Marcin Świtoniak

Correlation between the Polish Soil Classification (2011) and international soil classification system World Reference Base for Soil Resources (2015)

Abstract The recent editions of the Polish Soil Classification (PSC) have supplied the correlation table with the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB), which is the international soil classification most commonly used by Polish pedologists. However, the latest WRB edition (IUSS Working Group WRB 2015) has introduced significant changes and many of the former correlations became outdated. The current paper presents the closest equivalents of the soil orders, types and subtypes of the recent edition of the PSC (2011) and WRB (IUSS Working Group WRB 2015). The proposals can be used for general correlation of soil units on maps and in databases, and may support Polish soil scientists to establish the most appropriate equivalents for soils under study, as well as make PSC more available for an international society.

Proposal of English equivalents for the soil taxa names in the Polish Soils Classification

Abstract The article presents proposed English translations of all names of soil units (orders, types and subtypes) listed by Polish Soils Classification, PSC (2011). The proposal has been elaborated based on the recent Polish and foreign literature, using uniform and consistent criteria. Due to the lack of soil names translation in the recent, fifth edition of PSC, the suggested English nomenclature was basically derived from the previous, fourth edition of PSC (1989). However, significant amendment and numerous additions to the latest version were proposed. A uniform and comprehensive system of soil taxa translations may help to avoid nomenclature chaos in the English papers of Polish authors, which intentionally base or refer to PSC.

Genesis and classification of the soils developed from the sediments of the former Oleszek mill pond basin (the Chełmińskie Lakeland, N Poland) / Geneza i pozycja systematyczna gleb wykształconych z osadów niecki dawnego stawu młyńskiego Oleszek (Pojezierze Chełmińskie)

Abstract Construction and operation of water mills had influenced the transformation of the relief and water conditions, as well as the soil cover around them. The study area includes the former Oleszek mill pond basin, located near the Borówno village, western part of the Chełmińskie Lakeland, about 20 km northeast of Toruń. The objective of the study was to determine the genesis of the soils developed from the Oleszek mill pond basin sediments. Five soil profiles were selected in the basin of the former mill pond, within the 550 m transect located along the Struga Rychnowska river. All of the analysed soils developed from the sediments filling the former mill pond basin. They have been developed as a result of a number of overlapping processes such as mud-forming, alluvial, colluvial and gleyic process. According to the Polish classification system (Classification of Polish Soils 2011) (CPS) two of the soils (profiles 3 and 4) derived from organo-mineral and organic materials are typical organic limnic soils. Systematic position of another two soils (2 and 5) was proposed as muddy soils. Due to the problems of classification of such soils, implementation of the muddy soils or muddy-gleyic soils subtypes (in Polish: gleby mułowate lub mułowato-glejowe) should be considered during developing of the next update of Classification of Polish Soils. These four profiles were classified as Histosols (profiles 3 and 4) and Gleysols (profiles 2 and 5) in WRB (2014). Pedons developed from alluvial materials (alluvial soils in CPS 2011 or Fluvic Phaeozems in WRB 2014) occurred in the proximal part of the basin. Streszczenie Budowa i funkcjonowanie młynów wodnych znacznie wpłynęły na przekształcenie środowiska przyrodniczego w ich otoczeniu, przede wszystkim na zmiany rzeźby terenu i warunków wodnych. Obszar badañ obejmuje nieckę dawnego stawu młyńskiego Oleszek w okolicach wsi Borówno, w zachodniej części Pojezierza Chełmińskiego, około 20 km na północny wschód od Torunia. Celem badañ było określenie genezy gleb wykształconych z osadów zakumulowanych w niecce dawnego stawu młyńskiego Oleszek. Pięć profili glebowych w transekcie o długości około 550 m zlokalizowanym wzdłuż Strugi Rychnowskiej stanowiącej oś podłużną niecki. Wszystkie przeanalizowane gleby zbudowane są z osadów wypełniających nieckę dawnego stawu młyńskiego. Gleby w opisywanej niecce powstały w wyniku wielu nakładających się procesów, takich jak: proces mułotwórczy, aluwialny, koluwialny oraz glejowy. Dwa z analizowanych profili glebowych (profile 3 i 4) spełniaj¹ kryteria wydzielania gleb organicznych limnowych typowych (Systematyka gleb Polski 2011). Jako pozycję systematyczną kolejnych dwóch gleb (profile 2 i 5) zaproponowano gleby mułowate. W związku z problemami klasyfikacyjnymi dotyczącymi tego typu gleb, przy opracowaniu aktualizacji Systematyki gleb Polski należałoby wprowadzić w typie gleb glejowych podtyp gleb mułowatych lub mułowato-glejowych, obejmuj¹cy gleby wytworzone z mineralno-organicznych utworów aluwialno-mułowych. Cztery wymienione powyżej profile zostały zaklasyfikowane jako Histosols (3 i 4) i Gleysols (2 i 5) według klasyfikacji WRB (2014). Jednostki glebowe wykształcone z osadów aluwialnych (mady wg SgP 2011 lub Fluvic Phaeozems wg WRB 2014) występują w proksymalnej części stawu (cofce).

Issues relating to classification of colluvial soils in young morainic areas (Chełmno and Brodnica Lake District, northern Poland)

Abstract Colluvial soils (in Polish: gleby deluwialne) are an important part of the soil cover in young morainic landscapes of northern Poland. They evolved as a result of the accumulation of eroded material at the foot of the slopes and bottoms of closed depressions. The aim of this study was to determine the systematic position of colluvial soils commonly found in the Chełmno and Brodnica Lake District, northern Poland. Ten soil pits located in different types of landscapes were selected for testing soil properties. The colluvial material is characterized by diversified properties: thickness, particle-size distribution, organic carbon content, color, pH, and base saturation. As a result, the investigated soils represent broad spectrum of typological units according to Polish Soil Classification (2011). Some of them contain epipedons mollic and meet the criteria of colluvial chernozemic soils. They were found mainly on buried black earths in areas with small slope inclinations. Many pedons contain pale colored acidic colluvial material with low base saturation and low organic carbon content and must be classified as other types: arenosols (in Polish: arenosole) or rusty soils (in Polish: gleby rdzawe). These soils occur mostly in areas with intensive relief and overlay the different soil types, including rusty soil and organic soils. They are formed as a result of soils lessivés and rusty soils truncation. An introduction of the additional units of “proper colluvial soils” which have epipedon ochric, and “rusty-colluvial soils” with endopedon sideric to the next edition of Polish Soil Classification would enable a more precise expression of the genesis of these soils in the type rank. Moreover, the definition of chernozemic colluvial soils could be extended to colluvial soils with umbric horizon. Classifying soils derived from colluvial material as soils of other types leads to the disappearance of this units on maps and underestimation of the impact of denudation on the soil cover.

Issues related to classification of garden soils from the urban area of Toruń, Poland

ABSTRACT Nowadays, the city area of Toruń is dominated by anthropogenic and technogenic soils – developed by humans or significantly altered, mainly disturbed in terms of morphology and chemical and physical properties. This study is a continuation of research on the soil cover of the city. The aim of the presented study is to assess extent of garden soils in the city and characterize its properties on the base of five soil profiles in four exemplary gardens in Toruń and evaluate if they meet the classification criteria for Hortic Anthrosols according to World Reference Base (WRB) for Soil Resources. Within the administrative boundaries of the city, 66 allotment gardens are located which totally cover an area of more than 300 ha. They occupy 3% of the city area. None of the studied mineral surface horizons meets the criteria for hortic horizon according to WRB 2015, due to too low phosphorus content. Other hortic criteria were fulfilled. The research on classification issues of garden soils should be continued on larger scale to evaluate if WRB criteria are not too strict taking into account the features of most typical, few decade-old garden soils.

The Influence of Human-induced Erosion on the Soil Organic Carbon Stock in Vineyards of Fordon Valley

the aim of this paper has been to define the influence of accelerated erosion on basic properties and the SOM stocks of soils within vineyards located on western slopes of the Lower Vistula Valley. the study was conducted within four vineyards situated 30 km north-east from Bydgoszcz. During the field work 44 auger holes were made. On the basis of results of drilling, eight places for soil pits were selected. the study sites were characterised by considerable diversity of soil cover. the SOM stocks in studied profiles ranged from 2,98 to 63,9 kg m-2. the upper parts of the Lower Vistula Valley slopes were dominated by Luvisols developed from glacial tills. Pedons located in toe and foot slope positions represented Chernozems and Phaeozems developed from layered fluvial sediments. the translocation of soil was caused by accelerated erosion that heightened differentiation in the primeval SOM stocks. Although, the Luvisols were truncated in result of accelerated erosion, they were not significantly depleted in organic matter stocks. Most Chernozems and Phaeozems located in toe and foot slope positions were enhanced in SOM stocks due to accumulation of humus colluvial material on their surface. the short period of existence of vineyards makes it impossible to determine the impact of grass roots decay on carbon content in surface soil horizons between rows of vine.1 the contents and stocks of soil organic matter (SOM) strongly depend on many factors, including temperature, moisture, texture, and topography [41; 59]. Land use conversion, especially transformation of forest into arable fields, may lead to reduction of the SOM stocks [19]. Physical disturbance with tillage dis*M. Świtoniak, DSc.; M. Dąbrowski, DSc., A. Łyszkiewicz, DSc.; Department of Soil Science and Landscape Management, nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100 toruń, Poland. Soil Chemistry MARCIn ŚWItOnIAK, MIChAŁ DąBROWSKI, AGnIESzKA ŁySzKIEWICz* thE InFLUEnCE OF hUMAn-InDUCED EROSIOn On thE SOIL ORGAnIC CARBOn StOCK In VInEyARDS OF FORDOn VALLEy DOI: 10.17951/pjss/2015.48.2.197 198 M. ŚWItOnIAK et al. rupts macro-aggregates and exposes previously protected soil to microbial processes which increase the rate of the SOM decomposition [6, 60]. the reductions in the SOM as a result of cultivation, intensified oxidation and increasing biological activity was also described in many previous papers [4, 5, 50]. Moreover, the intensification of tillage led to severe erosion and the loss and redistribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) [14]. Depletion of the SOM due to soil truncation was also confirmed in the vineyards of Catalonia, north-Eastern Spain [32]. According to the research conducted in the Lublin Upland [23], accelerated erosion led to the significant decrease from the average of 2.3% to about 1% of the SOC in surface horizons during the first few decades after deforestation of Luvisols. Erosion processes have significantly affected the structure of soil cover and soil profile morphology of northern Poland [43, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54]. the strongest erosional disturbances occur in regard to arable soils developed on ground moraine deposits in hummocky moraine plateau landscapes [56, 58]. Surface soil horizon truncation occurs on upper parts of slopes. the effect of the translocation of soil material is also a common occurrence of colluvial soils in lower part of slopes and depressions. the maximum thickness of colluvium recorded in the Brodnica Lake District was about 3 m [56, 57]. this material often contains significant amounts of the SOC [33, 34]. the optimal SOM content in surface horizon for the vine plantation is within the range of 20-30 [g kg-1]. too small amounts of it affect the markedly worse physical properties of the soil. On the other hand high contents may cause excessive growth of shrubs and wooden branches of vine [18, 63]. the vineyards of the Fordon Valley are located on steep and long slopes. Erosional redistribution of humus material could lead to substantial changes in the SOM stocks. the aim of this paper has been to define the influence of erosion on basic properties and the SOM stocks of soils within vineyards located on western slopes of the Lower Vistula Valley. MAtERIALS AnD MEthODS the study was conducted within four small and young vineyards (Fig. 1) on the total area not exceeding 1 ha. Before the twenty-first Century (talerzyk – 2010, Kozielec I – 2011, Kozielec II – 2013 and Kozielec III – 2007) the investigated areas had been used for other agricultural purposes. the vineyards are situated 30 km north-east from Bydgoszcz, on western slopes of the Lower Vistula Valley which separate the Świecie Plateau from the Fordon Valley (Fig. 1). the Świecie Plateau is a flat and undulating morainic plain. the general outline of its relief was formed during the Pomeranian Phase of the Vistulian Glaciation, ca. 16-17 ka CE [31]. the plateau surface lies at the altitude of about 95-100 m a.s.l. the Fordon Valley is the southern section of the Lower Vistula Valley. the beginning of the development of the valley is associated with the 199 InFLUEnCE OF hUMAn-InDUCED EROSIOn On SOC StOCK change in the flow of the Vistula River approximately 14 thousand years ago, during the Oldest Dryas [16, 17, 61, 62]. Before this period the Vistula River had flown westwards through the noteć-Warta ice-marginal valley. the relief of the valley was shaped in the course of the whole holocene. the bottom of the valley is a contemporary floodplain of the Vistula River and in the vicinity of study sites it has the altitude of about 25 m a.s.l. the first vineyard is located near topolno village, in the upper part of the Vistula Valley slopes at the altitude of 85-88 m a.s.l. Its surface lies on a small “morainic headland” surrounded by small erosion valleys in the west-north, north and south (Fig. 1). the eastern border of the headland is made up of the long and steep slopes of the Vistula Valley. the other three vineyards are located in Kozielec village. the vineyard Kozielec I lies in a small depression on the toe slope position of 35-37 m a.s.l. Kozielec II extends on the lower slope between 35-42 m a.s.l. the last vineyard (Kozielec III) occupies a small hill forming a convex form within the middle part of the Vistula Valley slope at altitudes Fig. 1. Location of the study sites. 200 M. ŚWItOnIAK et al. of approximately 60 m a.s.l. the soil cover of four vineyards was described in detail. During the field work 44 auger holes were made. On the basis of results of drilling, eight places for soil pits were selected. the samples for laboratory analysis were taken from all the genetic horizons and the following soil analysis was performed [2, 64]: bulk density (BD) by means of the oven-dry method, organic carbon content (Soil Organic Carbon, SOC) − by means of oxidation in the mixture of K2Cr2O7 and h2SO4, total nitrogen content − Kjeldahl method, CaCO3 content − Scheibler volumetric method, particle-size distribution − by means of the sieve method and the hydrometer (Bouyoucos aerometric) method; ph of the soil-to-solution ratio of 1:2.5 using 1 M KCl and h2O as the suspension medium; Colour has been described according to Munsell [36]. the SOC stocks were calculated for each soil horizon by multiplying the concentration of the SOC [g kg-1] by BD [g cm-3] and layer thickness [cm]. to get the units expressed in terms of kg m-2, the resulting figures of multiplying were divided by 100. the total SOC stocks for each soil profile are sums of the stocks in respective horizons. the soil organic matter stocks (SOM stocks) were calculated by multiplying the SOC stocks by 2. the soils were classified according to WRB [20]. Descriptions of horizons are given after the Guidelines for Soil Description [15]. RESULtS AnD DISCUSSIOn Properties, genesis and systematic position of investigated soils the investigated vineyards were characterised by considerable diversity of soil cover. Within Topolno site pedons were developed from glacial tills (Profiles 1,2,3). In these soil horizons argic (Bt) with distinct clay illuviation was observed. Abundant illuvial clay coatings and infillings were easily visible already at the stage of the field work. Absolute content of clay in Bt horizons was not significantly higher than the amount of this fraction in parent materials (C and Ck horizons) but the presence of clay films on the surface of soil aggregates confirmed their illuvial character. Because of high base status in the illuvial horizons (high ph values) and high activity of the clay fraction they were classified as Luvisols [20]. Widespread occurrence of Luvisols developed from glacial deposits was also described in other young morainic regions of Poland [9, 10, 24, 29, 43, 56, 57, 58]. this type of soils has also been marked on detailed (1: 5 000) soil-agricultural maps of the described area. Soils of topolno site differ significantly with regard to solum thickness and genetic horizon development. Only one pedon (Profile 2) had a marked textural differentiation with clearly visible eluvial E horizon (Fig. 2, table 1). the upper boundary of illuvial horizon was found at the depth of 40 cm. the presence of eluvial horizon between A(p) and Bt horizon (Fig. 2) and abrupt textural difference was expressed by Albic and 201 InFLUEnCE OF hUMAn-InDUCED EROSIOn On SOC StOCK tA B LE 1 . B A SI C P R O PE Rt IE S A n D t O C S tO C K S O F SO IL S H or iz on D ep th [c m ] p ar tic le si ze d is tr ib ut io n [% ] Te xt ur e B D [g c m -3 ] SO C [g k g 1 ] T N [g k g 1 ] C :N pH C aC O 3 [g k g 1 ] SO C st oc ks [k g m -2 ] 2. 0 0 .0 5 0. 05 0 .0 02 < 0. 00 2 H 2 O K C l Pr ofi le 1 – E nd oc al ca ric n ud ia rg ic L uv is ol (L oa m ic , C ut an ic , h yp er eu tri c) A B 010 68 18 14 SL 1, 27 8, 6 0, 87 10 6, 4 6, 1 n. a. 1, 09 A B (p ) 10 -4 0 71 16 13 SL 1, 56 4, 6 0, 53 9 7, 1 6, 3 tra ce 2, 15 C k 40 -( 80 ) 66 22 12 SL 1, 65 n. a. n. a. 8, 5 8, 0 11 5 Pr ofi le 2 – A

Indicators of pedogenesis of Technosols developed in an ash settling pond at the Bełchatów thermal power station (central Poland)

Abstract Technogenic soils (Technosols) developed in an ash settling pond at the Bełchatów thermal power station, central Poland, were studied in order to identify soil property transformations over 30 years of pedogenesis. Standard pedological methods were applied in order to determine the properties of the studied samples. All investigated soils were classified according to WRB as Spolic Technosols with various supplementary qualifiers (Alcalic/Hypereutric, Arenic/Loamic, Protocalcic, Hyperartefactic, Immisic, Laxic, Ochric, and Protosalic). The studied materials can be arranged into a chronosequence starting from fresh (unweathered) ashes, by young Technosol BE1 (age: several months), up to older Technosols BE2 (about 20 years) and BE3 (about 30 years). The studies showed that weathering and soil-forming processes changed properties of ash in soil environment. Fresh ash was characterized by high pH (11.0 – fly ash, 8.7 – bottom ash), low content of carbonates (1.5% in both samples), variable concentrations of TOC (1.2% – fly ash, 6.9% – bottom ash), and very low total nitrogen content (0.04%). Electrical conductivity (ECe) was 2.6 and 2.1 dS·m−1 in fly ash and bottom ash respectively. Young Technosol BE1 had the pH 9.2–10.0, contents of carbonates were in the range 2.4–3.3%, TOC 1.3–1.7%, and total nitrogen less than 0.03%. ECe in young Technosol was in the range 2.7–4.0 dS·m−1. There was no plant cover present on that soil and no well-developed genetic horizons were distinguished in the profile. Finally, old Technosols BE2 and BE3 had lower pH (from 7.9 up to 9.1), and, in general, higher contents of carbonates (from 1.5 to 7.9%) than fresh ash and young Technosol BE1. Old Technosols contained high concentrations of TOC (up to about 38% in Oi horizon) and total nitrogen (up to 0.9%) in the topsoil, where O and A horizons developed due to accumulation of soil organic matter. ECe in old Technosols was in the range 0.8–1.5 dS·m−1. All studied ashes and soils were characterized by very low or even absence of total potential acidity. Base cations predominated in the sorption complex of the investigated ash and soils and can be arranged in the following order according to the abundance: Ca>Mg>K>Na. Base saturation (BS) of fresh ashes and Technosols was nearly 100%. The study shows that the first indicators of pedogenesis of the studied technogenic soils within the first 30 years of formation are: (1) changes of consistence of ash material from firm to friable/very friable due to root action, (2) accumulation of soil organic matter in the topsoil and formation of O and A horizons, (3) decrease of pH, (4) formation of pedogenic carbonates in soils and (5) decrease in soil salinity.

The internet as a source of knowledge about soil cover of Poland

Abstract The aim of this paper is to assess the quality and correctness of information on Polish soils available on selected websites. Particular attention was paid to educational portals, which became the subject of evaluation of the information its contains in terms of the correctness, up-to-dateness and reliability. Twenty-five websites representing educational portals and blogs were selected for analysis in terms of their contents (type of subject matter) correctness (substantial value), curentness (presence of up-to-date information) and completeness. Most of the information on the evaluated educational portals is targeted at high school students. These websites present only basic content. The most frequent issues on the analyzed portals were: soil types and soil systematics, distribution of soils in Poland, definition of soil and also soil valuation classes. Websites addressed to university students constitute a decided minority, could be said, that even an exception. One of those is article on Wikipedia, which has the highest educational value among all analysed websites.

The usefulness of soil-agricultural maps to identify classes of soil truncation

Abstract Soil erosion led to the severe transformations of the soil cover of young morainic areas of northern Poland. Main alterations are connected with soil truncation on summits and in upper part of slopes, whereas at foot slopes and within depressions colluvial material is accumulated. Information and knowledge about the extent or intensity of erosion are mainly derived from sophisticated geospatial models or laborious field works. To reduce the effort associated with development of studies on erosion the use of easily available cartographic sources is required. The main aim of the paper is an elaboration of key to reinterpret information taken from soil-agricultural maps in the context of determining the degree of pedons truncation. The study is based on a comparison of the properties of soils representing various classes of erosional alterations with the data on existing maps. The correlation between descriptions recorded in the form of cartographic symbols with properties of pedons divided into several classes of vertical texturecontrast soil truncation and results from potential erosion maps was elaborated. The application of developed interpretative principles allows calculating the share of soil truncation classes within investigated area. The five test plots (each - 1 km2) were located along the north slopes of Noteć Middle Valley and Toruń Basin. The proposed interpretation of soil-agricultural maps reveals their significant value in studies on extent and degree of erosional alterations recorded in soil cover.

Sediment origin and pedogenesis in the former mill pond basin of Turznice (north-central Poland) based on magnetic susceptibility measurements

Abstract This paper aims to assess the usefulness of magnetic susceptibility measurements in pedological studies of mill pond sediments. The study area includes the former Turznice mill pond basin located in the south-eastern part of the Grudziądz Basin. Four soil profiles were selected within the transect located along the longitudinal axis of the basin. The following soil properties were determined in the collected samples: bulk density, particle size distribution, pH, content of carbonates, approximate content of organic matter (LOI), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (Nt), and the pseudo-total contents of metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd). The obtained results were correlated with the specific (mass) magnetic susceptibility (χ). This study revealed that the variability of the soil cover in the basin was driven by different sedimentation conditions. The different composition of natural terrace deposits versus mill pond sediments has been well reflected in the magnetic properties. However, the possibility cannot be excluded that a pedogenic (gleyic) process is the key factor causing the vertical variability of magnetic properties in studied soils.