Pedological evidence of man's role in soil profile modification in ireland

Irish Plaggen Soils—their Distribution, Origin, and Properties

“…It seems that sea sand has been ap lied to farm land from pre-Christian times (Conry and Mitchell,19 of; its use is well authenticated from the thirteenth century onwards (Lucas, 1969). It is difficult to ascertain the amounts used in earlier times, but the literature suggests that it was used in large quantities from the later part of the eighteenth century down to the middle of the twentieth century (Conry and Mitchell, 1970).…”

“…Consequently, eacR man-made soil is compared with its 'unsanded' counterpart. In this way, the morphological and chemical ro erties direct1 attributable to the application of sand can be establis R d : e (Conry and Ryan, 1963), while Profile 4 is compared with its 'unsanded' counterpart, the Macamore Series in Co. Wexford (Gardiner and Ryan, 1964). Profile 3 and its 'unsanded' counterpart, Profile 2, occur in adjacent fields separated by a roadway (Fig.…”

“…Although Plaggen colour is determined by original sub-soil, the original texture of the soils influences the texture of the Plaggen layer only to a limited extent. The high silt content (> 50 per cent throughout the profile) of the Schull Series (Conry and Ryan, 1963) gives a relatively high silt content to the Plaggen layers (2 samples on extreme right, Fiy 6).…”

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Soils have been described in Ireland which meet the definition of thick manmade surface horizons conforming to Plaggen epipedons (Conry, 1969). Unlike the north-west European Plaggen soils these Irish Plaggen soils have not been formed by the prolonged addition of Plaggen material (heather sods, forest litter, or grass plaggen) and dung, but were formed by the addition of calcareous sea sand, applied either alone or mixed with stable dung.

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“…Whole and comminuted sea shells are obvious to the naked eye. Plaggen colour de ends on the colour of the sub-soil type (Conry, 1969). Rounded beac!…”