Brown Earth

Brown Earth

1. Deciduous vegetation

   • Leaf litter, well-decomposed to form fermentation layer
     • Mild acid humus - mull
       • Rapid decomposition due to earthworms and mild temps
         • Dark brown due to humus staining from bove
           • Loamy texture
             • Well aerated due to tunnelling by organisms
               • Merged horizons due to organisms
                 • Possible capillary uplift in summer depositing nutrients in A horizon
                   • Possible seasonal iron on in winter
                     • Deeps roots allow chemicals lost by leaching to be brought back up
                       • Lighter brown as there is less humus
                         • Light clay texture
                           • Well weathered parent material broken up by warmer temperatures and tree roots