Parent material origin as a factor influencing the development and properties of Brunic Arenosols in a young glacial landscape

In this study, we aimed to quantify the effects of parent material origin on chosen indicators of pedogenesis and properties of Brunic Arenosols in a young glacial landscape (Poznań and Pomeranian Phases of the Vistulian Glaciation). A total of 74 soil profiles that developed from six types of parent material (aeolian cover, kames, eskers, sandurs, supra-flood terraces, moraines) were described, sampled, and analyzed. The origin of the parent material seems to have been important in influencing the variability of the studied soils, although they showed great heterogeneity, so this was not always statistically confirmed. The importance of the parent material was well reflected in the morphological characteristics of the soils, such as the depth of the solum, thickness of the Bw horizon, and its color saturation. There were also clear differences in some nutrients (P, K, Ca), sorption characteristics, and iron forms. These characteristics are strongly influenced by soil mineral phase. The greatest differences were found between soils developed from sediments resulting from contrasting depositional mechanisms. The most distinctive were those developed from aeolian and glacial substrates. In general, all the soils studied represented sandy texture classes and therefore differences in physical characteristics were rather low. In addition, the soils usually did not differ in pH. The results of our studies highlighted the large variability of Brunic Arenosols and their continuum. Our findings should be considered more as a contribution to better understanding the problem addressed and to the planning of further studies, rather than a final report