Soil responses to land-use change – a study in south-west Ireland

Two sets of soils, one developed under semi-natural woodland and a second in an adjacent non-wooded site, were studied to elucidate the effects of land-use change on soil development. Pollen analysis, supported by 14 C dating, was used to reconstruct the vegetation history of the non-wooded site, an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forest ecology and management 1999-06, Vol.119 (1), p.63-76
Main Authors: Cunningham, D.A, Farrell, E.P, Collins, J.F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biogeochemical cycles
drainage
history
Iron pan formation
iron pans
land use
Pedogenesis
podzolization
pollen
Pollen analysis
precipitation
soil chemistry
soil formation
soil morphology
soil organic matter
soil physical properties
Soil-topographic relationships
vegetation
Woodland clearance
woodlands
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Summary:Two sets of soils, one developed under semi-natural woodland and a second in an adjacent non-wooded site, were studied to elucidate the effects of land-use change on soil development. Pollen analysis, supported by 14 C dating, was used to reconstruct the vegetation history of the non-wooded site, and to confirm historical documentary evidence that woodland clearance occurred ca. 350 years BP. Oak wood clearance has resulted in changes in soil morphological, physical and chemical properties. Increased effective precipitation and reduction in nutrient cycling has caused greater podzolisation in well drained areas and has resulted in a greater degree of hydromorphism in the poorly drained areas. The accumulation of surface organic material, evident in many of the soils in the cleared area, with or without the development of an iron pan, is a precursor to the formation of blanket peat.
ISSN:0378-1127
1872-7042
DOI:10.1016/S0378-1127(98)00510-6