Lithosol

Shallow <30cm and often very stoney
Acidic parent material; pH<6.5

$Photograph of a lithosol soil profile showing a shallow dark soil layer directly over exposed bedrock. Grass vegetation covers the surface, and fractured rock is visible throughout the profile. A measuring scale marked in centimetres stands vertically along the left side of the pit.$

Located in mountain landscapes

Map of Ireland titled “Lithosol Soils.” Green areas indicate where lithosol soils are the dominant soil type, while light blue shading shows areas where they also occur. These shallow rocky soils are concentrated mainly in upland and western coastal regions. County boundaries are outlined in grey, with a legend distinguishing dominant and associated areas.