Zur Genese der Marschböden. I. Der Einfluß von Sediment- und Bodengefüge

On the genesis of tidal marsh soils I. The influence of sediment- and soil-structure The significance of sediment structure for soil structure has often been disregarded when discussing the properties and genesis of tidal marsh soils. After defening several terms that are often misinterpreted, three types of tidal-marsh-soils with different structure are described: 1 . the typical clayey tidal-marsh-soils with very various aggregate structures: The well aired and permeable “SEEMARSCH” (marine-tidal-marsh-soil) with polyhedral and prismatic structure, which is formed from the flaky “card-house” structure of marine sediments rich on salt; the densely paked “BRACKMARSCH” (brackish-tidal-marsh-soil), whose moisture is due to perched water, which coarse prismatic to columnar structure, which is formed from the mainly horizontally orientet structure of brackish sediments due to dispersion; the moderately permeable “FLUSSMARSCH” (tidal-river-marsh-soil), whose wetness is often due to groundwater, with medium to coarse prismatic structure, which is formed from the finely aggregated structure of perimarine tidal-river sediments; 2 . the tidal marsh soils poor in clay, rich in silt and very fine sand with coherent structure and low air porosity, due to a strong tendency towards puddling of the top soil by raindrops, causes the formation of “HAFTNÄSSEMARSCH” (marsh soil whose moisture is due to capillar water); 3 . the tidal-marsh-soils rich in plant remains, clay and with a high level of groundwater often extremly acid, with coherent structure, which formed the generally highly permeable “ORGANOMARSCH”. The conditions of formation of these soils and the soil parameters are discussed also.     

PH-Verteilung und Pufferung von Böden

PH-distribution and buffering of soils A frequency distribution of the pH values of 927 soils clearly reflects the three soil buffer ranges (carbonate, pH-dependent charge and aluminium release) by higher frequencies within these ranges and lower frequencies between them.     

Zur Pedogenese und Klassifikation von Marschböden des Unterweserraumes. II. Die Bedeutung von Schwefelmetabolismus,Methanproduktion und Ca/Mg-Verhältnis für die Marschen-Klassifikation

Development and Classification of Marsh Soils from the Unterweser Region, West Germany. II. Importance of Sulfur Metabolism, Methane Production and Ca/Mg Ratio for Classifying Marsh Soils The importance of sulfur metabolism in each step of marsh soil development (Brümmer, 1968) is also confirmed for the marsh soils of the Unterweser region. Sulfur contents and sulfur fractions indicate that soil development has advanced further in brackish marshes than in marine and river marshes. The results give additional evidence that the various properties of marsh soils are only partly caused by sedimentation conditions. – The sedimentation areas (Müller, 1954) apply only to small regions. Thus, methane production predominates in the freshwater area, while sulfate reduction predominates in the marine area. Both processes occur at high rates in the brackish area. Classifying soils on the basis of the Ca/Mg ratio gives the same soil groups as Brümmers classification. Consequently, classifying the marsh soils of Niedersachsen on the basis of Ca/Mg ratio is a suitable method, if the idea that sedimentation conditions cause soil properties – especially the contents of exchangeable Ca and Mg – and the present designations of the soil groups are rejected.     

Zur Pedogenese und Klassifikation von Marschböden des Unterweserraumes. I. Gesamtnährstoffe,Carbonatgehalt, Kationenbelag und Diatomeenflora als Indikatoren für Sedimentations-Bedingungen und Bodenentwicklung

Development and Classification of Marsh Soils from the Unterweser Region, West Germany. I. Total Nutrients, Carbonate Content, Exchangeable Cations and Diatom Flora as Indicators of the Role of Sedimentation Conditions in Soil Development This study was carried out to see how much sedimentation conditions determine the properties– in particular the Ca/Mg ratio – of marsh soils (fluvaquents of coastel areas). The following results show, that the marsh soils properties are not determined by different sedimentation conditions: – The vertic fluvaquents don't have a higher clay content than the mollic and aeric fluvaquents – The total (t) contents of P, Ca, Mg, K and Na varied because of different soil development – The Ca_t/Mg_t ratio in soils with CaCO₃ was higher than in soils without CaCO₃, and – related to the Ca_a/Mg_a ratio – it can also be used as a classification characteristic (a = exchangeable) – The Ca_a/Mg_a ratio varied greatly because of differences in exchangeable Ca content. Vertic fluvaquents sometimes, but not often, have a higher content of exchangeable Mg than the mollic and aeric fluvaquents. Comparing maps of the Weser area as it appeared at various times in the Holocene with the soil map, shows that the sedimentation pattern is invariably brackish-marine. This is further confirmed by the diotom flora of the soils tested. Thus the properties of marsh soils, long believed to be dependent on sedimentation conditions, are the product of different continuance and intensity of soil development.     

Zur Genese der Marschböden. II. Kalksedimentation,Entkalkung

On the genesis of tidal marsh soils II. Carbonate sedimentation, decalcification A central problem of the tidal-marsh soils is the calcareous deposit of the parent material. On the basis of small-scale, systematic investigations it has been demonstrated in two “key areas” in the Weser tidal flats, that fluviatile and brackish soils are descended from calcareous or not-calcareous sediments. Soils buildet from calcareous sediments shows a low depth and a low rate of decalcification because of a high content of clay and bases as well a permanent high level of groundwater during the development of the soils.     

Der Einfluß von Niederschlag und Höhenlage auf den Humusgehalt ostafrikanischer Böden

The influence of precipitation and altitude on the humus content of East African soils Positive correlations were found between the log of the carbon and nitrogen content of the 0–15 cm soil layer, altitude and average annual precipitation of 20 grassland soils, 13 forest soils and 21 cultivated soils at altitudes of 10–2840 m and a precipitation of 380–2410 mm in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. For each of the soil groups equations with the two variables altitude and precipitation were derived, which accounted for 76–93 per cent of the variation of the carbon (0,42–5,62%) and nitrogen (0,04–0,71%) content. There was no correlation between altitude, precipitation and the C/N ratio of the soils.     

Die Bedeutung der Umsetzung von Weizenstroh im Hinblick auf den C- und N-Haushalt von Löß-Ackerböden

The significance of wheat straw decomposition with regard to the C- and N-cycle of a cultivated loess soil In 1984/85, a microplot experiment with ¹⁵N-enriched fertilizer was carried out on a field of the Calenberg loess area near Hannover (surface area of the plots: 1 ± 2 m; experimental soil: stagnigleyic cambisol from loess). On the one hand, the extent of immobilization as well as remobilization of native soil- and fertilizer-N associated with straw incorporation (± 8 t/ha) was quantified. On the other hand, the turnover as well as the alteration of C- and N-masses in the decomposing straw material was studied. About 70% of the initial dry organic matter of straw was mineralized within one year. An enrichment of fertilizer-N as well as native soil-N in the residues of up to 20 kg/ha was observed as compared to the initial N-mass. On a microplot cropped with winter-wheat, microbial N-immobilization of about 30–40 kg/ha (native soil-N and fertilizer-N) occured in the soil after straw incorporation. The immobilization extended to march 1985. Subsequent, associated with a C/N-ratio in the straw of 43, N-remineralization as well as -extramineralization was observed with 40 kg/ha at maximum in december 1985.     

Adsorption und Desorption von Methabenzthiazuron in verschiedenen Böden

Adsorption and desorption of methabenzthiazuron in various soils A method investigating adsorption and desorption of pesticides using radioactive tracers and a computer programme is described. The adsorption and desorption of the herbicidal substance methabenzthiazuron in 7 soil samples is investigated. The adsorption of methabenzthiazuron decreases from the A_p- to the C-horizons. A good correlation exists between the adsorbed amount of the herbicidal substance and the C- and N-content of the soils. The relatively highest desorption was found with nearly humusfree soils. The amount of adsorbed herbicide residues, not desorbable by water in 5 desorption cycles, is much higher in the humic soils than in the nearly humusfree soils. From the relationship found between adsorption and corresponding herbicide concentrations proper adsorption values can be predicted for any herbicide concentration within the investigated concentration range by using one single adsorption measurement as a basis of calculation.     

Möglichkeiten der Verwertung von Rotschlamm und Grünsalz auf Hochmoorböden

Practicable application of red sludge and melanterite (FeSO₄) on bog peat soils A new way is shown to dispose the industrial by-products red sludge and melanterite by agricultural application. The ferrous products sorbe the moveable phosphates in the acid bog peat soil, so that they are still available for plants, but will not or only a little be leached. In a field trial the amount of leached phosphorus could be reduced by about 80%. The agricultural use of red sludge and melanterite is thereby at the same time a contribution to reduce the pollution of surface waters.     

Oberflächenstrukturen und Eigenschaften von Permafrostböden im nordsibirischen Lena-Delta

Patterned ground and properties of permafrost soils of the Northsiberian Lena Delta The land surface of the Lena Delta is covered by polygon structures with scattered pingos and dunes. There exist so-called aerated, swampy and open polygons (open water surface) with Gelic Gleysols and Gelic Histosols (gelundic phase). The soils show only minor signs of cryoturbation and weathering. They contain high amounts of silt and slightly decomposed organic matter down to soil depths far beyond the permafrost table during summer. The soil surface is rising due to accumulation of organic matter and periodic flooding. This leads to a continuous rise of the permafrost table and subsequently to a permafrost freeze storage of plant material. The soils are therefore effective carbon sinks. On top of an investigated pingo a Gleyi-gelic Cambisol developed due to windexposed position, good drainage and higher soil temperatures connnected with a deeper permafrost table. This soil did not show any signs of cryoturbation. It has a relatively low content of organic matter due to a higher mineralization. As a consequence of frost effected sorting and wind erosion the soil material near to the surface is rich in sand and has a reduced silt content.     

Kurzfristige pH-Pufferung von Böden

Short-time pH buffering of soils Changes in pH of 60 soils after HCl addition were related to reaction time and soil characteristis. Between 80 and 100% of the added protons were taken up by the soils within a few seconds, resulting in the release of exchangeable Ca, Mg and Al in strongly acid soils. The decrease of proton activity between 0.25 and 30-70 h can be formally described as a diffusion process. pH buffering depended on soil pH and organic C content but not on clay content. Buffering decreased from pH 3.5 to about 6 and increased again up to pH 7. Increase of C_org increased buffering mainly from pH 6-7.     

Einfluß von Stroh und Nitrapyrin auf den verfügbaren Stickstoff im Boden,den Ertrag und den Stickstoffentzug von Lolium multiflorum

Effect of straw and nitrapyrin application on the nitrogen availability in the soil and the yield and nitrogen uptake of Lolium multiflorum. In pot experiments the effect of straw and nitrapyrin application on the turn-over of fertilizer NH and on the nitrogen availability in the soil was investigated. The investigation comprised two sections: an incubation experiment in which straw and nitrapyrin together with NH-N were incorporated into a brown podsolic soil and a subsequent pot experiment with ryegrass. Nitrapyrin inhibited the nitrification and reduced the nitrogen loss of the soil. Compared with the treatments without nitrapyrin application, nitrapyrin resulted in a lower dry matter yield and in a lower nitrogen uptake of the ryegrass. Straw application reduced the nitrate content in the soil significantly. This effect was particulary evident in the treatments which did not receive nitrapyrin. Accordingly, nitrogen uptake and yield of ryegrass were significantly lower in the ‘straw treatments’ as compared with the treatments without straw. It is suggested that the impared nitrogen availability in the ‘straw treatments’ was mainly due to nitrogen losses caused by denitrification.     

Einfluß von Kationenaustauscherharz auf die Schwermetallaufnahme von Reben und anderen Kulturpflanzen aus kontaminierten Böden

The effect of a cation exchange resin on the uptake of heavy metals by grapevines and other cultivated plants grown in contaminated soils The effect of a cation exchange resin on the growth and heavy metal content of grapevine, sun flower, cress, wheat and Italian rye-grass was investigated in potted vineyard soil, contaminated by the long application of Cu-containing pesticides (total Cu content of the soil: 628 ppm), or a soil contaminated artificially with 20 ppm Cd. Roots of cress seedlings grown in a vineyard soil mixed with a cation exchange resin were 2.2 times longer than in the untreated soil. Rye-grass was not injured, whereas grapevine, sun flower and wheat showed varying degrees of growth reduction, chlorosis and necrosis when grown in untreated vineyard soil. However, wheat and sunflower grown in vineyard soil containing a cation exchange resin showed no injury and grapevines exhibited markedly reduced symptoms. The Cu content of the test plants decreased as follows: The Zn and Cd content of the plants also decreased considerably, whereas their Fe and Mn content was not influenced. Grapevine, grown in a calcareous soil contaminated with 20 ppm Cd, contained 447 ppm Cd in the roots (untreated: 1,9 ppm) and 0,20 ppm Cd in the leaves (untreated: 0,04 ppm). The Cd content of the roots declined to 113ppm, that of the leaves to 0,15 ppm when grown in the contaminated soil containing a cation exchanger.     

Rekonstruktion des Ausgangszustandes und Bilanzierung von Böden einer Moränenlandschaft

Reconstruction of the original composition and balancing of soils developed on glacial till In this paper a method for the reconstruction of the original composition of soils formed on heterogeneous glacial till is described. As an exampel the original contents of carbonates, iron and clay were calculated in two soils. The soils investigated are “Rostbraunerde” under forest and ?Braunerde”? under meadow. The “Braunerde” has been regularly irrigated with waste water for the last 70 years. The heterogenity of the fine earth of the parent material is caused by the successive deposition of materials with varying particle size distribution as well as in situ cryoclastic weathering of the different rock fragments. The reconstruction was calculated from the relation between the above mentioned weatherable components and less weatherable components in the pleistocenic sediments of Berlin. The sorting grade (So, Muller, 1962), median (Md) of the particle size distribution in the 2–600 γ fraction and the contents of coarse sand, Zr and Ti in the fraction 2-2000 pm were considered as unweatherable. The calculations were performed using multi regression analysis. The influence of the pedogenetic processes of decarbonatisation, acidification, clay formation and clay migration as well as the pedological changes resulting from the waste water irrigation were quantified through the comparison between the calculated original and the measured actual contents of the weatherable components.     

Zum Einfluß von pH und organischem Kohlenstoffgehalt auf die Löslichkeit von Eisen,Blei, Mangan und Zink in Waldböden

Influence of pH and organic carbon content on the solubility of iron, lead, manganese and zinc in forest soils Several soil factors determine the solubility of heavy metals in soils. The contents of exchangeable and in consequence potentially plant available heavy metals are mainly influenced by the pH and the content of organic carbon. Samples of the A_h-horizon from the stemflow area and from soil not influenced by stemflow water were investigated in beech forests. The solubility or iron, lead, manganese and zinc is described in relation to the pH and the content of organic carbon. Exchangeable iron and lead appear in significant amounts at pH below 3.5 and 4.5, respectively, regardless to the content of organic carbon. Manganese and zinc are exchangeable at pH below 5.0 and are leached for about 90% from the A_h-horizon at pH values below 3.0. The effects of higher soluble iron and lead contents on the distribution of herbaceous plants are discussed.     

Die Böden von Wallhecken in Schleswig-Holstein I. Klassifikation und Genese

Soils of Mound Hedges in Schleswig-Holstein I. Classification and Genesis In typical landscapes of Schleswig-Holstein soils of mound hedges were investigated (FAO (1989): Cumulic Anthrosol). New soils have been developed from the deposit of the mound hedge in less than 250 years. A classification with regard to the German classification of natural soils is suggested. The soil genesis from sandy deposits has reached the step of Dystric Regosols, groundwater has induced gleyic features. Soil genesis could be described chronologically, if time of deposition of these mound hedges is known. Some of the natural soils are conserved below the deposit. Pedogenesis in an area, changed by man, could be reconstructed. This is why systematic, scientific soil investigations of mound hedges may be very interesting.