Pedostratigraphy of Terra Rossa and Quaternary geological evolution of a lacustrine limestone plateau in central Italy

Pedostratigraphic levels (PLs) are typical assemblages of soil‐genetic horizons, formed by materials having the same degree of weathering. The pedostratigraphic approach can be very useful to comprehend the formation of the Quaternary soil cover, the environmental evolution of a territory, and to estimate the age of paleosols. A pedostratigraphic study of a Terra Rossa was carried out to understand the soil–parent material origin and to estimate the time of the beginning of pedogenesis. Besides soil and geomorphological survey, the Terra Rossa was analyzed for Fe forms, geochemistry, clay mineralogy, micromorphology, and with scanning electron microscope. Optical dating was applied to obtain age estimates for the deposition of the parent material of soil formation. The insoluble residue of limestone was obtained and analyzed for geochemistry and clay mineralogy. The bedrock is constituted by Quaternary lacustrine limestone, showing pronounced karst landforms. The soil profile is situated in a little dissolution doline and was divided into three PLs: PL1 (0–110 cm) is constituted by cambic and ochric horizons, formed during Holocene in a mixture of colluvial soil sediments and fresh limestone, with aeolian components; PL2 (110–290 cm) includes two argic horizons, which began to form during Late‐Middle Pleistocene in colluvial soil sediments, with few aeolian additions; PL3 (290–330 cm) is constituted by a red argic horizon, with nitic properties, which developed from the insoluble residue of the limestone. The age of PL3 was calculated through a mass balance and an estimation of the limestone‐dissolution rate during the Quaternary, which led to an approximate age of Middle Pleistocene, between 250 and 500 ky BP. The time of the beginning of pedogenesis on limestone can be used as a reference for the tectonic uplifting of the area and emersion of the plateau.     

Clay mineralogy,specific surface area and micromorphology of polygenetic soils from Eastern Kansas

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between clay mineralogy, specific surface area (SSA) and micromorphology in polygenetic Konza soil series. Physical, chemical and mineralogical analyses were performed on disturbed soil samples, and micromorphological investigations of selected horizons were done on undisturbed soil samples. X-ray diffraction indicated that lower part of each parent materials has more mectite and less clay mica content than that of the upper horizons in each parent material. Greater amounts of smectite can be attributed to transformation product of the clay mica in to smectite, eluviation from upper horizons or originated from parent material. Specific surface area of upper horizons in each parent material tended to increase to lower horizons. Clay content gradually increased from surface (21%) to the lower part (～48%) of the solum. Clay in Bt horizons had strong birefrengent, sharp boundary, and strong orientation pattern. SSA, clay content increase, clay mineralogy and oriented clay features agreed to one another. Therefore, this relationship gives opportunity to make predictions on extend of SSA and related soil processes by looking at one of these features.     

Clay minerals in a denudation-accumulative soil catena

Chernozems and agrochernozems of the Kamennaya Steppe agroforest landscape have a silty clay or clay texture and similar associations of clay minerals. The plow horizons of the agrochernozems on a slope of 2°–3° to the Talovaya Balka have an increased content of the smectite phase (50–70%) compared to the upper horizons of the chernozems on flat watersheds (30–50%) due to the lithological discontinuity of the soil-forming material and the possible total removal of material on the slope by denudation. On slightly eroded areas, the clay minerals display a more intense disturbance of their crystal lattice structures by pedogenetic processes, which increase the degree of disorder in their layers and the accumulation of fine quartz in the clay fraction. In the areas with more significant erosion of the humus horizon, the clay minerals are characterized by their perfect structure and clean reflections, which are indicative of the outcropping of less weathered material from the middle part of the chernozem profile less transformed by pedogenesis.     

Zur Genese von Schwarzerden auf der Sontheimer Hochterrasse in der Donauniederung bei Ulm

Pedogenesis of chernozems in the upper river terrace of the Danubian river near Ulm (South West Germany) The “chernozem-like” soils in the upper river terrace of the Danubian river near Ulm (FRG) were examinated. Field analyses as well as soil physical and chemical, clay mineralogical and pollen analyses were carried out. The parent material of the soils was identified as loess, on the basis of its texture, clay mineral composition, structure, carbonate content, the presence of loess molluscs, and the location on an upper river terrace with loess findings in the surrounding. Characteristic pedogenetic processes, such as deliming, silicate weathering, formation of oxides and hydroxides, neoformation of clay minerals and clay translocation prove a non-groundwater-influenced development of the soils within at least the last 8000 years. Therefore an accumulation of organic matter under anaerobic conditions during the peat formation in the lower river terrace nearby was not possible. According to this finding, it can be deducted that the humus accumulation may be due to influences of continental climate and forest steppe during the preboreal period, whereby the humus horizons were formed at deeper horizons through bioturbation. After the groundwater level was raised in boreal age, the steppe stage of the soils had ended and the fluctuating levels of groundwater, rich in carbonates, stabilized humic substances. Thus strong degradation of the soils to date was prevented. Therefore the soils under study could be classified as gleyic Chernozems or luvic Phaeozems.     

Transformations des carbonates dans une sequence de sols developpees sur marnes dans Le Bassin Aquitain,France

Soils of a toposequence formed chiefly in Tertiary marls in the south-eastern part of the “Bassin Aquitain” have been studied by field and micromorphological methods. Profiles were examined in detail in the field and oriented samples taken of horizons for observations of micromorphology. From the upper to the lower part of the toposequence, the four profiles also form a chronosequence, viz., a recent calcareous brown soil (sol brun calcaire), an old calcic brown soil (sol brun calcique), a still older leached brown soil (sol brun lessivé) and a hydromorphic leached soil (sol lessivé hydromorphe).The profile distribution and forms of calcite can be related to the morphology, ages and parent materials of the soils. Calcite is found as relics in the upper horizons of the calcareous brown soil and in the form of accumulations in the Bca and Cca horizons of the calcareous brown soil, the calcic brown soil and the leached brown soil. Where accumulations are limited, calcite forms pseudomycelia associated with roots, first as calcitans in tabular pores or craze planes and second as coalescing pseudomycelia. Finally, the calcite invades the S-matrix by epigenesis and results in crumbly masses. These masses have the shapes of the structural voids originally present in the parent materials. The common voids in the marl are vertical craze planes, the widths of which differ with the moisture regime of a soil. In the sandstones, the craze planes are horizontal and very small. The distribution of the calcitans and the presence of the crumbly masses indicate that the processes of accumulation of calcite are in part biodependent, i.e., related to root distribution, and in part lithodependent, i.e., related to structure of the parent rock.Finally, the presence in the calcareous brown soil of calcite as relics in the upper horizons and as successions of cutans from outsides to insides of pores (calcitan, argillan, calcitan) in the Bca horizon shows that the profile has a polycyclic origin.     

A micromorphological analysis of regrouping phenomena in some turkish soils

Both macromorphology and micromorphology of four profiles from the Turkish part of the Balkan Peninsula have been studied. The primary aim was to test applicabilities of the concept of “regrouping phenomena”. To do this, profiles were examined in the field and thin sections of individual horizons were subsequently studied in the laboratory. Part of the examination was done with Quantimet equipment. Emphasis was given to characteristics of horizons that could indicate one or more of pedotranslocations, pedoturbations, pedocompactions and pedotransformations. Evidence for past operations of all four kinds of processes were found in the profiles, with differences from one to another.Orthic, mainly plane ferriargillans, papules, calcitans, matrans and neomatrans form a strong indication of pedotranslocations only in the Noncalcic Brown soils. The occurrence of papules in the clayey B horizons and argillans in well-preserved condition in the lighter-textured C horizons show that there has been a shift in the balance among pedogenetic processes in these soils.The decrease of visible porosity around zoogenic tubes, presence of skew and craze planes, and aggregation patterns show that pedocompactions are intensive processes in all the soils. Because of the clay content of the soil and climate of the area, pedoturbations were especially evident in the Vertisol profile.Occurrence of ferriargillans formed in situ (weathering cutans) and a strong expression of sepic fabrics are features of pedotransformations in all the soils.     

Evolution of the soil cover of soccer fields

A soccer field can be considered a soil-like technogenic formation (STF). According to the theory of soil cover patterns, the artificially constructed (anthropogenic) soil cover of a soccer field is an analogue of a relatively homogeneous elementary soil area. However, the spatial homogeneity of the upper part (50–80 cm) of the STF of soccer fields is unstable and is subjected to gradual transformation under the impact of pedogenetic processes, agrotechnical loads, and mechanical loads during the games. This transformation is favored by the initial heterogeneity of the deep (buried) parts of the STF profile. The technogenic factors and elementary pedogenetic processes specify the dynamic functioning regime of the STF. In 50–75 years, the upper part of the STF is transformed into soil-like bodies with properties close to those in zonal soils. Certain micro- and nanopatterns of the soil cover are developed within the field creating its spatial heterogeneity.     

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.     

Morphometric profiles of pore space in loamy soils of the forest and steppe zones of European Russia

A computer-based image analysis of vertically oriented thin sections was applied to study changes in the shape and orientation of fine soil macropores (d = 0.2−2.0 mm) in the profiles of soddy-podzolic soils and typical (migrational-mycelial) chernozems. Generalization of the obtained morphometric data was based on the theory of mereology, a scientific discipline studying the structure (part-whole relationships) of classified objects. As a first approximation, generalized data characterized archetypes of morphometric porespace profiles of the studied soils. The archetype of the pore-space profile of the soddy-podzolic soil consists of four components (meronyms) corresponding to the humus-accumulative, eluvial, textural (clay-illuvial), and transitional to the parent material (BC) horizons. Sharp boundaries between the upper horizons specify sharp changes in the studied meronomic indices of the shape and orientation of soil pores. The pore-space profile of the migrational-mycelial chernozem consists of two major components: specific pores in the granular dark-humus (AU) horizon and complex pore space of the BCA and BCca horizons that are poorly differentiated with respect to the shape and orientation of their fine macropores despite clear genetic differences between these horizons. Pore-space patterns in the lower (transitional to the parent material) horizons of the studied soils are characterized by the high degree of similarity (>75%). Pore-space patterns in the upper horizons of the studied soils are different; the level of their similarity does not exceed 24–41.5%. The results obtained in this study hold promise in the use of morphometric characteristics of the pore space in separate genetic soil horizons as meronyms composing archetypes of the pore-space profiles of different soils. Such archetypes may be used for diagnostic purposes as reference pore-space profiles of the particular types of soils.     

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).     

Soil altitudinal sequence on base-poor parent material in a montane cloud forest in Sierra Juárez, Southern Mexico

The soils of montane cloud forests (MCF) are still insufficiently studied. A number of researchers report Podzols to be the main soil group for MCF ecosystems; however, a great deal of contradictory data exists. We studied an altitudinal sequence of soils formed on ferrous chlorite shale under natural MCF vegetation in Sierra Juárez, Southern Mexico, from 1500 to 2500 m asl. The soils of the upper part of the toposequence were Folic Stagnic Podzols, with inclusions of Folic Stagnosols in local depressions, while the soils of the lower part of the toposequence were Folic Cambisols (Humic, Hyperdystric). All the soils in the toposequence were extremely acid, and had thick organic surface horizon. Mineral horizons of all soils were poor both in exchangeable and total reserves of bases; the bases were concentrated mainly in organic topsoil. With decreasing altitude both the thickness of albic horizons, the depth of the maximum acid oxalate-extractable Fe and Al concentrations, and the difference in clay content between the eluvial and illuvial horizons decreased. In the upper part of the toposequence the composition of soil clays was similar to that of parent material (chlorite and mica), with some mixed-layered 2:1 minerals. However, gibbsite and kaolinite were also present in the soils of the other site within the same upper MCF belt. The phenomenon was ascribed to parent material heterogenity. In the medium and lower parts of the toposequence gibbsite and kaolinite were the dominant minerals. We consider that the main pedogenic processes in the study area are raw humus accumulation, weathering in situ, podzolization, and iron reduction due to water stagnation in mineral topsoil. The intensity of weathering decreases, while the extent of water stagnation increases with altitude. To a great extent the genesis and altitudinal distribution of the soils in the MCF depends on parent material.     

Chemistry of pedogenesis in Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains

Five soil pedons–two aquic and two udic Haplustalfs and one petrocalcic Natrustalf–from the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plain of Western Uttar Pradesh were investigated to evaluate the pedogenetic processes. Sand/silt ratios indicate that parent material discontinuities are insignificant. Higher K content and lower SiO₂/R₂O₃ ratios of the non-clay fractions in Bt, rather than in the A, horizons suggest maximum weathering at or near the surface.
An almost linear relationship between decrease in molar SiO₂/R₂O₃ and % increase in clay to about 100cm depth in all the pedons, presence of clay argillans in Bt horizons (where % clay, fine/coarse clay ratio and bulk density values are greatest), all indicate that the development of argillic horizons in these soils was due, at least partly, to lessivage of clay. Fe in clay fractions decreases with depth whilst Al increases, but in the fine earth both increase steadily with depth. This, together with crystalline iron concretions in the lower Bt horizons, suggests that in Haplustalfs these horizons are gaining clay by neoformation/ reorganization of illuviated constituents, especially A1₂O₃.     

Natural radioactivity of some red Mediterranean soils

Seventeen samples of B-horizon of Pleistocene Terra Rossa soils from carbonate rock were collected in different Countries of the Mediterranean regions (Spain, Italy and Southern Turkey).     

Genesis of soils developed from red-brown clays and loesslike loams in the southwest of the Central Russian plain (the Belogor’e reserve)

Soils developed from the red-brown Neogene clay and the Quaternary loesslike loams have been studied in the south of the forest-steppe zone on the Central Russian Upland. A polygenetic nature of the soil profile on the loesslike loams is shown. The modern pedogenetic processes in this soil ensure its eluvial-illuvial differentiation with the development of multilayered coatings in the illuvial horizon. The soil developed from the Neogene clay has a lower degree of differentiation despite the more acid reaction. The micromorphological study of the coatings and the mineralogical analysis of the clay fraction separated from the coatings and from the intraped mass disclose differences in the geneses of B horizons of the two soils. In the soil developed from the loesslike loam, hydromica predominates among clay minerals of the coatings; in the soil developed from the red-brown clay, smectitic minerals predominate in the clay fraction. Differences in the properties of these two parent materials predetermined differences in the major directions of soil formation: the metamorphic pedogenesis predominates on the red-brown clay, whereas the textural differentiation develops in the soil on the loesslike loam. The middle horizons in the studied soil profiles are referred to as the structural-metamorphic and textural (clay-illuvial) horizons, respectively.     

Micromorphology of diagnostic horizons in aridic soils (complementary to the new classification system of soils of Russia)

The micromorphological data on aridic soils are far from numerous; therefore, the information presented here contributes to the development of pedogenetic ideas and characterization of diagnostic horizons and genetic properties in substantive-genetic classification systems. The diversity, functioning, and resilience of aridic soils are basically determined by the properties of their topsoils, which are regarded as recent dynamic formations as opposed to subsoils that formed under a different paleoclimatic environment; topsoil properties are more important for soil classification. Each of the two upper horizons in the new system of soil classification (the light-humus and xero-humus) has the same micromorphological features in different soils; however, in a sequence of soils, some individual micromorphological properties were revealed that indicate increasing aridity. The micromorphological properties of topsoils make it possible to identify the mechanisms of certain phenomena: aeolian deposition, structural rearrangement, the dynamics of secondary carbonates, and cryptosolonetzic manifestations.     

ALPINE SOILS OF NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND

Many features of the alpine soils of NE. Scotland are related to altitude. The deep contemporary humose A horizon has formed in Post-Boreal to recent times. Its formation was preceded by a phase of profile development characterized by very scanty A horizon development. This phase was interrupted by a stage of frost disturbance, probably equated with the Highland Re-advance. The earliest part of the pedogenetic cycle is represented only by cryogenic redistribution of the fine fraction, within the parent material column, which occurred between 12,000 and 28,000 B.P.     

Cambisols developed from cover-beds in the Pieniny Mts. (southern Poland) and their mineral composition

The occurrence of Eutric Cambisols in the study area has been usually attributed to specific characteristics of bedrock. Their basic properties include significant contrasts of pH and the content of carbonates within their profiles. Analysis of soil texture and the content and lithology of rock fragments indicate discontinuities in the parent material of the upper and lower sections of the investigated profiles. The observations have been confirmed by the analysis of XRD diffractograms of unseparated < 2 mm samples and of the > 2 μm fraction. The properties of the lowermost horizons are naturally related to the characteristics of bedrock, while cover-beds with a dominance of quartz and a lack of calcite should be recognized as parent material of the upper sections of the profiles. The XRD diffractograms of the clay fractions show a continuous, uniform process of soil development imposed on the originally heterogeneous profile.     

元谋盆地古红土的土壤发生学特征及古环境意义

选择元谋盆地不同发育年代形成的古红土,探讨了古红土的发生学特性。研究表明,在气候上更有利于早期形成的古红土发生强烈的风化淋溶作用,同时,晚期形成古红土气候湿热程度下降,成土时间也短,故土壤中硅淋溶较弱,铁铝富集程度不强。利用古红土发生学特性,可以推断出元谋盆地从晚新生代的湿热气候经暖干气候演化至现代的干热气候。     

太湖地区水耕人为土中漂白层的成因探讨

采集太湖地区4个具有漂白层的水耕人为土剖面(E-A1、E-A2、E-A3、E-A4)及1个发育于相同母质上的一般水耕人为土剖面作为参照(Ref),描述了土壤剖面的形态特征,分析了土壤颗粒组成、黏粒矿物组成、铁氧化物以及大量和微量元素等,并探讨了漂白层成因。5个剖面土壤颗粒组成以粉粒为主,在60%~75%之间,且剖面中各层次变异系数较小,小于10%;大量元素和微量元素在剖面各层次间变异系数也小于10%,指示漂白层与上覆和下伏土层发育在相似物质来源的土壤母质上;而E-A1剖面漂白层中较高的粉粒含量(75.04%)、较大的中细粉粒和中细粉粒/粗粉粒比值的变异系数(38.05%、61.85%)表明该剖面母质具有不均一性。说明E-A2、E-A3、E-A4、Ref剖面土壤性质的变化主要是由于成土作用形成的,而E-A1剖面土壤的性质变化除受成土作用影响外,还受沉积环境的影响。E-A2、E-A3、E-A4剖面的漂白层中蒙脱石和蛭石、粉粒和粗粉粒、SiO2、CaO、Zr等含量高于上下土层,而水云母和绿泥石、游离铁、Al2O3、Rb、Li、Ba、稀土元素(Rare earth element,REE)等则相反;同时,参照剖面亦有与E-A2、E-A3、E-A4剖面类似的特点,只是漂白作用出现在耕作层,不能定义为漂白层;而E-A1剖面的部分性质则显示出空间上的不一致性,其粉粒含量并非漂白层最高,而是随剖面土层深度向下越来越大。这些变异表明,太湖地区水耕人为土漂白层的形成,可以由黄土性泻湖相沉积物经过水耕过程中水分的周期性淹水和排干,通过机械淋洗和活性铁的淋溶而形成(剖面E-A2、E-A3、E-A4),也可以是母质沉积的过程中受湖水水面升降,导致机械淋溶,然后水耕过程叠加活性铁的淋溶而形成(剖面E-A1)。