Limestone Lowlands

Ireland is mostly comprised of lowlands (<150 m) and the midlands of Ireland are made up of a central plain of carboniferous limestone giving rise to the limestone soils that dominate the central lowlands of Ireland. Altogether, the limestone lowlands of Ireland account for approximately 1.6 million hectares (M ha), almost one-quarter of the land area (23.2%). Peat is a prominent feature and is readily found interspersed with these limestone soils where the flat gradient and soils characterised by a higher clay percentage result in a slower drainage gradient, inducing conditions that are favourable for peat formation. Luvisols are the more prevalent soils found and account for 60.6% of the limestone lowland soils. Brown Earths are the next most commonly found soil type, with the larger portion of these being Typical Calcareous Brown Earths. The Typical Calcareous Brown Earths are spatially concentrated in the west of Ireland where the limestone bedrock is found at shallower depths. Wetter soils, such as Surface-water Gleys are found in counties Meath, Dublin and Kildare with the even wetter Humic Surface-water Gleys also common across this landscape. Calcareous Groundwater Gleys (2.37%) are found in counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly which are soils that include both gleying within the top 40 cm and a calcareous sub-surface horizon starting within 40 cm. While Humic Rendzinas account for a relatively small proportion of the lowland limestone soils (<2%), the majority of these (76.9%) are found in the Burren region of Co. Clare. The Burren is one of the largest karst landscapes in Europe and is home to an extensive assemblage of flora and fauna.