Chemical parameters of coastal grassland soils in Estonia
Department of Soil Science and Agrochemistry, Estonian Agricultural University, Kreutzwaldi 64, 51014 Tartu, Estonia; e–mail: kauer@eau.ee, tints@eau.ee, raimo@eau.ee
Abstract:
Larger areas of coastal grasslands can be found in western Estonia and in the islands of the west coast. Salt marshes of the Baltic Sea are not natural biotopes but developed by agricultural use, mainly grazing by beef cattle and horses. The main goal of the work is to discuss the properties of the investigated soils (Hyposalic Fluvisols), nutrient cycle in the plant-soil system and the influence of grazing on the coastal biotope. In this study, the coastal grassland soils in Hiiumaa have been investigated by using morphologic (depth of humus layer, bulk density) and chemical parameters (pH, total N and C, mineral elements P, K, Na, Ca, and Mg). The investigated soils contain high amounts of soluble salts K, Na, Ca, and Mg. The total nitrogen and humus content were high, but the content of P was low.
Key words:
bulk density, chemical parameters, coastal grassland soil, humus layer depth, impact of grazing