Understanding the effect of long-term drainage of peatland areas is helpful in future peatland management and regulations of water conditions. The aim of this work was to assess the current state of fen peatland soils in the Grójecka Valley (eastern part of the Wielkopolskie voivodeship, central Poland), affected by long-term agricultural use (pastures, meadows) since the 1960s and potentially by lignite open pit mining industry (KWB Konin) since 1980s. Field studies were carried out in 2015 in selected fen peatland areas. Soil material for laboratory analysis was collected from genetic horizons from four soil profiles. The surface horizons of studied organic and organo-mineral soils were built with well-developed moorsh material. They were classified as medium moorshiefied – MtII (profile 1, 3 and 4) and strongly moorshiefied – MtIII (profile 2). Obtained results of physical and physico-chemical analysis indicate that long-term peatland utilization connected with potential impact of the lignite mining, transformed mainly the upper horizons of studied organic and organo-mineral soils. However, despite obvious strong human impact on peatlands ecosystems, we cannot exclude the climate variables, what should be confirmed by long-term monitoring program. Furthermore, presented paper indicated that new subtype moorsh-muddy soils (in Polish: gleby murszowo-mułowe) within the type of gleyic soils should be implemented in the next version of Polish Soil Classification.

The simultaneous impact of climate change and human activities on soil organic carbon content (SOC) in peatlands is insufficiently recognized, especially in relation to peatlands affected by open‐pit lignite mining. Given their importance in climate change feedback loops, long‐term observations of SOC changes in peatlands are essential. The aim of the study was to determine recent changes in the properties and SOC content/stock of agro‐managed fen peatlands located adjacent to open‐pit lignite mines. We studied two soil layers (0–20 and 20–40 cm) within 12 sampling plots in the Grójec Valley (Central Poland). Soil sample collection and field measurements took place in 2005 and again in 2015. The largest negative changes in soil properties (e.g. SOC content drop from 208 to 318 g kg−1 in 2005 to 125–263 g kg−1 in 2015 and SOC stock decrease from 12.1–16.2 kg m−2 in 2005 to 9.22–14.5 kg m−2 in 2015), as well as the largest variability of watertable level were recorded in the northern part of the study area, affected by long‐term lignite mining (1982–2009). While such a strong changes were not observed in the plots from central and southern part of the valley (230–439 g kg−1 in 2005 and 228–396 g kg−1 in 2015; 11.5–29,2 kg m−2 in 2005 and 13.4–36.1 kg m−2, respectively). Our results showed that depletion of SOC content in lowland peatlands in the temperate climate zone (due to human activity and changeable weather conditions) will proceed unless we implement sustainable management practices or apply restoration plans at these sites.

This work presents the results of a four-year study on the determination of the range of soil groundwater drainage caused by the operation of the Tomis³awice lignite open-cast mine. The performed analyses covered the area of 9600 ha which included 24 villages. It was found that operation of Tomis³awice open-cast mine caused noticeable changes of soil groundwater level in the areas adjacent to the excavation. It consequently resulted in considerable changes in soil water regimes types on grassland areas but it did not always lead to soil degradation processes. However, the deterioration of soils hydrological conditions may cause disappearance of certain hydrophilous grass species.

The paper presents the characteristics of selected physical, chemical, and water properties of four mineral arable soils characterized with heavy and very heavy texture. Soil samples from genetic horizons of black earths from areas near Kêtrzyn, Gniew and Kujawy, and alluvial soils from ¯u³awy were used. The following properties were determined in the samples of undisturbed and disturbed structure: texture, particle density, bulk density, porosity, natural and hygroscopic moistures, maximal hygroscopic capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, potential of water bonding in soil, total and readily available water, total retention in the horizon of 0-50 cm, drainage porosity, content of organic carbon and total nitrogen Parent rocks of these soils were clays, silts and loams of various origin. High content of clay fraction strongly influenced the values of all the analyzed properties. All the examined soils had high content of organic carbon and total nitrogen and reaction close to neutral or alkaline. High content of mineral and organic colloids and, what follows, beneficial state of top horizons' structure, determined -apart from heavy texture -low soil bulk density and high porosity. The investigated soils were characterized by high field water capacity and wide scopes of total and readily available water. The saturated hydraulic conductivity was low and characteristic to heavy mineral arable soils. The parameter which influenced the variability of analyzed parameters most was texture.

The paper presents physical and water properties of six soils located in the areas directly adjacent to "Drzewce" lignite open cast mine (KWB Konin). The conducted works included preparation of pits of various soil types in points characteristic to large and representative soil allotments. The selected soil types represented mineral and organic soils. Samples of disturbed and undisturbed structure were taken from various genetic horizons for laboratory analysis. Such properties as content of total carbon, texture, specific density, bulk density, total and drainage porosity, moisture, saturated hydraulic conductivity, the potential of water bonding, total and readily available water, and total retention were determined in the samples from the horizons of 0-100 cm. The investigated soils showed mostly sandy texture with few local loam insertions. Texture and the content of organic matter were the most important parameters which influenced all analyzed properties. Morphology and the properties of the examined soils as well as deep level of soil -ground water were decisive factors when categorizing them as a precipitation-water type. Such soils will not undergo degradation caused by the dehydrating depression cone of open cast mine.