Contribution of Parker and Product indexes to evaluate weathering condition of Yellow Brown Forest soils in Japan

Soil weathering is recognizable through study on physico-chemical characteristics of soil. In this study, Parker, ([(Na)_a / 0.35] + [(Mg)_a / 0.9] + [(K)_a / 0.25] + [(Ca)_a / 0.7]) × 100, and Product, [SiO₂ / (TiO₂ + Fe₂O₃ + SiO₂ + Al₂O₃)] × 100, weathering indexes, originally developed for study on rocks, were tested on Yellow Brown Forest soils from two different regions in Japan. The results showed that the contribution of the mentioned indexes can be used for study on soils weathering. In other word, in a two-dimensional coordination system where the axes are Parker and Product indexes, regarding to the chemical bases of the indexes, initial and lateral products of weathering can be tracked at the same time.

Additionally, the indexes relations with soil color were studied after exposing the samples at a high temperature. Remarkable relationships between a* / b* ratio–parameters of psychometric chromaticness of color in CIE color standard system–and these two weathering indexes demonstrated that a* / b* ratio can be applied reliably to estimate the quantities of Parker and Product indexes in Yellow Brown Forest soils.