Morphological and physico-chemical aspects of three soils developed in peat in the Netherlands and their classification.

Abstract

In an oligotrophic soil formed in Sphagnum peat, an oligotrophic soil formed in Sphagnum-Eriophorum peat and a mesotrophic soil formed in Carex peat, the first and second soils contain a variable but rather large amount of histons, but the histon content of the third soil is low. Fungons are characteristic of the first soil, occur in small amounts in the second soil and are practically absent from the third soil. Decomposition by the soil fauna (as evidenced by faecal pellets) is slight in the first soil and is effected mainly by Oribatid mites, but in the second soil decomposition by Oribatids is considerable, by earthworms moderate, and by Enchytraeids sporadic. In the third soil, which contains some mineral material, the considerable decomposition by the soil fauna is effected by dipterous larvae and earthworms and to a lesser extent by Oribatids. In all the soils the rubbed fibre content and physico-chemical data agree with the change in the nature of the soil material with depth. In the first soil hemic material changes into fibric material, in the second soil the practically sapric soil material in the top 7 cm changes into hemic and fibric material, and in the third soil sapric material occurs down to 51 cm and then changes into hemic material. The classification of the three soils by the US Soil Taxonomy system, the Dutch system and the FAO-UNESCO system is discussed. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)