Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
to drain very freely, these soils actually remain in a wet condition for much of the year
under the high rainfall and low temperature conditions in which they form. Brown
Rankers are similar shallow soils but with mineral A horizons, developing generally
in moderate to low rainfall areas. They have a low water-holding capacity, and also
drain very freely, so are susceptible to seasonal drought. They are associated with
broken relief and rock outcrops, often in conjunction with Brown Earth variants on
glacial drifts, or with Brown Podzolic soils in the upland margins. A typical profile
on shale rock is seen in
Figure 12
.
F
IG. 12
A Brown Ranker soil on shale rock, near Conway, North Wales. (Photograph D.F.B.)
