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Natural and anthropogenic compaction in North Germany (Schleswig‐Holstein): Verification of harmful subsoil compactions
Author(s) -
Mordhorst Anneka,
Fleige Heiner,
Burbaum Bernd,
Filipinski Marek,
Horn Rainer
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/sum.12631
Subject(s) - subsoil , compaction , environmental science , geology , tillage , soil water , hydraulic conductivity , soil science , hydrology (agriculture) , geotechnical engineering , agronomy , biology
Many soil types in the federal state of Schleswig‐Holstein (North Germany) are naturally compacted in the subsoil due to pedo‐ or geogenic processes (42% of the area) but, due to anthropogenic impacts, the percentage of subsoil compaction has increased further. To determine the overall subsoil compaction status of seven representative soil types in Schleswig‐Holstein (≤ 60 cm depth), air capacity (AC), saturated hydraulic conductivity (K s ) and effective bulk density (ρ Beff ) of 342 soil profiles from the database of the State Agency for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Areas of Schleswig‐Holstein (LLUR) were evaluated with respect to critical threshold values (AC < 5 Vol.‐%, K s < 10 cm day −1 , ρ Beff > 1.7 g cm −3 ). The compaction status was classified into Classes I–IV, where a harmful subsoil compaction was assumed if both values of AC and K s simultaneously exceeded (are smaller than) their threshold value (Class IV). Subsoils of (Stagnic) Luvisols and Stagnosols derived from glacial till, as well as those of Fluvic Gleyic Stagnosols of the marshlands, showed a high degree of natural compaction (46%–65% in Class IV). In contrast, sandy subsoil horizons of Podzols and Brunic Arenosols derived from glacifluvial sediments were rarely compacted (< 13% in Class IV), and possessed the lowest ρ Beff , which were similar to Anthrosols. Only 5%–18% of their subsoil horizons exceeded the critical value of 1.7 g cm −3 . Additionally, anthropogenic subsoil compaction of at least 6%–10% was verified for (Stagnic) Luvisols and Stagnosols.