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BTU
Former field systems (FFS) in sloped forest areas are often discernible by a characteristic morphology with flattened slope areas and intermediary ridges formed by tillage erosion and colluvial redeposition. Soils of such lynchet field systems feature modified stratigraphy and properties and constitute a memory of past land use. At the same time, the legacies of past agriculture affect recent forest ecosystems. High-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) allow to identify lynchets over large areas and open up new opportunities to study the FFS. Within our research on different land use legacy features in forest areas, we study FFS in Northeastern Bavaria (Germany) in a geopedological approach, combining large-scale mapping and spatial analysis with the description and analysis of soil properties for specific sites.
Lynchet systems (and other remnants of pre-industrial FFS) in recent forests were mapped from LIDAR DEMs for an area of 2045 km2 (972 km2 forest area). The results show more than 100 km2 of FFS, mostly appearing as lynchet systems. Their spatial distribution patterns differ within the study area, mainly depending on parent material and landform.
Soil stratigraphy and properties were studied for FFS and reference positions in six study sites, combining a characterization of principal soil profiles and an assessment of spatial soil property variations. The FFS soils are characterized by truncated profiles over most parts of the flattened slope areas and accumulation of colluvium upslope of lynchet risers. The depth of soil profile truncation and height of lynchet risers differ, mainly related to slope and erodibility of the initial soils. Stratigraphy of the lynchet soils indicates a gradually proceeding formation by tillage erosion. First results of soil property analyses show that carbon and nitrogen contents differ between FFS and reference soils and are more homogeneous within the FFS. Furthermore, physical properties of the FFS soils (bulk density, pore size distribution, hydraulic conductivity) are modified compared to unaffected forest soils through profile truncation and accumulation of colluvium. Overall, the results show that the legacy effects of past agriculture affect large fractions of recent forest areas, and can be of different quality depending on lithology of the soils’ parent material and land use history.
Die Böden im Tagebauvorfeld Jänschwalde - Ergebnisse bodenkundlich-geomorphologischer Untersuchungen
(2014)
Palaeoenvironmental investigations were carried out in the Siedlungskammer (prehistoric settlement area) Burgweinting (Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany) to reveal past settlement conditions and human impact on the environment. Two sequences were obtained from the Islinger Mühlbach Fen, in close proximity to the archaeological excavation site in Burgweinting, which documents an almost continuous settlement history since the Neolithic Period. The analyses of the sequences comprise stratigraphic, geochemical and microscopic charcoal analyses. For chronological information, radiocarbon dating was conducted on a total of 10 samples. Thus, the first long-term fire record was reconstructed for the investigation area, and the results were correlated, based on radiocarbon dating, with the available environmental information and settlement history in the Siedlungskammer Burgweinting. The fire record reveals an almost continuous, but alternating fire history. Furthermore, it shows that fire played an important role in the Siedlungskammer Burgweinting and that most probably as early as the Mesolithic hunterer–gatherers deliberately used fire.
Background
Ridge and furrow (RIFU) systems and associated soils are a widespread legacy of medieval agriculture, are archives of historical land use, and might affect recent ecosystems. Open questions about RIFU formation and potential legacy effects still exist, especially related to physical soil properties.
Aims
Our aims were (1) to characterize the soil properties of RIFU soils and (2) to compare the drought sensitivity and the growth resistance in extremely dry years of trees growing on ridges and furrows, respectively.
Methods
We studied soil physical (bulk density, saturated soil hydraulic conductivity, and texture) and chemical (soil pH, soil organic matter, and nitrogen content) properties and the climate sensitivity of tree growth on RIFU systems for three study sites in Prignitz, Germany.
Results
RIFU systems showed a high spatial heterogeneity of soil stratigraphy due to ridge construction and increased accumulation of soil moisture and organic matter in furrows due to post-abandonment pedogenesis. Slight spatial differences in soil physical properties were found, with increased air capacity in ridge soils and higher available water contents in furrow soils. No differences in drought sensitivity were observed for trees growing on ridges and furrows, except for a wet site, where trees in furrows showed a higher sensitivity. Resistance in dry years tended to be similar or increase from furrows to ridges.
Conclusions
The results reflect a spatial differentiation of stratigraphy and post-abandonment pedogenesis on abandoned RIFU systems and suggest an adaption to different moisture conditions through RIFU construction. Differences in drought sensitivity of tree growth with relative land surface could only be detected for one of the three sites, where trees were found to be less drought sensitive on ridges.