Rolling Lowland Landscapes

The Beara Peninsula, West Cork.
Courtesy of Carsten Clasohm.

Rolling lowlands are different from the limestone lowlands outlined in the previous section, as they are not formed on limestone bedrock. They are typically located around the central carboniferous limestone plain in the midlands of Ireland. Approximately half the area of Ireland is made up of these rolling lowlands (if peat is included). Peat soils are common throughout Ireland, most elevations (mountain, hill and lowland).

The dominant soil types in these areas are Brown Earths and Luvisols, with Brown Podzolics prevalent on upper slopes, and lower slopes dominated by both Surface-water and Groundwater Gleys. Brown Earths are typically formed over sandstone bedrock, while Luvisols and Rendzinas are typically (but not always) formed over limestone.

The largest area of rolling lowlands in Ireland is in the largest county, Co. Cork, with the next highest proportion of lowland soils in Co. Wexford. The parent material for this soil is derived from glacial drift (shale and granite) from other parts of the country. See details about glaciation on this website and in your textbook.

The Brown Earth soils of the rolling lowlands are suitable for many agricultural uses due to their free-draining nature and ability to retain nutrients. Due to the free-draining nature the soils may not initially be nutrient-rich, but they respond well to management and amendments such as manure or fertilizer. Groundwater Gleys are less suited to agriculture due to their susceptibility to ‘poaching’ – which means being trampled by livestock or machinery, causing damage to the soil structure and its ability to retain nutrients and produce crops.