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Klangshøj is a flat-topped burial mound similar to the Royal Jelling mounds, although smaller.The myths tell that a well has existed on top of the mound as at Jelling and a spring had flown atthe base of the mound. In order to verify the myths and a similar hydrology in Klangshøj as foundin Jelling, several borings have been carried out in a north-south line across the mound.The investigation showed that Klangshøj is built of sods mainly harvested from heathland. Thesods are of different grain sizes from fine sand to clay. The preservation conditions were excellentin three of the six borings, where undecomposed plant remnants, occasionally greenish, wereobserved. A 14C-dating showed that the mound was built in the Viking Age. The hydrology inKlangshøj is the same as in the Jelling mounds, with a permeable bioturbation zone coveringalmost impermeable, distinct sod layers. This form a perched groundwater table in the transitionzone, which keeps the distinct sod layer below anaerobic, i.e. the preservation conditionsextremely favourable. The perched water table drains internally as in the Jelling mounds, andthere are no current nor fossil evidence to suggest a spring was ever present at the foot slope, asthe local legend suggests. Moreover, it seems unlikely that a well, similar to the one on the Jellingmound, has existed on the top of the north-facing slope, as the amount of water the well wouldhave been able to collect is little.

Rapporten beskriver resultaterne af en serie målinger afpartikelstørrelsesfordeling ved laser diffraktion på jordprøver fra sorterede og usorterede udgangsmaterialer fra skovjorde og fra marine sedimenter.

Luminescence dating is one of the most promising technique available for studying bioturbation on pedological timescales. In this study, we use multi-grain and single-grain quartz OSL to quantify termite bioturbation processes (Macrotermes natalensis) in a savannah ecosystem in Ghana. Termites transport soil from depth to the surface to construct termitaria. Over time, erosion levels these mounds and returns the sediment to the soil surface. These two processes of construction and erosion together represent an upward "conveyor belt" sediment transport process. We find that the sediment is effectively bleached during the erosion process allowing us to quantify retrospectively, for the first time, the surface deposition rate, the inverse of the upwards transport rate. At this site, this is similar to 0.28 mm year(-1) and began about 4.000 years ago. Downward mixing through subsurface galleries may replace 10-20% of the volume ka(-1) below the unit formed by reburied termite deposits. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Compaction of subsoil is a hidden but persistent damage that impairs a range of soil functions and ecosystem services. We analyzed the soil compaction issue in the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) context. The driving force (DPSIR-D) is the farmers’ efforts to sustain economic viability. This entails a steady increase in the size and weight of the agricultural machinery (DPSIR-P) exerting the specific pressures on the soil system. Simulations using historical data for agricultural machinery show sig-nificant increases in the mechanical stresses exerted on the soil profile during the last five decades. Surveys and comparative measurements (DPSIR-S) in the literature indi-cate that much of the European subsoil is compacted to critical levels for cropping. This calls for changes in agricultural management (DPSIR-R). Mechanical stresses impact the soil (DPSIR-I) by reducing the volume, dimensions, and interconnections of soil pores. Subsequent impacts on ecosystem services (subtle DPSIR-I aspects) include a decrease in crop production, an impaired soil filtering of pollutants, and the risk of higher greenhouse gas emissions. The natural ability of compacted subsoil to recover is poor. We highlight the need to expand the DPSIR concept to include a risk assess-ment methodology to identify sustainable management systems. Risk assessment involves the evaluation of the mechanistic causeeeffect chain of the compaction pro-cess. Measured data as well as modeling indicate that contemporary tires are not able to carry the loads frequently inflicted on wet soil without exerting critical stresses on deep subsoil layers. We suggest the use of online modeling tools that combine existing knowledge. Such tools may also create maps of vulnerable areas from the field to the continent scale. Groups of stakeholders including researchers, farmers and their consul-tants, and policy-makers need to identify sustainable traffic systems that secure both presently focused ecosystem services as well as nonuse soil values (the bequest for future generations).

In the context of major global environmental challenges such as food security, climate change, fresh water scarcity and biodiversity loss, the protection and the sustainable management of soil resources in Africa are of paramount importance. To raise the awareness of the general public, stakeholders, policy makers and the science community to the importance of soil in Africa, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission has produced the Soil Atlas of Africa. To that end, a new harmonised soil map at the continental scale has been produced. The steps of the construction of the new area-class map are presented, the basic information being derived from the Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD). We show how the original data were updated and modified according to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources classification system. The corrections concerned boundary issues, areas with no information, soil patterns, river and drainage networks, and dynamic features such as sand dunes, water bodies and coastlines. In comparison to the initial map derived from HWSD, the new map represents a correction of 13% of the soil data for the continent. The map is available for downloading.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the geographical distribution of pH values in Danish soils of different ages representing the main Saalian and Weichselian ice advances. The investigation is based on soil sampling from top- and subsoils in soil profiles located in a nationwide 7-km grid. The data have been analysed using statistical spatial analysis methods, and a model has been erected demonstrating areas of homogeneous low, high, or inhomogeneous pH values relative to deposits from different ice advances and regional variations in land use.The investigation shows that the major part of Jutland is characterized by low pH values in the topsoils and subsoils compared to the islands east of the peninsula. This corresponds with the maximum extension of the Weichselian Young Baltic Ice Cap. A Hot Spot analysis carried out on regional and local scales shows that most of the Danish islands form a homogeneous area of high pH values except Northeast Zealand. And in Jutland a huge area east and north of the maximum extension of the Young Baltic Ice Cap formed a homogeneous area of low pH values. Exceptions are the areas around Mors in the western part of the Limfjord and in the eastern part of Himmerland and on Djursland. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the geographical distribution of pH values in Danish soils of different ages representing the main Saalian and Weichselian ice advances. The investigation is based on soil sampling from top- and subsoils in soil profiles located in a nationwide 7-km grid. The data have been analysed using statistical spatial analysis methods, and a model has been erected demonstrating areas of homogeneous low, high, or inhomogeneous pH values relative to deposits from different ice advances and regional variations in land use.The investigation shows that the major part of Jutland is characterized by low pH values in the topsoils and subsoils compared to the islands east of the peninsula. This corresponds with the maximum extension of the Weichselian Young Baltic Ice Cap. A Hot Spot analysis carried out on regional and local scales shows that most of the Danish islands form a homogeneous area of high pH values except Northeast Zealand. And in Jutland a huge area east and north of the maximum extension of the Young Baltic Ice Cap formed a homogeneous area of low pH values. Exceptions are the areas around Mors in the western part of the Limfjord and in the eastern part of Himmerland and on Djursland.

A method for surveying the suitability of cold climate vine growing sites in Denmark is presented with focus on limiting growth parameters. The four most important parameters are identified on the basis of literary studies and discussions with approximately 150 vine growers in Denmark. These are: i) Sum of growing degree days (SDD), ii) Risk of frost damage, iii) Number of sunshine hours during growth season, and iv) Soil drainage. A two-step method based on GIS and already existing climate, soil, and topographic data was implemented. First the most suitable areas in Denmark for vine growing were located on the basis of nation-wide climatic data on the sum of degree days and risk of frost. Within the most suitable areas a detailed survey of the amount of sunshine, topography, drainage and soil was carried out on the Røsnæs peninsula in north western Zealand, and eight well-suited vine growing terroirs were identified of which three were highly recommended.

Udgivelsesdato: 2010