Chemisch-mineralogische und mikromorphologische untersuchung einer eutrophen (Ramann-) braunerde des Budapester Hügellandes

In spite of the fact that Ramann's concept of Braunerde was extensively used throughout the world, some pedogenic processes and soil properties which are important for the formation and existence of Brown Forest Soils (eutrophic brown earths) are still not well known. Hence, a soil was investigated which was classified as a “Braunerde” by Ramann in 1909. The main question was, whether there might be soil constituents such as inorganic amorphous substances (allophanes) which are able to stabilize the brown-earth fabric, or to inhibit clay migration. From chemical data as well as from the magnitude of the pH-dependent CEC, it was deduced that there are no appreciable amounts of allophanes within the soil. The fabric, however, seems to be stabilized by colloid-chemical flocculation of the clay particles caused by large amounts of carbonates and silicates deposited with the parent material (loess). The decalcified solum is still rich in silicates, especially sand and coarse-silt-sized micas and feldspars (60–200 and 20–60 μm fractions, respectively). Since - in comparison - loesses and loess-derived soils of the Central German mountain region contain less silicates, mainly in fine and medium silt fractions (2–6 and 6–20 μm diameter, respectively), the coarser-grained silicates were assumed to be important for maintaining the Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ saturation of the soil by continuous weathering and thus stabilizing the brown-earth fabric.Although the soil is saturated predominantly with Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions, clay migration proceeds within the upper horizons. This was shown by calculation of the amounts of clay formed by breakdown of micas originally present in the parent material (“clay formation balance”), as well as by micromorphological studies. Furthermore, micromorphological studies and x-ray diffraction data gave some evidence for the migration of preferably finest grained montmorillonitic clays (smectites) penetrated by organic substances (humus). This kind of “selective clay migration” was assumed to be caused by high Ca²⁺ (or Mg²⁺) concentrations in soil solution required for flocculation of humus-penetrated (humus-coated) smectites. From the occurrence of these “humus-smectites” the possibility was assumed that the soil studied has been developed from a former Chernozem type.Quantitatively, clay migration does not reach the amounts of clay formation (breakdown of micas) accompanied by precipitation of iron oxides on mineral surfaces (“Verbraunung”). Thus, the soil profile visually and macromorphologically clearly exhibits the features of brown earths. On the other hand, however, some clay migration was observed. Hence, the soil was classified as a “brown earth with some clay migration” (“schwach durchschlämmte Braunerde”).Judging from the results of the “clay formation balance” an appreciable pedogenic (autigenic) clay formation from weathering products of feldspars was excluded for the soil studied.