Characteristics of soil types on small river islands in the central Danube basin

Abstract

Determination of soil characteristics orginated on small river islands in the alluvial plane of the Danube river is done in this paper. High content of silt+clay fractions was found in all the profiles in the humus­accumulative horizon. Textural class in the surface horizons ranged from sand­clay to clay. Below this horizon sand layers of different depths have been found. By the depth of profiles fraction of fine sand was found most often. In these horizons the capacity for air was increased. Processes of oxidoreduction have been determined by the depth of the entire profile on all small river islands and referred to the high degree of moistening during the vegetation season. Chemical properties of soil, originated on small river islands were in accordance with the characteristics of fluvisol in the alluvial plain of the Danube river. Soils characterized by the dominant sedimentation process (continuous flooding), high accumulation of organic matter, which is characterized by high production potential of forest ecosystems.

Keywords

• soil
• textural class
• small river island
• Danube