Interrelations of vegetal cover,silicophytolith content and pedogenesis of Typical Argiudolls of the Pampean Plain,Argentina

Knowledge of the origin, evolution and weathering of Pampean soils is still limited. There are few prior studies of silicophytoliths, even though they could be important pedogenetic indicators that provide information about the role of amorphous silica in the reestablishment of soil structure. The aim of this work is to determine the silicophytolith content in Typical Argiudolls of the Pampean Plain, Argentina, its relation with vegetal cover and its effect on pedogenesis. We worked in three plots with different vegetal cover: grasses and shelter-belt plantations of Acacia melanoxylon – Celtis tala and Eucalyptus globulus – Celtis tala. In the study area, morphological characterization and particle size distribution analysis of soils were completed, and pH and organic matter content were determined. The heavy liquid separation was realized with sodium polytungstate (δ = 2.3 g/cm³) and an average of around 500 mineral grains were counted under optical microscope for the quali-quantitative analysis. There were no differences between profiles with respect to their morphological properties, organic matter content and particle size distribution, except for the higher organic horizon development of the forest plots as compared with the grass plot. The silicophytolith content was higher in the forest plots than in the grass one; within each profile, this fraction content decreased from the surface (63–40%) to the subsurface levels (23–5%) of soils. This decrease parallels the pieces of amorphous silica (< 7.5 μm) distribution in all plots analyzed. Afforestation over the past 50 years does not affect either the morphological or the physico-chemical properties of soils. These forest species, through the organic horizons, preserve soil conditions, which insures a higher representativity of silicophytoliths in comparison with the grass plot.     

Soil development on Late Quaternary river terraces in a high montane valley in Bhutan,Eastern Himalayas

We examined the geochemistry and micromorphology of the soils on a suite of morphologically well-defined and visually distinct fluvial terraces, up to 40 m elevation above the current riverbed, at Thangbi in the upper Bumthang Valley, Bhutan. The alluvia forming each of the terraces are lithologically and structurally similar, with shallow or moderately deep, clast-free sandy loam overbank deposits capping deep clast-supported beds of rounded boulders and interstitial sand. The topsoils on the 40 m terrace have more silt than those on the lower terraces. The soils are interpreted mainly as a monoclinal post-incisive chronosequence. Features that indicate progressive pedogenesis with increasing elevation include subsoil rubefaction, crystallinity of free Fe sesquioxides, and weathering of susceptible primary minerals, such as biotite and hornblende. However other soil attributes show no systematic trends and the overall impression is of limited pedogenesis, even in the soils on the higher terraces. We examine possibilities that the immaturity of the soils is due to pedogenic rejuvenation by post-incision additions to the soil parent materials.     

Parent material and chemical weathering in alpine soils on Mt. Mansfield,Vermont, USA

We compared the elemental composition of soil and bedrock samples to determine the extent of chemical weathering and the nature of the soil parent material in alpine soils on Vermont's highest summit. Previously it was unclear whether these soils formed through weathering of bedrock, glacial till, or eolian sediment, or solely through the accumulation of organic matter. In eighteen profiles, no evidence was found to indicate that soils have developed in glacial till, despite evidence that the mountain was completely inundated by the Laurentide Ice Sheet. In contrast, results strongly support the theory that pedogenesis in this environment involves in situ bedrock weathering under a thickening blanket of acidic organic litter. Weathering indices reveal an increase in weathering intensity upwards from the bedrock, and trends of normalized rare earth elements demonstrate a strong similarity between bedrock and soil samples. Leaching has concentrated less mobile elements such as Al, Cr, La, P, Pb, and Ti in soil horizons and removed mobile elements such as Co, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Si, and Zn. X-ray diffraction reveals that chlorite, which is present in all bedrock samples and some saprolites, has weathered completely from upper soil horizons, and that hydrobiotite, vermiculite, kaolinite, gibbsite, and goethite have formed in the soil. Ratios of immobile elements (Ce, Cr, Nb, Ta, Ti, Y, and Zr) in soil and bedrock samples are, however, notably different. Furthermore, the moderately mobile trace elements Cu, Mo, and Sr are actually more abundant in soil than in bedrock, and soil concentrations of Zr are up to an order-of-magnitude greater than in bedrock samples. Together these data argue for at least a modest eolian influx, which may have arrived during the regression of Lake Vermont during the latest Pleistocene or from an outwash source in the immediate post-glacial period. Similarly, increased Ca and Na concentrations in soil samples may signify modern deposition of dust bearing Ca (from agricultural fields) and Na (from roads).     

水耕条件下两类富钙母岩发育土壤的系统分类归属及成因探讨

在重庆境内,遂宁组（J3s）钙质泥岩发育水耕人为土的剖面分异多不明显,而石灰岩发育水耕人为土则不尽如此,其原因尚不明确。为此,以上述两类母岩在不同坡位发育的水耕人为土为研究对象,分析水耕条件下钙质泥岩和石灰岩发育土壤的发生特征及系统分类归属,并以有机碳矿化特性为切入点,探讨其成因。结果表明,从中坡至坡麓,钙质泥岩发育的水耕人为土（CS）结构面上均仅有很少量锈斑且游离铁的垂直分异不明显,而石灰岩发育的水耕人为土（LS）结构面上有很少量至多量锈斑且在不同坡位的分布状况不同,特别是下坡呈酸性的土体中游离铁的下层聚集显著,表明两类母岩发育水耕人为土铁的剖面迁移特征有明显差异。CS的有机碳累积矿化量（C15）显著低于同坡位的LS（P < 0.05）,较低量的易矿化有机碳使得CS土体中高价铁难以发生还原,铁的剖面迁移不明显,导致不同坡位的CS典型个体均被归为简育水耕人为土;从中坡至坡麓,LS的C15逐级增高,且坡麓的C15显著高于其他坡位（P < 0.05）,加之受与坡位关联的土壤水分状况影响,其典型个体依次被归为“简育”、“铁聚”和“潜育”水耕人为土土类。易矿化有机碳含量可能是决定坡位能否引起富钙母岩发育的水耕人为土产生类型分异的重要因素。     

土壤有效硅含量及其与土壤理化性状的相关研究

东北地区主要土壤有效硅平均含量为３９２ｍｓ／ｋｓ，含量范围在９７．０－８９７．４ｍｇ／ｋｇ之间，且黑土＞褐土＞草甸土＞棕壤＞白浆土。大部分黑土和褐土属于较高水平，而白浆土、草甸土和棕壤偏低。分析土壤有效硅与土壤理化性状的相关关系，得知有效硅含量与土壤的ｐＨ及粘粒含量达极显著和显著水平，此外，有效硅含量还与成土过程有关。     

Weathering and vegetation effects in early stages of soil formation

Bedrock surfaces in the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas, exposed by spillway construction and which had not previously been subjected to surface weathering environments, developed 15–20 cm thick soil covers in less than three decades. All open bedrock joints showed evidence of weathering and biological activity. Rock surfaces and fragments also showed evidence of significant weathering alteration. The results suggest a soil production function whereby weathering and increases in thickness are initially rapid. The rapid initial rate (5 to 10 mm year^− 1) is facilitated by a weathering-favorable regional climate, local topography favoring moisture and sediment accumulation, and aggressive vegetation colonization. The ages of the trees on the bedrock benches suggests that a short period (< 10 years) of pedogenic site preparation is necessary before trees can become established. Initial chemical weathering within newly-exposed rock fractures in resistant sandstone strata and chemical weathering of weak shale layers, coupled with accumulation of organic and mineral debris in fractures and microtopographic depressions facilitates plant establishment, which accelerates local weathering rates.     

安徽凤阳石英岩发育土壤的磁学性质及环境磁学意义

通过对安徽凤阳石英岩发育土壤典型剖面的磁学参数测量,结果表明,A层和B层中的磁性矿物含量明显高于C层,且A层和B层中磁性矿物的粒度明显比C层细.C层的磁学性质由磁铁矿主导,A层和B层的磁学性质由磁赤铁矿主导.磁赤铁矿是石英岩在成土过程中形成的次生矿物.土壤中磁赤铁矿的出现及含量的变化指示成土作用的强弱.石英岩的磁性对土壤的磁性影响甚小,而成土作用和生物作用对土壤磁性增强起到了主要作用.     

豫中黄土地区全新世黄土剖面成壤作用与古气候研究

通过对河南豫中黄土地区黄土剖面化学元素的深入研究认为:在该地区全新世中期风化成壤过程中,Al、Fe、K、Ti、Rb、Ba等元素在古土壤中相对富集,表现出残留富集的特征;而Si、Ca、Na、Sr等元素则在风化剖面中淋失。而Al、Na在成壤过程中因具有不同的地球化学行为,从而产生显著的分异现象,并且随着成壤作用的增强分异加剧。因此,Al/Na值在黄土剖面中的变化反映了风尘堆积物成壤强度的变化,能够作为成壤作用、气候变化的替代指标。     

滨海沉积物发育的水稻土时间序列母质均一性判定与特性演变

时间序列方法是研究土壤发生特性演变的重要途径,而比较土壤变化的重要前提之一是序列中的土壤具有相同的起源,即具有母质的相对均一性。本研究根据史料记载中浙江慈溪海塘修筑年代估计出水稻土的耕作年龄,选择了植稻年龄约为50、300、500、700、1000a以及一个未垦滩涂剖面组成的一个时间序列作为研究对象。利用各种土壤属性参数对该时间序列的母质不连续性(或母质均一性)以及水稻土相对年龄进行了判定和验证。结果表明,时间序列的6个剖面虽然具有微小的差异,但其剖面内与剖面间母质来源相同。在水稻土母质不连续性判定中,去除黏粒的粉粒与粉粒中稳定元素Ti/Zr比值具有较好的指示作用。相对易变的土壤属性参数如碳酸钙、磁化率以及游离铁的剖面分异程度在水稻土相对年龄的判定中具有较好的指示作用。综合这些参数在时间序列中的演化趋势,发现500a剖面与整个序列的变化趋势不相符合,可能是利用历史的差异所致,在相关的性质演变研究中应该从序列中剔除。