Phytolith profile cadastre of the most significant and abundant soil types of Hungary V. Results of the examined meadow and alluvial soil profiles.

Abstract

The phytolith profile cadastre of the most significant and abundant soil types of Hungary gives an overview of phytolith analytical and pedological baseline data of a phytolith-soil database relevant to Hungary and the Carpathian Basin. Present paper is part of a series that is engaged in disseminating the first result of the work conducted in this field. The soil types – that were selected based on the Hungarian soil classification system – reflect various landscape zones and habitats. Present contributions contains the soil description and phytolith analyses of two meadow and two alluvial soil profiles. Extremely high phytolith presence in meadow soils – as reflected by scholarly literature – could not be demonstrated in the examined profiles. Phytolith accumulation and ’phytolith steril’ zones – distributed vertically in the profiles – reflect the complex soil evolution patterns and surface developments of meadow and alluvial soils. Quantitative and qualitative vertical distribution of phytoliths underline the complexity of alluvial processes – such as rill wash, alluviation of non autochton sediments and flooding – in the evolution of meadow and alluvial soil profiles.