Soil types in Thuringia

The soils of Thuringia can be grouped into five soil regions. In each of them, one type of soil is predominant, which primarily shapes the character of the entire region. The other soil types, which only partially and sporadically occur in the region, are neglected in the following consideration.

Black earth

Especially in the centrally located Thuringian Basin and in the East Thuringian loess area, black earth is a dominant soil type. The black earth that has formed on the lime-rich loess is highly fertile.

Layer steps and lime slabs

Both on the edge of the basin and in southern Thuringia , the landscape of strata and limestone plates predominates. Here, for example on the Saale-Ilm-Platte , there are mainly rendzines . These are often calcareous and are z. T. used agriculturally.

Mountain and hill countries

The soil landscape of the mountain and hill countries takes up a fairly large area . They are mainly located in the southern Harz foreland , East Thuringian Buntsandsteinbergand and in Eichsfeld .

In the lower and middle layers, brown earths are widely used as a soil type.

Brown earth, Podzol brown earth

The Harz , the Thuringian Forest , the Thuringian Slate Mountains and the Franconian Forest together form another striking soil landscape. In the lower layers of these mountains brown soils could still develop, while in the upper layers Podzol brown soils with their typical erosion horizons are visible. As with the Podsolen, this is due to the shift of clay , iron and aluminum compounds downwards. In the Rhön the brown earths are less acidic than in the other mountains due to the basalt underground.

Brown Vega

In the larger floodplains , the brown vega soil type has formed on the original rock alluvial clay . It is influenced by groundwater from a depth of around 80 cm .

literature

• Bibliographisches Institut & FA Brockhaus AG Mannheim and Duden Paetec GmbH: The Brockhaus multimedia premium - basic knowledge school geography, 2005