Physical and chemical properties of brown earths developed from boulder clay in Western Pomerania under arable farming, apple-tree orchard and deciduous forest, as affected by soil compaction

Abstract

This paper presents the results of studies of changes in the physical and chemical properties of brown earths developed from light and medium silty loams as a consequence of different utilization. The effects of the soil utilization on its properties were determined by comparison of arable soil with adjacent forest soil (old deciduous forest) and with soil which was under apple-tree orchard for 35 years. Arable soils were more compacted than forest soils (total porosity 35.8–42.1 and 41.3–53.6%, v/v, respectively), had a lower non-capillary porosity and a worse structure. Chemical changes in these soils were not significant. Many years of orchard utilization worsened soil physical properties, especially at a depth of 15–45 cm in the grassed strips between tree rows and caused an increase in acidity and higher concentrations of zinc, copper and lead.