Podzols
Occur in area of coniferous forest
Coniferous forest provides little humus
Occur in areas of high rainfall – sometimes waterlogged
Heavily leached – produces hard pan
Hard Pan
Grey
Not very fertile
West of Ireland
Mountains
Leaching – the washing of nutrients down through the soil beyond the reach of plant roots
Hard Pan – a hard layer of accumulated nutrients deep in a soil
Brown Soils
Occur in areas of deciduous forest
Deciduous forest provides a rich dark humus
Occur in areas of moderate rainfall – well drained soils
Leaching does not occur
Do not have hard pan
Dark Brown in colour
Very fertile
Suits most types of agriculture
Midlands and East and South of Ireland
Tropical Red Soils
Occur in tropical areas – Zaire, Congo, Brazil
Heavy weathering of parent material – produces deep soil
Weathering due to high heat and moisture levels
Red in colour – due to presence of iron oxides in parent material
Thin fertile layer – humus decays rapidly before nutrients enter the soil
In Brazil coffee is grown on fertile red soils
European style agriculture has led to soil erosion as rain forests are stripped to make farms
Peat Soils
Mountainous areas on impermeable bedrock
Occur in areas of high rainfall – poorly drained soil
Lack of oxygen, bacteria and micro-organisms
Humus not fully decayed – forms peat
Acidic Soil
Dark Grey or Black
Vegetation – heather, sphagnum moss
Coniferous forest – sheep grazing in some areas
Western seaboard
Gley Soils
Occur in cold, wet areas
Waterlogging – occur on impermeable rock/clayey soils
Leaching does not occur
Grey, Blue-green tinge
Not fertile
Provide grazing for animals
Mid-Ulster, Connaught, South Clare