content.
They hold little moisture.
In Poland, they account for
about 25% of the county's
total area.
Since podzols are poor in
mineral nutrients, most of
them are under pine forests.
The characteristic feature of the podsolic soil is the occurrence in their
profile, the layer of podsolic processes .The layer is formed due to the
leaching of aluminium, iron (ferric),manganese compounds in the acid
environment, which is generated by the decomposing coniferous forest
bedding layer.
After their leaching, only insoluble silica layer of white colour
remains. Metal compounds accumulate in a deeper leaching layer, which
is called orstein or hardpan due to its rubiginous colour.
Typical bleached soils are not fertile as an agricultural area. The
improvement of agriculture on such soils is not only difficult but also
requires sophisticated agricultural procedures, especially fertilization.
The most reasonable way to manage light soils is their forestation.