ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Air-Dry and Water-Stable Soil Aggregate
Distribution of Polish Chernozems Classified
in Various Complexes of Agricultural Suitability
Jan Paluszek
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Institute of Soil Science, Environmental Engineering, and Management,
University of Life Science in Lublin, S. Leszczyńskiego 7, 20-069 Lublin, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2014;23(3):813-821
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ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was quality estimation of air-dry and water-stable soil aggregate distribution
in Polish Haplic Chernozems developed from loess. It was found that among the Chernozems classified in
the particular complexes of agricultural suitability there were small differences in the content of air-dry aggregates
with sizes of 0.25-10 mm. The distribution of air-dry aggregates in horizons Ap, A, and ABw was estimated
as good or medium, while that in horizons Bw and Ck as medium or poor. In the Chernozems classified
in the very good wheat complex and the good wheat complex the content of water-stable aggregates with
sizes of 0.25-10 mm was significantly greater than in soils classified in the deficient wheat complex. The
water-stable aggregate distribution in the Ap horizons of soils classified in the very good and good wheat complexes
was estimated as good, and in the Ap horizons of soils of the deficient wheat complex as medium. In
horizons A the distribution of water stable aggregates was assessed as medium, and in horizons ABw, Bw, and
Ck as poor or very poor.