TYPES OF SOIL DEGRADATION ON LOESS NEAR KRAKOW

Humus content, thickness of the accumulation horizon, soil texture, and depth of decalcification are all related to the slope of the soil surface in loess soils near Kraków. For example, humus content declines from 75 to 65 tonnes/ha as slope increases from 2 to 12°. Depth of decalcification which is about IOO cm on soils with slopes less than 2° is only about 50 cm on slopes of 12°. Such observations may prove helpful in the evaluation of the intensity of soil erosion processes on other loess areas physiographically similar to the region near Kraków.