‘‘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

Thank YouThank You