Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 83. (Budapest 1991)

Szendrei, G.: Contribution to the micromorphology of the brown forest soils in Hungary

ANNALES HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONALIS HUNGARICI Tomus 83. Budapest, 1991 p. 5-16. Contribution to the micromorphology of the brown forest soils in Hungary by G. SZENDREI, Budapest SZENDREI, G.: Contribution to the micromorphology of the brown forest soils in Hungary. - Annls hist-nat Mus. natn. hung. 1991, 83: 000-000. Abstract - Typical profiles of eight soil types included in the main type brown forest soil in Hungary were selected for micromorphological investigations. Descriptions were given according to the Handbook for Soil Thin Section Description. The data were interpreted from the aspects of formation processes, and the similarities and differences among the micromorphological characteristics compiled from the literature and the data obtained. With 1 table and 4 figures. INTRODUCTION With the object of obtaining micromorphological descriptions of all soil types listed in the Hungarian soil classification system (STEFANOVITS 1981, SZABOLCS et al. 1966. Útmutató 1987) - after publishing data on the micromorphology of lithomorphic, chernozem- and salt-affected soils (SZENDREI 1988, 1990a, 1990b) - the micromorphology of typical brown forest soils was investigated. In the Hungarian soil classification system eight types (i. e. brown forest soil with residual carbonate, chernozem-brown forest soil, Ramann brown forest soil, lessivated brown forest soil, podzolic brown forest soil, pseudogley brown forest soil, "kovárvány" brown forest soil, and acidic, non-podzolic brown forest soil) were distinguished in the main type brown forest soil. These soils cover large areas in Hungary, and they are of high agricultural importance, therefore, special attention was paid to their study (STEFANOVITS 1963,1971). In the 1960's micromorphological research was restarted in the country with the investigation of brown forest soils (RÓZSAVÖLGYI & STEFANOVITS 1960). In spite of this only a few data have been published in Hungary on the micromorphology of these soils (RÓZSAVÖLGYI & STEFANOVITS 1960, STEFANOVITS 1971). Materials and methods Typical profiles of the eight soil types were selected for investigation. The localities are given in Table 1. Undisturbed soil samples were collected from each genetic horizon. The preparation of soil thin sections was reported in detail by SZENDREI (1970,1980,1988). The micromorphological descriptions are given according to the terminology of the Handbook for Soil Thin Section Description (BULLOCK et al. 1985). While discussing the results of the former studies, sometimes other terms (which were used in the original papers) are also used.