Soil cover and landscape evolution in the Senegal floodplain: a review and synthesis of processes and interactions during the late Holocene

The aim of this paper is to summarize the successive biological, pedological, hydrodynamic, geomorphological and geochemical processes that have occurred in the Senegal valley, and to describe how their interactions during the late Holocene conditioned soil cover formation and landscape evolution. Potential acidity accumulated as pyrite in the floodplain sediment during the last marine transgressions, and was expressed during the following regressions because of oxidation. Soil acidification was mitigated by the soil buffer capacity and by the interaction with the slightly alkaline continental freshwater of the river. Two pedogenetic transformation processes that resulted from the succession of acidic and neutral conditions, transformed unripe muds with pyrite (potential Acid Sulphate soil) to actual Acid Sulphate soils, and then to Vertisols. Geochemical modelling with PHREEQC quantitatively confirmed the feasibility of the processes involved. These two pedogenetic processes also controlled two independent salt accumulation processes: (i) the transformation of shell accumulation beds into gypsum layers and (ii) aeolian deflation and formation of clay dunes. The study shows that pedogenetic effects on alluvial material can lead to contrasting horizons that cannot be explained stratigraphically. It also shows that the presence of saline areas in the Senegal middle valley results from much more complex processes than a simple salt deposition during transgressions.     

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).     

Alleviation of Soil Acidity and Aluminium Phytotoxicity in Acid Soils by Using Alkaline-Stabilised Biosolids

A pot experiment was carried out to study alleviation of soil acidity and Al toxicity by applying an alkaline-stabilised sewage sludge product (biosolids) to an acid clay sandy loam (pH 5.7) and a strongly acid sandy loam (pH 4.5). Barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Forrester) was used as a test crop and was grown in the sewage sludge-amended (33.5 t sludge DM ha-1) and unamended soils. The results showed that the alkaline biosloids increased soil pH from 5.7 to 6.9 for the clay sandy loam and from 4.5 to 6.0 for the sandy loam. The sludge product decreased KCl-extractable Al from 0.1 to 0.0 cmol kg-1 for the former soil and from 4.0 to 0.1 cmol kg-1 for the latter soil. As a result, barley plants grew much better and grain yield increased greatly in the amended treatments compared with the unamended controls. These observations indicate that alkaline-stabilised biosolids can be used as a liming material for remedying Al phytotoxicity in strongly acid soils by increasing soil pH and lowering Al bioavailability.     

MINERALOGY AND CHEMISTRY OF A TRANSVAAL BLACK CLAY TOPOSEQUENCE

Moralistic soils (vertic and non-vertic black clays) were sampled along a 200 m top sequence in the Transvaal Highveld, South Africa. The Milk wood soil on the upper part of the margalitic top sequence has an Al horizon which lacks both slickensides and self-mulching properties but has strong blocky structure, the others are all self-mulching (i.e. Vertisols). The Vertisols differ in some morphological properties such as the absence (Mngazi series) and presence (Arcadia series) of pedogenic calcite accumulation, both overlying decomposed dolerite, whereas the third member from a red-black centenary sequence is calcareous with a gleyed subsoil horizon. Chemical and XRD analysis suggest that the clays of the Vertisols comprise mainly a partly chloritized iron-rich smectite with Ie > Mg + Al in the octahedral layer (and interlayer positions), while in the upland Milkwood soil intergradient halloysitic clay occurs in addition to a more‘open’structured chloritized iron smectite. The mineralo-chemical results and the geomorphic data suggest that the genesis of these soils is controlled primarily by the internal soil water regime.     

珠江三角洲平原不同种植年限土壤铁氧化物特征研究

珠江三角洲平原具有上千年的围垦历史,其土壤发生演变过程深受人为作用影响,开展此区域不同种植年限土壤中铁氧化物形态特征和分布规律的研究,能够揭示人为耕种下土壤发生演变过程。以珠江三角洲平原不同种植年限的土壤剖面为对象,研究了滨海沉积物、河流冲积物和三角洲沉积物发育的土壤及黏粒中全铁、游离铁含量变化及其影响因素。结果表明:随着种植年限的增加,河流冲积物、三角洲沉积物发育土壤中游离铁(Fe_d)向土体下部淀积深度逐渐增加,黏粒中游离铁(Fe_(d(clay)))含量在水耕氧化还原层中呈减小趋势,而滨海沉积物发育的土壤Fe_d含量及淀积深度均有所减小。随着种植年限的增加,滨海沉积物发育的土壤全铁(Fe_t)和游离铁(Fe_d)在黏粒中的富集程度呈增大趋势,而河流冲积物、三角洲沉积物发育的土壤Fe_t和Fe_d富集程度逐渐减小。土壤Fe_d与Fe_t、黏粒游离铁(Fe_(d(clay)))与黏粒全铁(Fe_(t(clay)))均呈极显著正相关;全铁富集率(Fe_(t(clay))/Fe_t)、游离铁富集率(Fe_(d(clay))/Fe_d)均与Fe_(t(clay))、Fe_(d(clay))、黏粒铁游离度(Fe_(d(clay))/Fe_(t(clay)))呈极显著正相关,与Fe_t、Fe_d、土壤铁游离度(Fe_d/Fe_t)、黏粒含量呈极显著负相关,且Fe_(t(clay))/Fe_t与Fe_(d(clay))/Fe_d呈极显著正相关,表明土壤铁氧化物在黏粒中的富集以Fe_d为主,且铁氧化物的富集程度受土壤黏粒含量的影响。     

富里酸对红壤酸度的改良及酸化阻控效果

用采自安徽由第四纪红色黏土发育的红壤(红黏土)和采自江西由第三纪红砂岩发育的红壤(红砂土)进行室内培养试验,研究了添加富里酸对红壤酸度的改良效果和红壤酸化的阻控效果。结果表明,添加富里酸显著提高了两种土壤的pH,并且随着富里酸添加量的增加对土壤pH的提升效果逐渐增加,添加50g/kg富里酸处理红黏土和红砂土的土壤pH分别由对照的4.31和4.69提高至5.91和5.97。添加富里酸也提高了两种土壤的pH缓冲容量(pHBC),因而提高了土壤的抗酸化能力。与土壤pH的变化趋势相似,富里酸对土壤pHBC的提升效果也随其加入量的增加而增加。添加50 g/kg富里酸时,红黏土和红砂土的pHBC分别由对照的20.73和7.78 mmol/(kg×pH)提高至35.31和23.30 mmol/(kg×pH),分别比对照提高了0.70倍和1.99倍。添加富里酸不仅可以有效改良红壤酸度,还可以提高红壤的抗酸化能力。富里酸对红砂土酸化的阻控效果明显优于对红黏土。     

Contemporary pedogenetic processes in a ferrallitic soil in Uganda,I. Identification

Ferrallitic soils were originally considered to be pedogenetically “dead”, with few pedological processes taking place except perhaps leaching. A study of the Buganda clay loam series, a widespread soil in southern Uganda, showed that although this ferrallitic soil is very highly weathered chemically, two important groups of pedogenetic processes are currently active, differentiating the B from the C horizon. These are alteration of soil structure/physical properties and clay translocation. Leaching and clay mineral transformation are not occurring. It is suggested that the pedogenetic basis for classifying soils as ferrallitic has become outdated and that the criteria used need revision.     

A field methodology for assessing man-made disturbance in forest soils developed in loess

Abstract. Ancient forests which have never been under agriculture often have larger ecological and pedological value than later established forests. We made a reconstruction of the land use history of the Meerdaal forest complex in central Belgium since 1759. Soil profiles of 33 recent forest sites and of contiguous forest parcels were examined morphologically by augering to 120 cm depth. pH_KC1 was determined on samples from every horizon. The data were analysed by Principal Component Analysis, and the axes were used as a basis for derivation of horizon parameters. Former agricultural land use since 1759 can still be recognized in three soil morphological characteristics: colour of the eluviation horizon, intactness of the horizon containing illuviated clay and thickness of the organic layer. These parameters were combined into a 'naturalness index', which differs significantly between ancient and recent forest and can be easily and cost-effectively obtained to assess the degree of man-made disturbance of forests on loess-derived soils.     

淮北平原的变性土的形成和演化

The objectives of the present paper are to restore soil-forming environment of the Vertisols,to reveal their regularities of formation and evolution and to found soil chronology.In regard to formation and evolution of the Vertisols in the Huaibei Plain,they have undergone 3 cycles of deposition-formation during different geologic time (Q3^3;Q4^2 and Q4^3).Therefore,they are considered as the soils developed on heterogeneous parent material.The Vertisols as a paleosol can be divided into relict Vertisols and buried Vertisols.The former is shajiang black soils called by local people,the latter is shajiang black soils underlying Warp soil or warp soil horizon.     

Palevye (pale) soils of Central Yakutia: Genetic specificity,properties, and classification

Permafrost-affected palevye (pale) soils of Central Yakutia are developed from mantle calcareous deposits of different textures and are characterized by the common mica-chloritic association of clay minerals with a higher content of chlorite in comparison with the soils developed from mantle loams and loess-like loams in the European part of Russia. In the pale soils, the distribution of clay minerals in the profile has an even pattern in the loamy variants and a differentiated pattern typical of podzols in the loamy sandy variants. Data on the chemical extracts and Mössbauer spectroscopy indicate that the iron in the pale soils is mainly fixed in silicate minerals. The content of nonsilicate iron represented by the amorphous and weakly crystallized compounds in the pale soils is relatively low. The humus-accumulative horizon in these soils is close to the gray-humus (soddy) AY horizon according to its acid-base characteristics (the soil pH and the degree of base saturation) despite the presence of exchangeable sodium and the shallow occurrence of the calcareous horizon.     

Polygenetic Vertisols of the Purna Valley of Central India

The Purna Valley, a part of the Payanghat Plain, is an oval basin covering an area of about 1.9 Mha in central India. The soils are deep, calcareous, clayey and very dark greyish brown to dark brown in colour, and meet criteria for the Vertisols order of Soil Taxonomy. Cracks extend down to the slickenside zones in soils of the northeastern part of the valley, but cut through the slickenside zones in the soils of the southwestern part. Soils of the southwestern part are strongly alkaline with exchangeable sodium percentages (ESPs) of 5–26, whereas those of the northeastern part are moderately alkaline and have ESP values <5. Despite their similar coefficients of linear extensibility, volumetric shrinkage potentials, clay contents and amounts of fine clay smectite, the plasmic fabric of the slickenside horizons in soils of the northeastern part is porostriated, whereas in soils of the southwestern part, it is stipple-speckled to mosaic-speckled, indicating weak plasma separation. The soils have both pedogenic and nonpedogenic calcium carbonate, but those of the southwestern part have more pedogenic carbonate than those in the northeastern part. The semiarid climate removes Ca²⁺ ions from the soil solution by precipitating carbonate, and also causes the ESP and sodium absorption ratio to increase with depth. The lack of soil water in soils of the southwestern area is thought to be the reason for weak swelling of smectite, for larger amounts of pedogenic carbonate and for cracks cutting through the slickenside zones. The Vertisols of the southwestern part of the of the Purna Valley are, therefore, polygenetic because they exhibit distinctly different soil properties resulting from increasing aridity in the valley during the late Holocene.     

Morphological,chemical, and physical characteristics of shrink‐swell soils in a mediterranean semiarid region

Abstract

Heavy clay soils with swell‐shrink properties comprise most of the arable land in northern Jordan. These soils are classified as Vertisols. Vertisols occupy a large and important part of the agricultural land in Jordan where rainfed agriculture is practiced. Five sites were selected to represent Vertisols occurring in different precipitation zones. Soil characterization was carried out to provide useful information to understand the genesis and behavior of these soils. Vertisols in northern Jordan occur on flat to gently sloping plains. Clay, silt, and sand fractions were uniformly distributed indicating active pedoturbation. Clay content is moderate to high, and the higher the rainfall the higher the clay content. The high cation exchange capacity (CEC)/clay ratio suggest montmorillonitic and mixed mineralogy. Calcium (Ca) was the most dominant extractable cation followed by magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and potassium (K). The similar patterns of distribution for the electrical conductivity values and soluble cations throughout the studied soil sites indicate the low leaching rate, eluviation, and illuviation processes within these studied sites. All soils belong to the Haploxererts soil great group.     

Lateral flow in loamy to sandy Kandiudults of the Upper Coastal Plain of Georgia (USA)

Interest in site-specific agronomic management in intensively cropped regions necessitates characterization of subsurface water movement for efficient water management (irrigation timing) and control of off-site agrichemical movement. Soils formed in fluvial sediments in portions of the Upper Coastal Plain of Georgia (USA) are extensively used for peanut, cotton, and corn production. Certain proximate soils in this region possess contrasting subsoil properties, and it was hypothesized that these differences would have major effects on water redistribution across the landscape. This could be important in irrigation management, where soils possessing increased impedance to vertical flow could require decreased irrigation as opposed to soils without vertical flow restrictions. At a site near Plains, GA. (USA), hydraulic properties of soils with differences in overlying sand thickness and contrasting argillic horizon textures (sandy vs. loamy) were evaluated. The soils were predominantly in loamy and sandy families of Typic, Arenic, and Grossarenic Kandiudults. Laboratory measurements, field monitoring of matric potentials under simulated and natural rainfall, and modeling (VS2DT) were utilized to evaluate soil hydraulic properties. Reduction in vertical K_s occurred in horizons containing higher clay (argillic horizon). Changes in tension and build ups in hydraulic gradients associated with infiltration and redistribution events existed above and within horizons with low K_s. Evidence suggested there was less groundwater recharge occurring in the loamy than in the sandy pedons, suggesting more pronounced lateral flow occurred in the loamier soils. Model simulations of water movement across a slightly sloping (1%) simulated landscape indicated lateral gradients of flow existed within the solum of these soils. Analyses of tracer (Br) movement suggested a very slight lateral redistribution occurred within a relatively short monitoring period within the sandy pedon's Bt1 horizon, and the Bt2 and Bt3 horizons of the loamy pedon. Evidence suggested both loamy and sandy argillic horizons slightly, but not overwhelmingly, induced lateral flow on these landscapes.     

黄土地区非代换性钾与土壤发育的关系

黄土地区土壤类型和发育程度与土壤非代换性钾有关。本文初步研究了黄土地区主要土壤类型非代换性钾的变化。影响土壤非代换性钾含量和释放累积量的主要因素是土壤质地和有机质。粉砂粒、粘粒和有机质与非代换性钾呈正相关,而砂粒与非代换性钾呈负相关。土壤非代换性钾含量由北向南从66.71-84.62增到117.09-129.95mg/100g土;释放累积量由北向南从147.03-173.00增到251.18-346.08mg/100g土。说明黄土地区土壤非代换性钾的含量和释放累积量均从北向南逐渐增加。砂绵土和黄绵土,砂黑垆土和轻黑垆土的非代换性钾含量和释放累积量其剖面分布较均一;而粘黑垆土和黑(土娄)土的粘化层的非代换性钾含量和释放累积量高于耕作层和母质层,但因地形部位不同又存有一定差异。     

Physicochemical properties of the soils associated with shifting cultivation in Northern Thailand with special reference to factors determining soil fertility

Abstract

Recently agricultural activity in the mountainous area of northern Thailand has increased and problems relating to soil fertility have arisen. In order to gain basic information about the soil properties associated with shifting cultivation, physicochemical properties of the surface soils (0–10 cm) and subsoils (30–40 cm) were investigated in selected villages in the area. The physicochemical properties of the soils studied are summarized as follows: 1) The soils were rich in organic matter, content of which ranged from 11.4 to 63.3 g C kg^?1 in the surface soil. 2) The pH(H₂O) of the soils mostly ranged from 5 to 7 and soil acidity was more pronounced in the deeper horizons. In the surface soils, exchangeable Ca and Mg were generally dominant, whereas exchangeable Al was often predominant in the subsoils. 3) Most of the soils showed a medium to fine texture with more than 30% clay. The clay mineral composition was characterized by various degrees of mixture of kaolin minerals and clay mica with, in some cases, a certain amount of 2:1-2:1:1 intergrades. 4) According to the ion adsorption curves, most of the B horizon soils were characterized by the predominance of permanent negative charges. On the other hand, organic matter contributed to the increase of variable negative charges in the surface soils. The content of organic matter and the percentage of the clay fraction were essential for determining the CEC of the soils of the surface 10 and 30–40 cm depths, respectively. Under the field conditions, the composition of exchangeable cations largely reflected the soil acidity. In addition, the content of organic matter also showed a significant correlation with that of available N in the surface soils. Thus, soil acidity both in the surface soils and subsoils, organic matter content in the surface soils, and clay content in the subsoils were considered to be the main factors that affected soil chemical fertility in the area.     

喀斯特山区不同母质(岩)发育的土壤主要理化性质差异性分析

在贵阳市乌当区采集了白云岩、石灰岩、钙质紫色砂页岩等9种母质(岩)上发育的土壤样品763个,分别进行了土壤主要理化性质的测定和差异性分析。结果表明不同母质(岩)发育的土壤理化性质具有很大的差异:红色粘土、老风化壳和页岩上发育的土壤pH值均为酸性至强酸性,有机质和CEC含量中等,土壤质地较粘重;石灰岩、白云岩和钙质紫色砂页岩上发育的土壤pH值为中性至微碱性,有机质和CEC含量较高,质地较为适中;砂页岩和河流冲积物上发育的土壤pH值为酸性至中性,其余理化性质为中等水平;砂岩发育的土壤pH值为强酸性,其余理化性质均较差。     

An experience in using the world reference base for soil resources for the soils of western Georgia

New and previously published data on the soils of western Georgia are generalized, and traditional soil names are correlated with the units of the World Reference Base for Soil Resources. It is argued that krasnozems (red ferrallitic soils) can be attributed to the group of Nitisols (the soils characterized by intense weathering (ferralization) and having shiny ped faces in the nitic horizon); yellow and yellow-brown soils (zheltozems), to the group of Luvisols (the soils with relatively high adsorption capacity in the eluvial horizons and with the horizon of the illuvial accumulation of clay); yellow-podzolic (zheltozem-podzolic) soils, to Alisols (slightly acid soils with the low adsorption capacity, poor aggregation of the upper horizons, low-activity (kaolinite) clay, and with the horizon of clay accumulation (argic horizon)); brown forest soils, to Cambisols (the soils with the cambic horizon characterized by some alteration of the lithogenic texture and structure into the pedogenic texture and structure); and mountainous forest-meadow and meadow soils, to Umbrisols (the soils with the dark-colored unsaturated umbric horizon).     

THE INFLUENCE OF MAGNESIUM AND OF EASILY WEATHERED MINERALS ON HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY CHANGES IN A SODIC SOIL

Exchangeable Mg appears to have no specific effect on soil hydraulic conductivity of A and C horizons of a sodic sandy loam soil (montmorillonite and kaolinite clay minerals) leached with solutions which cause clay swelling to be the dominant mechanism reducing conductivity (SAR < 20, electrolyte concentration 10 meq per litre). There is some evidence of a specific effect when these soils are subsequently leached with water which causes clay dispersion to become important. Fresh loess in the A horizon dissolves in percolating rainwater, causing difficulties in the replication of experiments. It seems to give a small degree of ‘self protection’ to soil structure, a property likely to be operating in other soils affected by recent loess deposits.     

黄淮海平原晚第四纪古土壤

本文运用孢子花粉,古生物化石和放射性碳断代等手段,从土壤剖面层段的特征,土壤年龄和环境变化方面证明,分布于黄淮海平原的变性土不是现代土壤,而是古土壤,该古土壤自晚新世晚期以来经历了三次沉积－成土作用旋回,其土壤发育程度较弱,且是由钙质结核土层,暗色土层,表土层和（或）淤土层组成的一个叠置型古土壤。     

Soils of slopes and bottomland positions of the small stream valley in the central forest reserve: Chemical properties and clay mineralogy

Pale-podzolic soils occupying slope positions in a small stream valley are more acidic and contain less pedogenic chlorites in the clay fraction than those soils occupying uplands. These characteristics are thought to be caused by more intensive leaching of matter from eluvial horizons due to intensive lateral interflow of soil water. Soddy-gleyic soils of the stream bottomland are rich in organic matter and have a slightly acidic reaction in the A1 horizon and an alkaline reaction in the calcareous subsoil. Both factors lead to accumulation of Fe_ox and Al_ox supplied to bottomland positions from uplands and slopes and those formed in situ.