Chernozem-Soil of the Year 2005
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 2005, 168, 725–740 DOI: 10.1002/jpln.200521814 725 Chernozem—Soil of the Year 2005 Manfred Altermann1, Jörg Rinklebe2*, Ines Merbach3, Martin Körschens4, Uwe Langer2, and Bodo Hofmann5 1 Institute for Applied Site Ecology and Soil Protection in Central Germany, Hauptstraße 19, D-06132 Halle/S., Germany 2 Department of Soil Sciences, UFZ Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany 3 Experimental Station Bad Lauchstädt, UFZ Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Hallesche Str. 44, D-06246 Bad Lauchstädt, Germany 4 Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute for Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Adam-Kuckhoff-Str. 17, D-06108 Halle/Saale, Germany 5 Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute for Agriculture and Crop Production, Ludwig-Wucherer-Straße 2, D-06108 Halle/Saale, Germany Accepted September 11, 2005 PNSS P181/4B Summary—Zusammenfassung Schwarzerde – Boden des Jahres 2005 The proclamation of the “Soil of the Year” was made for the Anlässlich des Weltbodentages wurde in Deutschland für first time in Germany in 2005 on occasion of the World Soil 2005 mit der Schwarzerde erstmalig ein „Boden des Jahres“ Day. Chernozems were selected for this purpose. In this proklamiert. Damit soll in der Bevölkerung und bei politischen paper an overview of these groups of soils is given. Cherno- Entscheidungsträgern ein stärkeres Bewusstsein für den zems are concentrated in the drought region of Central Ger- Boden und ein höheres Engagement für den Bodenschutz many. A standard profile from the core area of Chernozems angeregt werden. Im Beitrag wird ein Überblick über diese developed from loess is presented with comprehensive labo- Bodengruppe gegeben und ein Standardprofil aus dem Kern- ratory analysis. Chernozems developed primarily upon car- gebiet der Schwarzerden aus Löss (Mitteldeutsches Trocken- bonatic loess substrates under summer-dry climatic condi- gebiet) mit umfassenden Laboranalysen exemplarisch prä- tions in an open park-like landscape with isolated forest sentiert. Schwarzerden entwickelten sich vorwiegend auf kalk- stands. The development of Chernozems began as early as reichen Lössen unter sommertrockenen Klimabedingungen the late glacial period, and they were fully developed by the in einer offenen parkähnlichen Landschaft mit Waldinseln. Atlantikum age. The far-reaching, uniformly thick humus hori- Die Entstehung der Schwarzerden setzte bereits im Spätgla- zons indicate substrate differences in the loess cover, which zial ein, und im Atlantikum waren sie voll entwickelt. Die weit- are partly the result of bioturbation. Within Germany, Cherno- räumig gleiche Mächtigkeit der Humushorizonte zeichnet pri- zems and Chernozem-like soils make up approx. 3% of the märe Substratunterschiede in der Lössdecke nach; sie sind surface area and 5% (approx. 11,000 km2) of the arable land. nicht nur das Ergebnis einer Bioturbation. In Deutschland The results of the Static Fertilization Experiment in Bad nehmen die Schwarzerden und schwarzerdeähnlichen Lauchstädt, founded in 1902, clarify the high value of Cherno- Böden etwa 3 % der Bodenfläche bzw. 5 % (ca. 11.000 km2) zem for biomass production and the environment. Each loss der landwirtschaftlichen Nutzfläche ein. Die Ergebnisse des due to erosion or decrease in surface area reduces the fulfill- seit 1902 bestehenden Statischen Düngungsversuchs Bad ment of soil ecological functions of the soils and is compar- Lauchstädt verdeutlichen den hohen Wert der Schwarzerden able to a loss of animal and plant species. Therefore, soil für Biomasseproduktion und Umwelt. Jeder Verlust durch scientists and the results of soil research must be more com- Erosion oder Flächenentzug mindert die Erfüllung ökologi- prehensively implemented for soil preservation, protection, scher Funktionen der Böden und ist dem Artenverlust von and politics. For acceptance of these goals among the gen- Tieren und Pflanzen gleichzustellen. In der Bodenpolitik müs- eral public and the political-decision makers, the campaign sen deshalb die Ergebnisse der Bodenforschung zum Erhalt “Soil of the Year” should give some thought-provoking und Schutz unserer Böden umfassender als bisher umge- impulses. setzt und Bodenwissenschaftler stärker in politische Ent- scheidungen eingebunden werden. Für die Akzeptanz und Key words: Chernozem / Soil of the Year 2005 / soil classification / Umsetzung dieser Ziele in der Öffentlichkeit soll der „Boden soil genesis / soil characteristics / Static Fertilization Experiment Bad des Jahres“ Impulse geben. Lauchstädt 1 Introduction and more engagement by the political-decision makers regard- ing soil protection should be initiated within this context. Soils control significantly processes in nature and assume a central role within ecosystems. Nevertheless, the importance of soils has been traditionally underestimated by society. The In contrast to other objects from nature (e.g., plants and ani- proclamation of the “Soil of the Year” was made for the first mals), which are chosen annually for proclamations, the mul- time in Germany in 2005 on occasion of the World Soil Day. A tiplicity and natural beauty of soil are not immediately discern- more pronounced awareness of soil among the population ible. In order to generate an increase in appreciation for soils, such soils have to be selected as “Soil of the Year” that would be impressive for the general public due to their constitution, * Correspondence: Dr. J. Rinklebe; e-mail: [email protected] dissemination, and functional significance. Therefore, the 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim 1436-8730/05/0612-725 726 Altermann, Rinklebe, Merbach, Körschens, Langer, Hofmann J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 2005, 168, 725–740 most essential soil types or groups of soils are primarily taken For the differentiation between Tschernosem and Kalktscher- into consideration for this selection process. nosem, only pseudomycelia, but no minimum of carbonate content is demanded for Kalktschernosem up to the present A curatorship of the German Soil Science Society and the (Ad-hoc AG Boden, 2005). In contrast, a minimum carbonate National Association of Soil (speaker: Prof. Dr. M. Frielinghaus) content of 2% is required for the differentiation between chose, from numerous candidates, Chernozem as “Soil of the Regosol/Ranker and Pararendzina/Rendzina (WRB, 1998, Year 2005”. In the following contribution, we give an overview mainly: Regosol, Rendzic Leptosol) (Ad-hoc AG Boden, of these soils from the authors’ point of view, which refer to a 2005). Analogue is supposed to determine between Tscher- standard soil profile from the core region of Chernozems in nosem and Kalktschernosem. However, a safe field-pedologi- Germany. Thereby we do not raise a claim of a complete cal differentiation between both soil types is sometimes characterization and specification for these Chernozems. impossible, due to the difficulties in discrimination between secondary and anthropogenic carbonate enrichment in Cher- 2 Classification of Chernozems nozems. Therefore, the carbonate content should be charac- terized with the aid of substrate identification, what allows Even prior to the foundation of a genetic soil classification by renouncing on the differentiation between both soil types. Dokutschajew (1883), Chernozem (Tschernosjom in Russian and Germanized as Tschernosem) was common as a designa- The soil subtypes Braunerde-Kalktschernosem (Calcic Cherno- tion for soil in the Russian steppes (Akonin, 1771, quoted by zem with cambic properties) and Parabraunerde-Kalktscherno- Kubiena, 1953). Apparently Salmon Gubert (1645) described sem (Calcic Chernozem with luvic properties) are not known to first a “black earth”, and Lomonossow (1747) (both quoted by exist in the Chernozem regions of Central Germany up to now. Reintam, 2001) introduced the term into the scientific world. It is Contrarily, Chernozems with stagnic and calcic properties in this quite possible, that the terms Tschernosjom or Tschernosem or region often contain Ca up to the surface level, so that in future Chernozem comprise the oldest derivations for a soil type. the Pseudogley-Kalktschernosem has to be included into the German Soil Classification System. In the German Soil Classification System of today (AK Boden- systematik der DBG,1998;Ad-hoc AG Boden, 2005), the multi- Within the soil classes Lessivés (WRB, 1998, mainly: Luvi- plicity of Chernozems is taken into consideration due to its differ- sols, Albeluvisols, Alisols), Stauwasserböden (soils with stag- entiation into several soil classes and soil types. Consequently, nic properties) (WRB, 1998, mainly: Planosols), Auenböden it would not be appropriate to highlight only one Chernozem (floodplain soils) (WRB, 1998, mainly: Fluvisols, Gleysols), type or subtype for the general public, rather the different and Gleye (WRB, 1998: Gleysols), transitional subtypes are appearance of Chernozems must represent the “Soil of the recorded among the Tschernosems, such as Tschernosem- Year”. For this purpose, Chernozems are characterized as fol- Parabraunerde (WRB, 1998, mainly: Luvic Chernozem, Luvic lows: or Greyic Phaeozem, Haplic Greyzem) (formerly known as “Grieserde”), Tschernosem-Pseudogley (WRB, 1998, mainly: Chernozems and chernozemic soils are soils which are Stagnic Phaeozem, Mollic Planosol), and Tschernosem-Gley dark brown to black in color, due to their enrichment of (WRB, 1998, mainly: Mollic Gleysol, Gleyic Chernozem). high-quality humus