Constituents of some widely distributed soils in Denmark

Abstract

The results presented in this paper follow from investigations of the constituents of some Danish soils during the last 5–6 years. The data are considered in the context of the geomorphological and climatic conditions in the country. The results indicate that the dominant soil group on the Saale glacial deposits (> 100,000 years) consists of Haplorthods, whereas the main group on glacifluvial deposits related to the terminal moraines of the Weichselian Glacial Stage (16,000 to 20,000 years) seems to be Haplohumods. Hapludults are commonly found on the more coarse-textured parts of these terminal moraines. Hapludalfs are dominant on the moraines and Agrudalfs are commonly found on till plains of the later phases of the Weichselian Glacial Stage. Inceptisols and Entisols are also commonly present, but due to differences in origin and age their constituents also differ substantially. Those soils are not considered in details, only average figures from the widely distributed soil groups are included in this paper. The formation of Haplorthods and Haplohumods and to a certain extent of Hapludults has resulted in relative accumulations of quartz in the upper horizons, disappearance of chlorite, reductions in kaolinite and vermiculite, formation of poorly crystalline 2:1 layer silicate clay minerals in the A and E horizons and accumulations of oxy-hydroxides of Fe and Al in the Bh and Bs horizons. In both Hapludalfs and Agrudalfs transformation of illite into vermiculite and smectite seems to have occurred in the upper horizons. Furthermore, some smectite has accumulated in the Bt horizons of soils of these two groups. The contents of quartz, feldspars, kaolinite and oxy-hydroxides of Fe and Al stay almost constant with depth in soils of the two groups.