Böden des Parque Natural da Arrábida -
Bedeutung, Gefährdung und Schutz

A1.2 Die Bodeneinheiten des Parque Natural da Arrábida - Übersicht

Rock Outcrop

RO1: Rock Outcrop of limestone, dolomite, calcareous sandstone or siltstone or calcareous conglomerate, scarcely weathered and usually steeply inclinated. Initial soil formation in fissures and crests. Small patches of colluviated mineral material or organic matter in flat parts and hollows.

RO2: Rock Outcrop of limestone, dolomite, seldom calcareous sandstone or siltstone or calcareous conglomerate, carstic, with accumulation of reddish soil material and/or organic matter in fissures, crests, and hollows. Sometimes soil material has been recalcified during colluviation. Very few patches of Rhodo-Chromic Cambi- or Luvisols in situ.

RO3: Rock Outcrop at the high coast under temporary influence of salt water including Salic Fluvisols (FLs) on beaches where marine material is deposited.

Rendzic Soils

LPk-CMk1: Rendzic Leptosols (LPk) associated with Rendzic Cambisols (CMk). Soils with a profound rudic and mollic A and sometimes a humic and rhodic B horizon on talus debris of gravel, stones and boulders. Typical for some footregions of cuestas and for the border middle/late Jurassic (J2-J3) on Arrábida's northern slope. Includes soils consisting mainly of accumulated organic matter with a rudic and mollic A horizon on steeply inclined layers of weathered calcareous bedrock. The weathered bedding joint between the layers and the crests of the layer's faces on the hogbacks are filled with organic (and mineral) material. This is typical for the small cuesta between J3 and J4-5 at the foot of Arrabida's northern slope and Rocha do Cardoso.

LPk-CMk2: Rendzic Leptosols associated with Rendzic Cambisols. A mollic A horizon transfers abruptly to a calcareous B (≤15 cm) or to the weakly weathered bedrock of limestone, sometimes marl. This unit occurs on the Oligocene cuesta in the northern part of the parque.

LPk3: Rhodo-Rendzic Leptosol with rudic phase (LPkr rhod). A dark reddish brown mollic A horizon covers a thin B horizon with red medium textured decalcified matrix material and varying contents of limestones. Occurs only on the Miocene/Oligocene cuesta at Alto da Madalena.

CMk1: Rendzic Cambisols (CMk) associated with Rendzic Leptosols (LPk) and few Calcaric Cambisols (CMc). Soils with a thick dark brown mollic A horizon often partly colluvial. The B horizon can often be divided into a highly calcareous colluviated B and a lower at least partly decalcified in situ Bw, both of light brownish or yellowish colours. Mostly on calcareous siltstone, sandstone or conglomerate (Casa do Maneiras, northern foot of Formosinho), sometimes on colluvial recalcified residual loam under pine trees (Terras do Risco).

Calcaric Soils

LPc-CMc1: Calcaric Leptosols (LPc) associated with Calcaric Cambisols (CMc). Intensively eroded soils with weak initial soil formation on unconsolidated impure limestone, marl, calcareous siltstone or sandstone or fine calcareous debris. A thin ochric A horizon (sometimes missing) tops an in situ Bw horizon or, more common, a B horizon from colluvial material. The B turns gradually into the intensively weathered C. This unit is to be found on the steep coastal slope of Arrábida in the Miocene and south of Alto da Madalena.

LPc-CMe1: Rhodo-Calcaric Leptosols (LPc rhod) associated with Rhodo-Eutric Leptosols (LPe rhod). Intensively eroded and partly transported and recalcified soils on silty or sandy limestone. An initial ochric A horizon is followed by a red B or Bw horizon which turns abruptly into the partly weathered C. To be found in small spots e.g. in the undulating cuesta land near Moitelas.

CMc1: Calcaric Cambisols sometimes rhodic, including few Rhodo-Chromic Cambisols (CMc rhod). Developed on colluvium or debris of impure limestone, having a weak ochric A upon the B horizon covering a decalcified Bw or directly the intensively weathered calcareous bedrock. Yellow, yellowish brown or grey; red or reddish brown where CMx material has been added. Common in steeper slope parts on impure limestone especially where soils are cultivated.

CMc2: Rhodo-Calcaric Cambisol, if shallow Rhodo-Calcaric Leptosol on parent material of red colours (calcareous conglomerates) sometimes dislocated (Vale da Rasca, Terras do Risco), easily rubifying calcareous sandstone or siltstone (C. do Maneiras, Moitelas), or from CMc/CMx rhod material mixed during colluviation (foot of S.d.S.Luís). Typical for areas with limestones from coastal sediments of the late Jurassic (J4-5). An ochric A, if ploughed an Ap horizon, lies upon one or several B horizons of reddish hue. Seldom a rest of an in situ weathered and decalcified or already recalcified Bw/Bwk can be found below. The C is usually intensively weathered.

CMc3: Calcaric Cambisols on marls and unconsolidated impure limestone, Calcaric Leptosols on consolidated impure limestone, if used for vineyards deeply ploughed (Calcaro-Aric Anthrosol ATac). There is an abrupt transition from a light yellowish brown or grey Ap horizon into the weathered C. These soils dominate the less inclined cultivated slopes of the Miocene south of Azeitão.

CMc4: Calcaric Cambisols associated with Rhodo-Chromic Cambisols (CMx rhod), sometimes Eutric Cambisols (CMe). Interlocking of mostly colluviated soil material on debris or bedrock of varying contents of CaCO₃ (limestone, marl). A weakly developed ochric A tops a B or Bw horizon which is followed by a more or less abrupt transition into the intensively weathered C. These soils are located north of Rocha do Cardoso on the late J4-5 and are likely to be found at the J4-5 parts of Serra de São Luís.

CMc5: Rhodo-Calcaric associated with Rhodo-Chromic Cambisols on layers of reddish soil material colluviated from short distances on bedrock of varying contents of CaCO₃ (conglomerates, calcareous sand- or siltstone). Few Rendzic Cambisols where organic matter has been accumulated under undisturbed dense vegetation. Often a decalcified Bw horizon is to be found in the subsoil, on the steep southern slope of Alto da Madalena under forest.

ATac1: Calcaro-Aric Anthrosols (ATac) associated with Rendzic Cambisols where undisturbed and where organic matter is accumulated under dense vegetation. Soils of more or less red hue where Calcaric or Calcaro-Eutric Cambisols (CMec) on marls have been disturbed by terracing, deep ploughing or intensive processes of erosion and accumulation within short distances due to human influence (clearing, pasture). They have a mighty Ap on a partly decalcified Bw which turns by a thin Bwk or Ck to the weathered C.

ATac2: Calcaro-Aric Anthrosols (ATac) associated with Gleyic Cambisols where Gleyic and Calcaric Cambisols have been deeply ploughed for vineyards. An Ap horizon of 80 cm and more is followed by the rest of an undisturbed Bg or directly by the Cg horizon. These soils are usually calcareous throughout the whole profile and of light yellowish and greyish colours. They are common south of Quinta do Anjo.

CMcf1: Calcaric Cambisols developed on alluvial deposits, sometimes interlocked with colluvial deposits. The ochric A already decalcified for some millimeters turns into several B horizons of yellowish colour. Beside steep slopes with rhodic soils, where talus debris has been added, rhodic and rudic phases occur. Typical unit of the small valleys at the northern foots of S.Luís, Arrábida and Risco.

CMcf2: Rhodo-Calcaric Cambisols, seldom not rhodic, or calcareous only in the lower part, from alluvial deposits. An ochric A horizon covers several layers of red B material. In the lower part of the profile often skeletal. Typical soil of the bigger valleys with the catchment bassin at least for a greater part on limestone, e.g. Picheleiros creek and the valley of Alpertuche.

CMc(g)1: Calcaric Cambisols and Calcaric Leptosols with some gleyic influence from interflow in the lower part. Few Calcaro-Eutric Cambisols with stagnic features where calcareous bedrock is covered by Pliocene/Pleistocene sands. Having an ochric A upon a hydromorphic B(g) or B horizon followed by a B(g) or Bg. Typical of Cuco's southern slope.

Partly Calcaric Soils

CMc(g)2: Calcaric Cambisols with gleyic properties (CMcg) between 50 and 100 cm and eutric Gleyic Cambisols (CMg). The soil unit is situated where layers of weathered silty or clayey parent materials (conglomerates, calcareous conglomerates and sandstones) with different contents of CaCO₃ and different permeability for water are neighboured, interlocked or overlapping. There is a gradual transition from an ochric A and a B horizon of varying colours from colluvium into a hydromorphic Bg with mottling from the influence of flowing groundwater. These soils are found e.g. between Vale da Rasca and Portela da Sardinha near the Formosinho main fault in the upper Kimmeridgian (J4-5) and at the southern foot of Alto das Vinhas in the small Cretaceous belt.

CMvc1: Calcaro-Vertic Cambisols (CMvc) associated with Calcaric Cambisols, sometimes rhodic, and Eutric or Calcaric Vertisols (VRe¹) . Calcaric Cambisols on colluvium with a high amount of clay showing vertic features or covering Eutric or Calcaric Vertisols of greyish hue. Few more or less decalcified Vertisols from colluviated material, some having stagnic characteristics. Profiles show a ploughed or ochric A horizon on top of different B layers. Located at the foot of the steep southern slope of the Oligocene cuesta.

Eutric Soils

CMec1: Calcaro-Eutric Cambisols (CMec) consisting of a 10-60 cm thick non calcareous colluviated layer (B horizon) covering a calcareous B (Bw horizon) where calcareous and non-calcareous bedrock is neighboured at the small Cretaceous/Paleogene belt between Picheleiros and Portela da Sardinha.

CMec2: Calcaro-Eutric Cambisols (CMec), Eutric Cambisols (CMe) and Calcaric Cambisols (CMc) sometimes with stagnic features from (decalcified) debris of marl or weak calcareous sandstone or siltstone. The B under an ochric or ploughed A consists of at least two layers, the lower containing free carbonates. Colours are reddish or greyish brown. These soils are found in regions where the lithology in the late Jurassic (J4-5) changes from marine to terrestrian (Moitelas, São Caetano, Picheleiros).

CMe1: Eutric Cambisols associated with Calcaric Cambisols, Calcaro-Eutric Cambisols, many of them rhodic, and Rhodo-Chromic Cambisols. They derived from intensly eroded or colluviated former Rhodo-Chromic Cambisols or Luvisols on marl or debris in the lower Jurassic of Arrábida's south slope. An ochric or sometimes mollic A horizon is followed by several reddish brown B horizons, seldom directly by a Bw. The B horizons are distinguished from a lower Bw or C by a Bwk or Ck enriched with soft powdery lime. In steeper parts transition to CMc2.

ATa1: Aric Anthrosols (ATa) associated with Eutric or Rhodo-Chromic Cambisols from which they derived by deep ploughing or, frequently, by some terracing or intensive processes of erosion and accumulation within short distances due to human influence (clearing, pasture). Medium textured soils with an ochric A upon a thick yellowish or reddish brown Ap horizon which turns gradually into a B(w). Typical for the corktree woods on sandstones and conglomerates with low CaCO₃ contents in the late Jurassic (J4-5) at Picheleiros at the northern foothills of Formosinho.

CMx1: Rhodo-Chromic Cambisols (CMx rhod) associated with Rendzic Leptosols (LPk rhod) often rudic and Rock Outcrop (RO), seldom Rendzic Cambisols (CMk) and Rhodo-Chromic Luvisols (LVx rhod). On the flattened summits of the ridges of Arrábida and S.Luís, protected from erosion in crests and hollows, very few Rhodo-Chromic Luvisols are to be found. They are scarce rests of the original red mediterranean soil on limestone, now determined by clay eluviation, the "terra rossa" of KUBIENA (1953) and the "Solos Mediterrâneos Vermelhos de Materiais Calcários" (CARDOSO 1965). What remains today are Rhodo-Chromic Cambisols consisting mainly of the colluviated silty topsoil of the LVx, and shallow Rendzic soils where organic matter was accumulated. All these soils are commonly rudic and situated between outcrops of hard rock (limestone, dolomite). The topsoil of the CMx is a mollic, umbric or ochric A followed by a red B which turns abruptly into a Bw or C. The LVx are more or less eroded, an ochric or umbric A covers a red EB or directly the Bt horizon.

At the less inclined Serra do Risco the situation is similar, though here yellowish colours dominate ("terra fusca/Braunlehm" of KUBIENA 1953). Probably the lower relief intensity and the less inclinated geological layers resulted in a higher soil humidity and thus in the formation of Goethite instead of Hematite. In the surveyed area this material was found colluviated and partly recalcified at the Terras do Risco.

CMx2: Chromic Cambisols with few Chromic Luvisols, both usually rhodic. They are fine textured when made from decalcified or non-calcareous (red) conglomerates, or coarse to medium textured when made from sandy slope debris. Often the Chromic Cambisol overlies an eroded Luvisol. Typical horizon sequences are an ochric A followed by one or two B, a Bw or EB horizon and a Bt, sometimes Btg, in the subsoil. These soils are common on both sides of Picheleiros creek.

GLe1: Eutric Gleysols associated with Gleyic Cambisols. On slopes and in the valleys where the groundwater table is close to the surface. Stagnic and reductive features occur only in flattened positions, otherwise they are missing. A ploughed or ochric A horizon is followed directly by a gleyic B, greyish mottled or reddish with concretions. Typical for the level western part (Ribeira de Terras do Risco), in the east only at small areas with springs (Serra de Louro).

Coarse Textured Eutric Soils

LVh1: Haplic Luvisols associated with Luvic Arenosols and Stagno-Gleyic Luvisols. The latter occur on flattened summit positions and are sometimes eroded to a Litho-Eutric Leptosol. On the slopes these soils are eroded and at the footslopes there the colluvia lie, often with gleyic or stagnic influence, forming Gleyic and Eutric Cambisols. These soils are classified as Eutro-Gleyic Cambisols (CMeg1). The Haplic Luvisols derive mainly from calcareous sandstone. They are of coarse to medium texture with varying light colours and comparatively low clay contents in the argillic horizon. Horizon sequences of undisturbed profiles are an ochric A, sometimes a relict Ap, followed by an E as the eluvial and a Bt as the illuvial horizon, and a Bw before the weathered and more or less decalcified C. These soils are typical for the region between the road from C.d.Serra to Pedreiras and Ribeira de Terras do Risco/Parral. Some of the Haplic Luvisols, especially where eroded, still have a base saturation product of almost 100 % or are even calcareous, but most of them show dystric features which are hidden by the effect of recent aeolic deposits. This unit together with CMeg1 therefore is an intermediate stage between originally eutric soils and formerly dystric soils.

CMeg1: Gleyic Cambisols associated with Calcaric Cambisols. Soil unit to be found mainly in the neighbourhood of LVh1 on the slopes to Ribeira de Terras do Risco in the coastal sediments of the late Jurassic (J4-5). Eroded soils or soils from colluvium on sandstone or conglomerate with few carbonates influenced by subsurface flow. Usually an ochric A horizon is followed by a B or Bw horizon turning gradually into a Bg. A reductive Br does not always occur.

CMe2: Eutric Cambisols and few Humic Cambisols and Aric Anthrosols. Coarse textured soils of light reddish or yellowish, sometimes greyish brown. With or without an umbric A horizon on a B(w) from colluvium or debris of sandstones and fine quartz conglomerates of the late Jurassic (J4-5). In valleys generally medium textured (sandy loam or loamy sand), of reddish hue and deeply ploughed if cultivated (ATa).

CMe3: Eutric Cambisols associated with Eutric Leptosols. Soil profiles comparable to CMe2 but generally in situ and less thick due to erosion and relief. On the late Jurassic and the Cretaceous near São Caetano and on the watersheds in the valleys of the Ribeiras de Alcube and Corva in the east.

CMe4: Eutric Cambisols associated with Aric Anthrosols developed from CMd by terracing on sandy conglomerates of the Cretaceous (Picheleiros). Profiles are (O)/Aoc/B/2Bw/2C, of coarse to medium texture and from at least 60 to more than 100 cm thick.

CMe5: Gleyo-Eutric Cambisols (CMeg) associated with Luvic Arenosols (ARl), both sometimes with stagnic features. Coarsely textured soils with light grey, brownish or yellowish grey hue from sands, sandstones or sandy conglomerates (Pliocene, Cretaceous, J4-5). For the special use of the area at Portela da Sardinha, where this unit mainly occurs as horse pasture, the Ap is ploughed. It follows a B(w)g horizon or an E with a Bt(g) and sometimes Bw before the C(g). The low AWCr is partly enlarged by interflow. The soils are about 50 - 100 cm thick.

CMe6: Eutric Cambisols on slopes associated with Cambic or Gleyic Arenosols from alluvial deposits (ARbf, ARgf) in the valleys and Stagno-Arenic Luvisols on sandstone or conglomerate, covered by a thin layer of sand in flattened summit positions. All showing some stagnic or gleyic features. The topsoils are coarsely textured, the subsoils coarse or medium, sometimes finer, depending on the ratio between sand and conglomerates in the parent material. Colours are grey, yellowish grey and greyish brown. An ochric A is followed by a B or Bw which tops a mottled Bg. The C is of intensive red or yellow hue, due to high contents of iron. This unit is restricted to the transition from Pliocene/Pleistocene sands to the Cretaceous conglomerates near Alto das Vinhas.

ARa1: Aric Arenosol (ARa), often with few gleyic/stagnic properties. These are corsely textured soils of colluviated sand containing organic matter throughout the whole profile. The features, although resulting from colluviation because of a long term agricultural use, are similar to the ones of deep ploughing, so the name Aric Arenosol has been chosen. The top horizon is a thick ochric or humic A, if not ploughed, followed by a buried A and a Bw or Bwg. At Parral there is a buried Ap horizon at about 50-70 cm below surface, the available water amount is enlarged by interflow. Aric Arenosols are situated at a belt along the northern border of the Parque where the Pliocene starts and in the heathlands west of Parral.

ARb1: Cambic Arenosols (ARb), some showing stagnic features, associated with Eutric Cambisols. This unit is the counterpart of the latter in regions where no or little agriculture took place. Coarsely textured soils of low fertility derived from sand, weathered sandstone or sandy conglomerate, showing cambic and/or stagnic, seldom luvic or podzolic features. There is a transition from a usually greyish brown ochric A into a yellowish or reddish brown B(w) and then into a Bw, Bg or BC. The unit occurs only in the west near Ribeira de Terras do Risco and close to Alto das Vinhas.

ARl1: Luvic Arenosols associated with Gleyic Arenosols (ARg) alternating and interlocked with and partly overlying Eutric Vertisols (VRe) (southern foot slope at Cuco). Many of these soils consist of a layer of Pliocene/Pleistocene sands, sometimes already mixed with clay by colluviation, and show an abrupt textural change from the sandy to the loamy-clayey layer. The gleyic properties resulting from subsurface flow are often rather weakly expressed. The abrupt textural change is mainly geogen; clay enrichment by illuviation is a fact of neglectable quantity only. Horizon sequences are Ap/Bwg for the ARg and Ap/B/2Bt(2Bw) for the combined profiles. The Arenosols themselves are free of carbonates but the unit includes a few calcareous Eutric Vertisols.

ARg1: Gleyic and Stagno-Gleyic Arenosols (ARg,ARgj) associated with Gleyic Cambisols (CMg). Coarse textured Gleysols and Stagnic Gleysols with ground and/or surface water influence up to the topsoil. The ochric A is followed by a Bg or Cr. A singular unit at some places along the borders of Ribeira de Terras do Risco.

Dystric Soils

PZ1: Ferric and Haplic Podzols (PZf,PZh) on Pliocene/Pleistocene sands. The organic layer is followed by an umbric A which turns into a bleached E. The Bs is thin and not indurated and is followed by a cambic Bw. BSP and CEC are very low, AWCr is low. This unit includes a small area of Haplic Luvisols on loamy silt of unknown origin covering eroded Podzols near Parral. Podzols are situated e.g. near Parral and north of Vinhas in the western part of the Parque and in a small area at Arneiros near Cuco.

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