Variability of Some Physical Properties of Limnic Rendzinas in the Mazurian Lakeland (NE Poland)

Abstract

The variability of some physical properties of limnic rendzinas in the Mazurian Lakeland are discussed in the paper. For the study, six sites (68 soil carbonate samples) in NE Poland were examined in terms of their physical properties: total porosity, specific density, wet and dry bulk densities, volumetric and gravimetric water content. Moreover, the content of organic matter, CaCO3 and non-calcareous fractions were also analysed to determine the type of soil calcareous sediments, and on this basis, three groups were isolated: calcareous gyttja, meadow limestone, lacustrine chalk. The highest values of specific and bulk densities were stated in lacustrine chalk, whereas the lowest ones – in calcareous gyttja. The highest total porosity was noted in calcareous gyttja, and the lowest one in meadow limestone. Lacustrine chalk and calcareous gyttja had the highest water content, and the differences between physical properties and soil calcareous materials were statistically significant. However, the differences between soil physical properties in surface soil horizons and calcareous materials were not statistically significant. Correlation coefficients showed that there were statistical dependencies between the examined soil properties, and the principal component analysis proved that soil physical properties were dependent mainly on organic matter.