brown earth

• where brown earths are found

  milder climates with less precipitation than where podzols are found

  temperatures are milder so decomposition occurs quicker

  more chemical and biological action and more decay at the surface
• role of vegetation in a brown earth

  found in areas of deciduous woodland

  tends to be a thick layer of leaf litter that decomposes quickly due to milder temperatures

  deciduous vegetation decomposes to form a mildly acidic mull humus
• role of biota in brown earth

  the thick organic leaf litter in the Ao horizon is quickly broken down by the many organisms such as worms, insects and rodents

  this, along with quick nutrient recycling, gives a dark brown upper horizon

  the organisms also aerate the soil
• the layers in a brown earth

  the A layer is brown and crumbly in texture

  the is a lot of humus in this layer from the vegetation. the soil has a loamy texture

  loamy - high quality earth that is a mixture of sand, clay and decaying plant material

  less distinct layers as organisms in the soil mix it up

  iron and other materials are leached down making the lower layer reddish-brown
• relief and drainage of a brown earth

  much better drainage and is less prone to water logging than podzols

  water moves slowly down the horizons

  as precipitation is greater than evapotranspiration some leaching will occur
• parent material of a brown earth

  tree roots from the deciduous trees are long and penetrate into the parent rock

  the roots can break up the parent rock in the C horizon and return nutrients back to the top layers
• brown earth soil profile