Abstract
The research objective of this study was to determine whether and to what extent the form of use of Fluvisols (arable soil and grassland) of a Lower Vistula floodplain valley (Fordonska Valley, Poland) determined their relative organic matter properties, as compared with nearby riverbank sediments. Riverbank sediments were sampled from a depth of 0–20 cm, and soil samples from 0 to30 cm, all in three replicates. Basic physico-chemical soil properties were determined: texture, pH, and the contents of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). Humic acids (HAs) were extracted by the Schnitzer method and analysed to assess their spectrometric parameters in the UV–VIS range and hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties. Riverbank sediment samples contained significantly lower TOC and TN contents than Fluvisols, regardless of land-use type. The TOC, TN, DOC and DON contents and properties of humic acids in the Fluvisol surface layer depended on land-use type, because the arable soils had significantly lower TOC, TN, DOC and DON contents than the grasslands, despite having a similar grain size (texture). Based on the A2/4, A2/6, A4/6 ratios, it was found that HA molecules isolated from the humus horizon of arable soils had a higher degree of maturity than HAs isolated from grassland soil samples. The spectrometric properties of humic acids isolated from riverbank sediments showed a higher degree of maturity than those from Fluvisols. This research showed that the properties of humic acids in Fluvisols are determined by the quantity and quality of organic matter transported in suspended matter that accumulates annually in flood valleys during flood events. The current land-use type of Fluvisols significantly influenced the properties of organic matter, and thus of humic acids. Therefore, these properties can be used to evaluate the transformation of organic matter that occurs in Fluvisols depending on the type of use.
Highlights
The most extensive area of river floodplain Fluvisols in Poland is located along the Vistula River, which is characterized by a natural riverbank along its course; the channel is only stabilized in cities and at bridges
The right bank of the Vistula regularly breaks in many places, and the amount of sediments deposited on the floodplain depends on the extent of the floodplain and local landscape conditions
The properties of the Fluvisols of the Lower Vistula valley were determined by the land use the soils were subjected to
Summary
The most extensive area of river floodplain Fluvisols in Poland is located along the Vistula River, which is characterized by a natural riverbank along its course; the channel is only stabilized in cities and at bridges. Floodplains with Fluvisols play a very important role, both agricultural and ecological, as some are landscape parks. The natural floodplain is delimited by a floodbank and comprises wasteland containing riparian woodlands and is under agricultural use as grasslands and arable land. Floodplain deposits reflect a diversity of mechanisms responsible for sediment transport and deposition, including transfer from the river channel during overbank flow, and as a result of slope wash from terraces and valley sides to distal floodplain parts [1,2]. The HS were transferred to the river systems via runoff, during the spring and autumn floods
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