Implications of soil substrate and land use for properties of fen soils in North-East Germany Part I: Basic soil conditions, chemical and biological properties of topsoils

Abstract

The objective of the paper was to analyse the implications of the origin of peat (muck) soil substrate, the current type of land use and the state of anthropogenic soil development for the topsoil properties of fens. Chemical and biological properties of peat soils of the Rhin-Havelluch lowland and the Uckermark rural landscape were analyzed. The unit water content according to Ohde and the ash content were utilized to characterize the anthropogenic development status of peat topsoils. Several chemical properties were significantly influenced by soil substrate, in particular by the proportion and kind of the mineral component. The substrate was associated with the hydrological type of mire and the soil development state. TOC/N ratio and microbial activity were increased in cases of high lime spring mires and moorshified low ash peat. The proportion of easily soluble organic carbon increased, whereas the sulphur content decreased with the soil development state. The nitrogen content and the proportions of oxalate soluble iron and aluminium reached maxima in the moorshified state. The type of land use (grassland, forest) significantly influenced the topsoil pH and the proportion of oxalate soluble phosphorus. Soils under forest were clearly determined by topsoil acidification.

Keywords:

• Fen soil
• topsoil properties
• organic carbon
• microbial activity
• land use

Acknowledgements

Chemical assays of soil samples for TOC, N_t and other mineral elements were performed by ZALF Central Laboratory, supervised by Mrs Dipl. Ing. Dagmar Schulz. Mrs Karin Hantel, research station Dedelow, measured the ignition loss and the unit water content of peat soils. Mrs Martina Wiemer performed the laboratory analysis of microbial activity. Field test of water samples, creating and checking of overall primary data files were done by Mrs Dipl. Ing. (FH) Ute Moritz. Dr Ralf Dannowski, ZALF, gave valuable hints on peatland hydrology and the overall quality of the manuscript. Authors wish to appreciate their thanks for this work.

This work was supported by the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMVEL) and the Ministry for Rural Development, Environment and Consumer Protection (MLUV) of Brandenburg.