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The studies on quartz silt surface microstructures using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed in Brunic Arenosol and Gleyic Ortsteinic Podzol, as major components of soil cover of the lower supra-flood terrace of the Słupia River, N Poland. Brunic Arenosols have developed from coarse- and medium-grained fluvioglacial sands, whereas Podzols from aeolian sands of mid-Holocene age, which in some places were covered with younger aeolian deposits. A group of at least 100 randomly selected grains from each soil horizon have been analyzed. The grains were classified into one of the following groups: fresh (type A), grains with the features of chemical weathering (type B), grains coated with scaly-grain incrustations (type C), grains coated with bulbous incrustations (type D), and cracked grains (type E). Parent materials of the investigated soils did not differ significantly in terms of contribution of grain types and type C predominated in both soils. Significant differences were noted in soil solums. Grains covered by scaly-grained incrustations predominated in Brunic Arenosol, which constituted 62–89%. In the profile of Gleyic Ortsteinic Podzol grains type B predominated in AE and E horizons (65–82%), whereas in the remaining horizons grains type C (54–77%).

Agriculture has been the major driver of deforestation in Europe in the last 1000 years. In the past, forests were also exploited for charcoal production; however, the spatial scale/extent of this activity and its impact are unknown. LIDAR data can be used as a noninvasive tool to investigate the small-scale diversity of the land relief, including forested areas. These data can reveal the extent anthropogenic modifications of topography present-day as well as in the past. One of the activities that can be analyzed based on LIDAR data is spatial distribution of charcoal production. A preliminary LIDAR data analysis indicated the intensity of this practice and its potential impact on the natural environment. This prompted us to analyze the environmental impact of charcoal hearths in northern Poland. As it turned out, this topic exceeded the scope of earth sciences and became a transdisciplinary one. In this work, we will use the research methods typical of biogeography, dendroecology, paleoecology, soil science, biology, botany, history, onomastics, as well as art history, in order to thoroughly understand not only the natural consequences but also the social and economic consequences of charcoal production. This paper presents the assumptions of our project, the research methodology, and the preliminary results. We have identified using LIDAR data more than 73 thousand relief forms which can be remnants of charcoal hearths. Our preliminary results confirmed large scale impact of past human activity related to charcoal production and suitability of the methods used for detecting and reconstructing charcoal hearths as well as determining the distribution and magnitude of past forest use for charcoal production in NW Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, afforestation with silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) instead of other species has become more popular, as it adapts easily to a wide spectrum of climatic and habitat conditions. We aimed to determine the impact of birch planting on earthworms, one of the most important soil quality and biodiversity bioindicators. Our study area included post-arable plots afforested with silver birch and corresponding arable fields, located in central Poland. Birch stands spanning in age from 20 to 80 years old were studied. To control for soil properties, approx. half of the plots were located on sandy soils, and the other half on loamy soils, and several soil parameters were measured at each site. Earthworms were collected in two seasons (spring and autumn) from 54 locations over two consecutive years. Our findings revealed a significant increase in earthworm biomass in the post-arable birch forest compared to adjacent arable land (from 3.1 to 13.7 g m−2), particularly evident on sandy soils (from 0.68 to 9.8 g m−2). Forest age emerged as an important predictor of earthworm biomass in recently established birch forests (F = 17.39; p < 0.001). Across all sites, we identified ten earthworm species: four endogeic, five epigeic, and one anecic. Epigeic species benefited the most from afforestation, being present on only 30% of arable field plots but 77% of forest plots. Anecic species were found on 7% and 53% of plots, while endogeic – on 63% and 83%, respectively. Among the ten identified species, four exhibited the largest biomass and predominantly influenced the investigated relationships. Our conclusion is that birch afforestation can be particularly beneficial for nutrient-poor sandy soils, as it fosters essential soil fauna communities and augments the ecosystem services reliant upon them. Utilizing birch for afforestation of less agriculturally suitable soils shows promise for improving their quality as the forest develops, given that earthworms, as soil engineers, exert a strong impact on the soil environment. [Display omitted] • Birch afforestation boosts earthworm biomass 3.1-fold, fostering soil biodiversity. • Afforestation affects earthworms more in sandy than loamy soils. • Epigeic species benefited the most from afforestation. • Earthworm biomass rises with birch forest age, particularly for endogeic species. • Birch planting increases the provision of earthworm-mediated ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The depositional and soil-forming processes preserved in the cliffs have a multistage nature. • No fossil soils dating back to the Atlantic period were found in the cliffs. • New qualifiers describing compacted and eroded soils are proposed. • The sequences are represented by soils from the Preboreal/Boreal to contemporary. • The deposition of sediments of various origin has affected the variety of soils along the southern Baltic coast. This study aimed to identify the main depositional and soil-forming phases in the middle section of the Polish Baltic coast and determine the history of its landscape development. An attempt was also made to define new qualifiers to describe these compacted and eroded soils (including fossil soils), which have not previously been included in the WRB classification. The study was conducted in cliff sections located in the southern Baltic coastal zone. Selected physical and chemical properties were determined from four soil profiles using standard methods. Additionally, peat, peat-like material, mursh, and charcoals were dated using the radiocarbon method. Environmental reconstructions based on fossil soils have provided information about the development of the coast in the context of periods of relative climate stability that allowed the formation of soils of various types. The presence of sediments of different origin (glacial till, fluvioglacial and aeolian sands, interbeddings of peat, mursh and peat-like material) in the profiles compared with the obtained radiocarbon dates allowed for an assessment of the impact of environmental conditions on the potential for soil formation over thousands of years. The oldest soils, represented by Akrofluvic Stagnic Gleysols and Fluvic Stagnic Gleysols, were dated back to the Preboreal/Boreal period,whereas the youngest fossil soils (Albic Podzols (Arenic) and Aeolic Dystric Arenosols)) were developed in the SA2 phase of the Subatlantic period. The contemporary soil cover was represented by poorly developed Aeolic Dystric Arenosols with initial features of the podzolization process. No soils dated to the Atlantic period were found. Our findings are complementary to those of other studies on the history of the Polish Baltic coast and can be used for comparing with the soil cover development in other coastal regions of the Baltic Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]