ABSTRACT
In Poland, drained mires are called peatlands. After reclamation, organic soils, primarily those originating from fens undergo genetical transformations designated globally as the moorsh-forming process (MFP). The intensity of MFP is monitored by changes in soil morphology and structure such as peat transforming into grains and aggregates, thus altering physical properties. The descriptive criteria for those transformations are as follows:
Three diagnostic horizons (moorsh layers M1 to M3 in the 0–30 cm root zone, peat layers T1 in the 30-80 cm vadose zone, and peat layers T2 in the 80–130 cm zone of lateral groundwater flow)
Three genetic layers in the vertical sequence M1 to M3 (M1 as grain moorsh in the sod, M2 as humic moorsh, and M3 as peaty moorsh above peat layers)
2Three stages of MFP development (I, II, and III) in the moorsh layers; and three degrees of peat decomposition (a for fibric, b for hemic, and c for sapric materials) for T1 and T2
For water management, five prognostic soil moisture complexes are recognized from those criteria: wet (A), periodically wet (AB), moist (B), periodically dry (BC), and dry (C). Irrigation and water table regulation must be carefully designed for improving soil quality in BC and C complexes.
