Origin, properties and transformation of soil lamellae in rusty soils (Brunic Arenosols) in southeastern Poland

Abstract

Lamellae represent a form of illuvial accumulation of the clay fraction commonly found in Quaternary sands. Despite great interest in soils in which lamellae occur, the origin, properties and transformation of lamellae are still not fully understood. In addition, research on lamellae in sandy material was carried out mainly in Podzols, ochre soils (Rubic Arenosols) and Arenosols, while no research was conducted in this respect in rusty soils (Brunic Arenosols). The main aim of the present study was to explain lamellae origin and transformation on the example of rusty soils (Brunic Arenosols) in southeastern Poland basing on their morphology, physical and chemical properties and using micromorphological studies. The research work was performed in southeastern Poland (Kraków Gate region and Central Beskid Foothills) at the research sites Kostrze, Gołęczyna, and Połomia. The parent material of the studied soils was glaciofluvial sands. Soil lamellae in the studied rusty soils exhibit high diversity in terms of morphology and physical and chemical properties. They are characterized by a higher content of fine fractions (<0,05 mm), total organic carbon and non-silicate iron and aluminum compared to interlamellae. A number of morphological and micromorphological features, such as the presence of clay-iron coatings on mineral grains serve as evidence of the pedo-petrogenic nature of lamellae. In the uppermost parts of rusty soils, lamellae show a high degree of degradation, mainly due to biological activity.