Solods of the Baraba Lowland and the Priobskoe Plateau: Their properties and genesis and the methods of their diagnostics

The properties, hydrological features, and genesis of the solods occurring in the Baraba Lowland and Priobskoe Plateau were studied. Methods for determining the hydromorphism degree are considered; the features of the similarity and differences between the solods and other soils with textural profile differentiation are shown. Depending on the reasons for the waterlogging, the solods should be divided into two groups: the solods of groundwater waterlogging and the solods of surface waterlogging. Criteria for their discrimination are suggested: the ratio between the contents of the clay fraction in the parent rock (or in the B2 horizon) and that in the A2 horizon, the changes in the pH values along the soil profiles, and the content of nonsilicate iron compounds. The solods studied are shown to be formed under the conditions of a stagnant-percolative regime and gleying. This circumstance is an obligatory and sufficient reason for the formation of the light-colored acid eluvial (A2) horizons. According to some basic properties of the soil solid phase (the acidity, the total chemical composition, and the clay pattern in the eluvial part), the gleyed solods are close or identical to the gleyed soddy-podzolic and gleyed chernozem-like podzolic soils. At the same time, the solods differ from the gleyed chernozem-like podzolic soils by their thicker A1 (or Ap) horizon and their higher humus content (5–7%).     

Solods under conditions of excessive surface and ground moisture in Western Siberia: Properties,hydrology, and genesis

Depending on conditions of formation, solods should be differentiated into two groups: solods of ground overmoistening and solods of surface overmoistening. Criteria are offered to distinguish soils according to the ratio between the clay in the B2 horizon and that in the A2 horizon, as well as according to the changes in the soil pH. Formation of gley under conditions of stagnant to percolative water regime is a necessary and sufficient cause for light-colored acid eluvial horizons to form in their profile. In the main properties of the solid phase (acidity, total chemical composition, and distribution of silt), gley solods are identical to soddy-podzolic and chernozem-like podzolic gley soils.     

The behavior of the clay fraction in model ecosystems of soil lysimeters

Changes in the mineralogical composition of the clay fraction (<0.001 mm) sampled from soils of the model lysimetric experiment of Moscow State University have been studied. The mineralogical composition of clay is represented by the paragenetic association of minerals typical of noncalcareous mantle loams in the center of the Russian Plain. The predominant smectitic phase consists of complex mixed-layered minerals (mica-smectite with high and low contents of the smectitic layers, chlorite-smectite with different ratios between the chloritic and smectitic layers) and individual smectites. Tri-and dioctahedral hydromica, kaolinite, chlorite, and clay-sized quartz are present in lower amounts. At the early stages of the experiment, the distribution of the smectitic phase in the soil profile is more contrasting than the distribution of the clay fraction. Under the impact of artificially planted meadows, forests, and agrocenoses, soil profiles with different distribution patterns of the clay fraction are formed. The weakly pronounced eluvial distribution pattern of the clay fraction has been registered. Under spruce and mixed stands, the loss of the clay fraction from the upper horizons is due to the hydrolysis of smectitic minerals in the acidified medium. Under broad-leaved stands, perennial herbs, agroecenoses, and fallow, the depletion of smectites from the upper horizons is due to lessivage. The relative accumulation of hydromica and kaolinite is observed in the uppermost soil layer.     

Spatial distribution of mineral components in microcombinations of agrogrey soils with the second humus horizon in the Vladimir opolie area

Mineralogical composition of silt and clay fractions (<1.1–5 and 5–10 µm) in heavy loamy agrogrey soils (Luvic Retic Phaeozems) considerably changes both in the vertical (along the soil profile) and horizontal (along soil microcatenas) directions. The eluvial–illuvial distribution pattern of the clay fraction in the podzolized agrogrey soils with the second humus horizon is replaced by the homogeneous distribution in the agrogrey soils with residual carbonates. The distribution of silt fractions in the soil profiles is relatively homogeneous. The clay (<1 µm) fraction of the parent material is represented by the poorly ordered micasmectite interstratifications minerals, the proportion between which changes in the soil profiles in dependence on the particular pedogenetic processes. Hydromicas represent the second important component of the clay fraction. They consist of di- and trioctahedral varieties, the proportion between which changes in the soil profiles. Kaolinite and iron–magnesium chlorite are present in smaller amounts. The second humus horizon is characterized by the lowest content of mica-smectite interstratifications minerals with the high content of smectitic layers and by the lowest content of the clay fraction. Silt fractions are composed of quartz, micas, potassium feldspars, and plagioclases.     

中国土壤胶体研究 Ⅵ.西藏高原几种主要土壤的粘土矿物组成和演变

西藏高原突起于我国西南,绝大部分地面的海拔高度在4000米以上,为世界上最高的大高原。它大致在第三纪开始形成,后来曾受第四纪冰川的深刻作用,高山顶部至今仍是冰川的活动场所^[1,2]。高原为昆仑山、唐古拉山、喜马拉雅山和横断山等大山脉所盘踞。     

Gleyed soils of depressions under agrocenoses in the Letka River basin of the Komi Republic

Depressions that are subjected to overmoistening in the spring and to heavy rains in the summer are widespread on the Russian Plain, including arable lands. Excessive moistening results in the development of gley features throughout the soil profile. These soils differ from the adjacent slightly gleyed soils by their lower thickness of the humus horizon and the eluvial layer, their lower contents of humus and adsorbed bases, and their higher contents of clay and sesquioxides in the deeper soil layers.     

Umwandlungen von Dreischichtsilikaten unter K-Abgabe und K-Aufnahme

Transformation of three-layer silicates through K-release and K-uptake (A review). In soils formed from unconsilidated sediments with illite-vermiculite-smectite mixtures in their clay fractions the clay mineral transformation from illite to vermiculite and smectite between pH 5 and 7 cannot be considered so far as proven on the grounds of available analytical data. Studies of soil profiles showed that the formation of illite from expandable three layer silicates predominates over the formation of smectite from illite. Practically all samples of loess and calcareous tills of the areas discussed contain smectites. K loesses between pH 5 and 7 are probably very small, because K released during the formation of vermiculites from micas is immediately fixed by smectitic layers which are converted to illite. In those soils potential K fixation of the clay fraction (« 2 μ) is lower than in the corresponding parent sediments despite of vermiculite formation in the soils. Further analytical data (X-ray, interlattice-K, K-selectivity, specific surface) support the hypothesis of illitization of smectites during soil formation.     

Clay minerals in chernozem-like soils of mesodepressions in the northern forest-steppe of European Russia

In the northern forest-steppe of European Russia, under the conditions of surface waterlogging (freshwater) and a stagnant-percolative regime, gleyic podzolic chernozem-like soils with thick light-colored eluvial horizons are formed. These horizons are close or similar to the podzolic horizons of bog-podzolic soils in many properties of their solid phase. They are bleached in color and characterized by the removal of Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, and Mn and the relative accumulation of quartz SiO₂. These soils differ from leached chernozems in their acid reaction and very low CEC, the presence of Fe-Mn concretions and coatings, and the significant decrease in the clay content in the A2 horizon as compared to the parent rock. The soils studied differ significantly from loamy podzolic and bog-podzolic soils by the composition of the clay minerals in the A2 horizons: (1) no essential loss of smectite minerals from this horizon was found as compared to the rest of the solum, (2) pedogenic chlorites (HIV and HIS) are absent, and (3) the distinct accumulation of illites is observed as compared to the subsoil and parent material, probably, due to the process of illitization.     

Specific Features of Profile Distribution and Crystallochemistry of Phyllosilicates in Soils of the Cisbaikal Forest-Steppe

The mineralogical composition of agrogray, dark gray, and agro-dark gray soils (Luvic Greyzemic Retic Phaeozems); agro-dark gray residual-calcareous soils (Calcaric Cambic Phaeozems); clay-illuvial agrochernozems (Luvic Chernic Phaeozems); and agrochernozems with migrational–mycelial carbonates (Haplic Chernozems) developed in the forest-steppe of Central Siberia within the Irkutsk Depression has been studied. The clay (<1 μm) fraction separated from these soils consists of mixed-layer minerals with alternating layers of hydromica, smectite, vermiculite, and chlorite; the proportions between them change within the soil profiles. The clay fraction also contains hydromicas, kaolinite, chlorite, and some admixture of the fine-dispersed quartz. Each type of the soils is characterized by its own distribution pattern of clay material with specific alternation of layers in the mixed-layer formations. Mixed-layer minerals of the chlorite–vermiculite type predominate in the upper horizons of texture-differentiated soils. Down the soil profile, the content of mixed-layer mica–smectitic minerals increases. In the clay fraction of arable dark gray-humus soils with residual carbonates, the distribution of the clay fraction and major mineral phases in the soil profile is relatively even. An increased content of well-crystallized kaolinite is typical of these soils. The parent material of agrochernozems has a layered character: the upper horizons are generally depleted of clay, and the middle-profile and lower horizons are characterized by the considerable kaolinite content. In general, the clay material of soils of the Tulun–Irkutsk forest-steppe differs considerably from the clay material of foreststeppe soils developed from loesslike and mantle loams in the European part of Russia. In particular, this difference is seen in the proportions between major mineral phases and between biotitic and muscovitic components, as well as in the degree of crystallinity and behavior of kaolinite and chlorite.     

Disintegration of the clay fraction in the eluvial horizons of some Danish podzolized soils

Abstract

Using sequential extractions, total elemental analysis, and X‐ray diffraction, we have investigated the impact of the podzolization process on component composition of the clay fraction in the eluvial horizons of eight more or less podzolized Danish soils. The results indicate that podzolization is highly aggressive towards all clay components in the eluvial horizons eventually leading to their disintegration. The 2:1 layer silicate clay minerals, illite and chlorite, are first transformed into other 2:1 layer silicate clay minerals. After passing through a microcrystalline phase high in Si but low in Al, Fe, Mg, and K, they finally disintegrate completely. Even gibbsite and kaolinite disintegrate under the aggressive conditions, caused among other things by the presence of dissolved complex forming organic molecules in these horizons. Application of lime and fertilizers seems to be able to reverse the process in case of the 2:1 layer silicate clay minerals.     

Transformation of properties of podzolic soils under development and cultivation in the middle taiga subzone (Komi Republic)

The results of long-term stationary studies on the properties of loamy soils under forest and plowland in the middle taiga subzone were summarized. Spatial and temporal changes in the morphology and physicochemical properties of agrosoddy-podzolic soils as compared to forest ones, the peculiar pedogenesis of the soils in automorphic positions and on the slopes, and the activation of gleying in these soils were discovered. The downward displacement of the eluvial horizon, the shift to a heavier texture of the arable layer due to the soil cultivation, the variation in the content of clay and silty particles in this layer depending on the duration and stability of the freezing periods, and the decrease in the removal of clay and most oxides in the developed soils were revealed. The removal of iron, aluminum, calcium, and magnesium oxides and the profile distribution of clay indicate the intensification of eluviation in the soils of mesodepressions. The long-term use of podzolic soils in agrocenoses resulted in the leveling of the humus reserves in the entire catena.     

Characteristics of Clay Minerals in Podzols and Podzolic Soils

The clay minerals in Podzols and podzolic soils developed under coniferous forests in the Subarctic and Cool-temperate zones are characterized by the predominance of smectite and/or mica-smectite interstratified minerals in the eluvial horizons and chlorite-vermiculite intergrade in the illuvial horizons. A large amount of vermiculite is present in the eluvial horizons of some podzolic soils in the Cool-temperate zone. The illuvial horizons of these soils also contain free iron oxides such as goethite. Imogolite and allophane are present in the illuvial horizons of several soils derived from volcanic ashes. It is suggested that the critical bioclimate for the release of interlayered aluminum from the 2:1-type minerals lies between the Cool- and Warm-temperate zone. In the eluvial horizons of Podzols and podzolic soils, mica minerals and chlorite, as primary minerals, have been transformed to smectite through the pedogenic process. Based on previous studies on the structure and degradation of the dioctahedral mica minerals, it is considered that smectite is transformed from 1M-type mica minerals directly, and from 2M-type mica minerals via mica-smectite interstratifled minerals. The formation of a smectite lattice in the eluvial horizon should be a clay-mineralogical indicator of podzolization.     

Early stages of pedogenesis at the bottom of a 30-year-old artificial depression under semidesert conditions

Initial soils that developed at the bottom of an artificial hollow 30 × 40 m in size and 3 m in depth have been studied. The hollow was dug on a plot with a predominance of solonetzic complexes in the soil cover on the territory of the Dzhanybek Research Station in 1979. A soil with a shallow but clearly differentiated profile composed of a litter, a humus-accumulative W horizon leached from carbonates, and an underlying C1ca horizon with a high content of dispersed carbonates formed in the hollow over 30 years. The total thickness of these horizons is 7–10 cm. The morphology of the profile corresponds to the slightly alkaline humus-accumulative calcareous soil type of the order of immature soils in the current classification of Russian soils. The soil-sediment layer to a depth of >80 cm contains little soluble salts, predominantly sulfates; the content of exchangeable Na does not exceed 1 meq/100 g. Groundwater of calcium sulfate composition occurs at a depth of ～3.8 m. These features, together with additional moistening by low-saline melt water, ensure favorable conditions for the spontaneous propagation and development of herbaceous, shrubby, and woody plants in the bottoms of artificial hollows. The development of a soil profile is accompanied by the depletion of the clay fraction from the upper W horizon, presumably due to the predominant removal of smectite minerals. In the upper W horizon, transformations of layered aluminosilicates takes place: it involves the formation of illites from smectites and from smectitic layers in illite-smectite mixed-layered minerals and partial vermiculitization of chlorites. The technology used upon the excavation of the hollow can be recommended for growing woody-shrubby plants on soils of the solonetzic complex in the clay semidesert during a relatively short time period.     

广西水耕人为土黏粒矿物组成及其空间分布特征

黏粒矿物影响着土壤理化性质，可指示成土因素特征和土壤发生发育过程/强度，也是中国土壤系统分类的基层单元土族矿物学类型划分的重要依据。本研究选择了广西不同纬度和成土母质的18个代表性水耕人为土的剖面，应用X射线衍射（XRD）方法分析了其典型水耕氧化还原层（Br层）的黏粒矿物组成及其空间分布特征，并确定了其中“黏质”剖面的土族控制层段矿物学类型。结果表明：（1）供试土壤的黏粒矿物主要包括高岭石、伊利石、三水铝石、1.42 nm过渡矿物、蒙脱石和蛭石等，依次分别出现在100%、88.9%、72.2%、61.1%、44.4%和38.9%的剖面中。（2）黏粒矿物组成在纬度空间分布上具有明显规律性特征。随着纬度降低，土壤黏粒中的高岭石增加，伊利石、蒙脱石、1.42nm过渡矿物逐渐减少；纬度＞23°N区域内，成土母质对黏粒矿物组成影响明显。（3）纬度23°N是黏粒矿物组成和土族矿物学类型分界线，＜23°N区域，黏粒矿物均以高岭石为主，是“黏质”剖面的土族控制层段的主要矿物学类型；＞23°N区域，黏粒矿物组成以高岭石、蒙脱石、伊利石或1.42 nm过渡矿物为主，因成土母质不同而异，“黏质”剖面的土族控制层段矿物学类型包括高岭石混合型、混合型和伊利石型。     

Advances in characterization of soil clay mineralogy using X‐ray diffraction: from decomposition to profile fitting

Structural characterization of soil clay minerals often remains limited despite their key influence on soil properties. In soils, complex clay parageneses result from the coexistence of clay species with contrasting particle sizes and crystal chemistry and from the profusion of mixed layers with variable compositions. The present study aimed to characterize the mineralogy and crystal chemistry of the <2 μm fraction along a profile typical of soils from Western Europe and North America (Neo Luvisol). X‐ray diffraction (XRD) patterns were interpreted using: (i) the combination of XRD pattern decomposition and indirect identification from peak positions commonly applied in soil science; and (ii) the multi‐specimen method. This latter approach implies direct XRD profile fitting and has recently led to significant improvements in the structural characterization of clay minerals in diagenetic and hydrothermal environments. In contrast to the usual approach, the multi‐specimen method allowed the complete structural characterization of complex clay parageneses encountered in soils together with the quantitative analysis of their mineralogy. Throughout the profile, the clay paragenesis of the studied Neo Luvisol systematically includes discrete smectite, illite and kaolinite in addition to randomly interstratified illite‐smectite and chlorite‐smectite. Structural characteristics of the different clay minerals, including the composition of mixed layers, did not vary significantly with depth and are thus indicative of the parent material. The relative proportion of the <2 μm fraction increased with increasing depth simultaneously with smectite relative proportion. These results are consistent with the leaching process described for Luvisols in the literature.     

Mineralogical composition of the clay fraction in acid brown forest soils under tea plantations subjected to the long-term mineral fertilization in Russian subtropics

Swelling minerals of the montmorillonite group predominate in the clay fraction of acid brown forest soils under tea plantations; illite and quartz are present in smaller amounts; small amounts of chlorite-like structures are also found. A decrease in the content of swelling mineral and a deterioration of their crystallization degree (especially in the upper horizons) take place upon the long-term application of mineral fertilizers at high rates; also, the accumulation of illite takes place. These processes attest to the beginning of degradation and/or removal of montmorillonite minerals (the most finely dispersed and hydrophilic clay minerals) under the impact of a significant decrease in pH because of the high rates of physiologically acid fertilizers in combination with illitization under the impact of potassium application.     

Mineralogical Composition of Particle-Size Fractions of Solonetzes from the North Crimean Lowland

Data on the mineralogical composition of clay (<1 μm), fine silt (1–5 μm), medium silt (5–10 μm), and coarser (>10 μm) fractions of meadow solonchakous solonetzes (Calcic Gypsic Salic Stagnic Solonetz (Albic, Siltic, Columnic, Cutanic, Differentic)) developing from loesslike loam and clay in the North Crimean Lowland are presented. Fractions >5 μm constitute nearly 50% of the soil mass and are characterized by the same mineralogical composition in the entire profile; they consist of quartz, plagioclases, potassium feldspars, and micas (biotite and muscovite). The eluvial-illuvial redistribution of clay in the course of solonetzic process is accompanied by changes in the portion of mixed-layer minerals and hydromicas in the upper part of the profile; a larger part of the smectitic phase is transformed into the superdisperse state. In the eluvial SEL horizon and in the illuvial BSN horizon, the clay fraction is impoverished in smectitic phase and enriched in trioctahedral hydromicas. Upon calculation of the content of clay minerals per bulk soil mass, the distribution of mixed-layer minerals is either eluvial, or eluvial-illuvial, whereas the distribution of hydromicas has an illuvial pattern without distinct eluvial minimum in the SEL horizons. The eluvial-illuvial distribution pattern of clay minerals in solonetzes of the North Crimean Lowland is compared with the distribution pattern of clay minerals in solonetzes of the West Siberian Lowland. Coefficients characterizing differentiation of solonetzes by the contents of particular mineral components are suggested.     

Particle-size distribution patterns in Vertisols and vertic soils of Russia

Five variants of the distribution of clay (<0.001 mm) and physical clay (<0.01 mm) fractions along the vertical profiles of Vertisols (slitozems) and vertic soils (slitic subtypes of different soil types) from the European part of Russia are distinguished: (1) accumulative, (2) even, (3) regressive, (4) with a maximum in the middle-profile horizon and with their approximately equal contents in the upper and the lower horizons, and (5) eluvial–illuvial. These distribution patterns are related to the lithological specificity of sedimentation and formation of parent materials composed of swelling clays of different geneses and ages. Solonetzic, eluvial- gley, and solodic processes contribute to the development of the eluvial–illuvial and, partly, regressive variants of clay distribution. All the five variants with a predominance of the even distribution pattern can be found in Vertisols. Most of Vertisols in the European part of Russia have a medium clayey or a heavy clayey texture in the entire profile. The regressive distribution pattern is typical of the group of vertic soils. In the upper horizons of Vertisols, where slickensides do not form, the texture is usually heavier than that in the analogous horizons of vertic soils. The middle-profile and lower horizons with slickensides have similar statistical distributions of particle-size fractions in Vertisols proper and in vertic soils. However, in Vertisols, a tendency for a more frequent occurrence of the soils with a higher content of the clay fraction and with a higher portion of this fraction in the physical clay fraction is observed (as compared with the vertic soils).     

Mikrosonden- und Röntgenbeugungs-Untersuchungen an Tonbelägen von lessivierten Böden aus Löß

Microprobe and x-ray diffraction studies of clay coatings in leached soils derived from loess Point analyses of Si, Al, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, as well as of Zn and Pb of clay coatings in soil thin sections from illuvial horizons of four leached soils were carried out using an electron microprobe (EMA). The K, Mg, Si, and Al content, the Si/Al-molar ratio of coatings and XRD-analyses indicate that the clay coatings consist mainly of illitic clay minerals. This suggests either a mineral-specific displacement of illite or the formation of illitic clay coatings from migrated smectite or expanded illite (“illitization”) through subsequent K uptake. The clay coatings show, with the exception of Fe, Mn, Zn and Pb, only little variation in their chemical composition within the same horizon. Between the horizons of the investigated soils, however, distinct differences in the total element content, especially in the K content may occur. The strong vertical variation of the K content in clay coatings in some horizons is probably due to acidic conditions and lateral infiltration which lead to an increased weathering of illite and the depletion of K. The EMA results show that Pb is predominantly bound in Fe-Mn-Oxide coatings on the surface of clay minerals or in Fe-Mn-Oxide precipitates within clay coatings. Microanalyses of K depleted clay coatings indicate on the other hand an increased fixation of Zn in expanded illites.     

The impact of long-term irrigation on the degree of aggregation and the mineralogical composition of the clay fraction in dark chestnut soils of the Transvolga region

Dark chestnut soils of the Ershov Experimental Station in the Transvolga region are characterized by the even distribution and aggregation of clay minerals in the profile. Hydromica, chlorite, kaolinite, and smectitic minerals predominate in the clay (<1 μm) fraction. The smectitic phase consists of randomly ordered mixed-layered minerals of the following types: mica-smectite with a low (<50%) content of smectite layers, mica-smectite with a high (>50%) content of smectite layers, and chlorite-smectite. In some horizons, the smectitic phase occurs in the superdispersed state. The long-term irrigation of these soils with fresh water of the Volga River has led to certain changes in the composition and properties of the clay particles. The weakening of bonds between them has taken place. As a result, the content of water-peptizable clay has increased by two times, and the content of aggregated clay of the first category (AC1) has increased by 1.5 times at the expense of a decrease in the contents of tightly bound clay (TBC) and aggregated clay of the second category (AC2). Also, the redistribution of organic matter bound with clay particles has taken place: its content in the AC1 fraction has decreased, whereas its content in the AC2 and TBC fractions has increased. In the topsoil horizon, the amount of the smectitic phase has lowered, whereas the contents of hydromica, kaolinite, and fine-dispersed quartz in the clay fraction have increased. In general, some amorphization of the clay material has occurred. The periodic alkalization of the soil solutions upon irrigation has led to the conversion of the smectitic phase into the superdispersed state in the entire soil profile.