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Clay and Humus Contents Have the Key Impact on Physical Properties of Croatian Pseudogleys

Pseudogleys (Stagnosols according to WRB-2014) represent the second most widespread soil type in Croatia, developed almost exclusively in its Pannonian region. Although most Croatian Pseudogleys are found on agricultural land or in agro-ecosystems, they usually have numerous constraints for agricultural production. Primarily, this is due to their unfavorable water/air regime (precipitation water periodically stagnates on/in the poorly permeable subsoil horizon). The aim of this study was to determine which significant differences in physical properties and humus content exist between the eluvial horizon (Eg) and the illuvial horizon (Btg) in Croatian Pseudogleys. Total of 33 Pseudogley profiles were investigated at 11 forest sites across the Pannonian region of Croatia. Properties of Eg horizon significantly differed from the properties of Btg horizon. Compared with the Eg horizon, the Btg horizon had more clay, higher bulk density, less pores, and lower capacity for air. However, the stability of microaggregates was higher in the Btg horizon, than in the Eg horizon. Contents of clay and humus have the key impact on most soil physical properties. These results should be borne in mind, both when converting natural Pseudogleys into arable soils and when ameliorating arable Pseudogleys that contain the Eg horizon below the Ap horizon.

Stagnosols, Pannonian region of Croatia, Forest soils, Soil physical properties, Humus

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