The soil is a medium eutric Regosol
with the topsoil (0–20 cm) characteristics of 16% clay, 24% silt and
60% sand, a pH (0.01M CaCl2) of 7.2, an organic carbon content of
1.1% and available nutrients of 5mg kg−1 P (CO2 saturated water),
35mgkg−1 K (CO2 saturated water) and 60mgkg−1 Mg (0.0125M
CaCl2). Annual mean air temperature was 8.5 ◦C and average
annual precipitation was 1042mmyear−1