‘‘Two Very Different Glacial Two Very Different Glacial Tills in the Northeast of Tills in the Northeast of
Ireland’Ireland’
Padraic MulroyPadraic Mulroy
Environmental PedologyEnvironmental Pedology
Glaciation –Glaciation –
1. Midlandian1. Midlandian10,000-70,000bp10,000-70,000bp
2. Munsterian2. Munsterian100,000- 100,000-
125,000bp125,000bp
SITE 2SITE 1SITE 1SITE 1SITE 1
SITE 2SITE 1
Regional ClimateRegional Climate
Mean Annual Temperature -8.8°C Mean Annual Temperature -8.8°C (48°F) (48°F)
Mean Annual Soil Temperature - Mean Annual Soil Temperature - 9.7°C (49.5°F) 9.7°C (49.5°F)
Total Annual Rainfall - 928mmTotal Annual Rainfall - 928mm Total Annual ET - 400mmTotal Annual ET - 400mm
Soil 1. Podzolic GleySoil 1. Podzolic GleyVariantVariant
SITE
TP1
TP1TP1TP1
SLOPE
TP1
TP2
TP3
Natural vegetationNatural vegetation
• Grass – pastureland
for beef cattle on raised
areas, intensive shallow
drainage network
• Rushes – low lying
waterlogged areas or
‘troughs’ or peaty areas
•Hedgerows –
Hawthorn, Blackthorn,
ash
TP1TP1TP2TP2TP3TP3
Facing Facing EastEast
Ap horizon - 0 – 0.42m Texture - clay loam to clay Color – 10 YR 5/4Boundary - smooth wavyStructure – fine/medium crumb & granular structure
E1 horizon – 0.42 – 0.95mTexture - gravelly gritty loam Color – 5 Y 7/3 -6/3Boundary – smooth wavyStructure – subangular, blockyOrange mottling at bottom interface
2Oeb horizon – 1.75 – 1.90mTexture - organicColor – 10YR 2/1 to 4/2Boundary - smoothStructure – Moderate to fine crumbSome twigs and roots visible
Bsg1 horizon – 1.05 – 1.40mTexture - clay (silt lenses)Color – Gley 2 5/1Boundary -smooth (no colour change)
Structure – almost massive
Bg2 horizon – 1.40 – 1.75mTexture - clay Color – Gley 2 6/1Boundary – abrupt wavy Structure – massiveSome root fibres
LAND LAND DRAINDRAIN
TP1TP1
Eg2 horizon – 0.95 – 1.05mTexture - gravelly gritty loam Color – 10 YR 6/6Boundary – diffuse wavyStructure – subangular, blocky
OCHRIC
CAMBIC
2Bhb horizon – 1.9 – 2.85mTexture – peaty silt Color – 10YR 4/2Boundary - GradualStructure – blocky to massive
2C1gb horizon – 2.85 – 3.4mTexture – clayey loamColor – Gley 2 7/2Boundary - GradualStructure – blocky to massive
2C2gb horizon – 3.4 – 4.05mTexture – siltColor – Gley 2 8/2Boundary – abrupt/unclear – not sightedStructure – massivev. soft, melted butter, v. sticky, dilatant
TP2TP2
Soil PropertiesSoil Properties
• Infiltration – Low
• Available water - Moderate
• Hydraulic Conductivity – Low
• Soil Wetness Class – Class 5
(<25cm bgl)
Soil CharacteristicsSoil Characteristics
• Infiltration – Footslope
• Parent Material – Sandstone &
shale
• Soil slope – Sloping 6.5%
• Surface run-off – ponded
• Erosion Potential – very low
Diagnostic HorizonsDiagnostic Horizons
• Epipedon - Ochric
• Subsurface Horizon - Cambic
=> INCEPTISOL
Soil 2. Brown EarthSoil 2. Brown Earth
TP1TP1
TP1
Natural vegetationNatural vegetation
• Grass pastureland
for beef cattle
• Tillage –
barley, oats, etc
• Broadleaved
Hedgerows –
Oak, Ash, etc
TP1TP1
Facing Facing SoutheastSoutheast
TP1TP1Ap horizon - 0 – 0.2m Texture - gravelly channery loam Color – 10 YR 3/2Boundary - v. diffuse irregularStructure – coarse crumb to subangular blocky
Bw or A2 horizon – 0.2 – 0.33mTexture - channery loamColor – 7.5YR 5/6Boundary - diffuse irregularStructure – subangular blocky
C horizon – 0.33 – 1.55mTexture - sandy loamColor – 10YR 5/6Boundary – diffuse irregularStructure – crumb/subangular blocky
R horizon – 1.55 – 3.5mTexture – weathered sandstone
Angular greywack
e sandstone
Subangular red
sandstone
Angular channers (shale)
Subrounded pebble
(granite)
Glacial till depositsGlacial till deposits
Subrounded & subangular Channers (limestone)
Soil PropertiesSoil Properties
• Infiltration – High
• Available water - Low
• Hydraulic Conductivity –
Moderate/High
• Soil Wetness Class - Class 1 (>150cm
bgl)
Soil CharacteristicsSoil Characteristics
• Infiltration – Upland (near apex of
hill)
• Parent Material – Sandstone &
shale
• Soil slope – Sloping 10.5%
• Surface run-off – Medium
• Erosion Potential – High
Diagnostic HorizonsDiagnostic Horizons
• Epipedon - Ochric
• Subsurface Horizon – Cambic
=> INCEPTISOL
Diagnostic HorizonsDiagnostic Horizons
• Epipedon - Ochric
• Subsurface Horizon – Cambic
=> INCEPTISOL
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