Soils with Drainage Limitations

Several soil types have inadequate natural drainage that severely limits their profitable or intended use. These soils have different names and are distributed in all regions of the world. Wetland soils, submerged soils, waterlogged soils, hydric soils, poorly drained soils, etc. all have drainage limitations, and in addition they have some common and specific characteristics. They have aquic soil moisture regimes characterized by a reducing state that is virtually devoid of dissolved oxygen due to prolonged saturation with water. Some soils of northern Europe and North America are wet and cold. An account of these soils – their properties, land-use problems and management – is presented in this chapter.