The morphology, mineralogy and genesis of some soils on the Moor House National Nature Reserve

作者：Michael Hornung · 发表于：Durham e-Theses (Durham University) · 年份：1968 · 被引用次数：14 · 研究领域：Botany and Plant Ecology Studies、Plant Ecology and Soil Science

The thesis comprises three parts. One reviews pedological research in the area, discusses the soil forming factors and considers the classification of the soils studied, A chapter is devoted to each pedogenic factor and describes its role in soil formation on the Reserve. Part two comprises a study of several small limestone grasslands. Their microtopography is described using maps which also show soils. Three surfaces are recognised; the surrounding peat surface, a sub-peat 'drift' surface and a dissected limestone surface. Each sub-group in the soil complex is described, i, e. rendzina, brown calcareous soil, acid brown earth and peat podzol: profiles, with analyses, are included. Drift or head is shown to dominate the soil parent material. A contribution from the limestone is present in the shallow soils and dominates in some rendzinas. The inter-relationships of the soils are discussed: they form a sequence reflecting increasing depth of drift. In the shallow soils plants obtain nutrients from the limestone thus offsetting leaching. In the deeper soils the limestone merely maintains free drainage, A history of the grasslands is reconstructed. The smaller areas were, almost certainly peat covered but parts of the larger ones may have remained peat free. Part three discusses eight of the main soil sub-groups on the Reserve. Their distribution, morphology and pedogenesis are considered: profiles are given with analyses. Iron humus podzols are described and the origin of thei...