Primary particle size distribution of eroded material affected by degree of aggregate slaking and seal development

Primary particle size distribution (PSD) of eroded sediment can be used to estimate potential nutrient losses from soil and pollution hazards to the environment. We studied eroded sediment PSDs from three saturated soils, packed in trays (20 × 40 × 4 cm), that had undergone either minimal aggregate slaking (MAS) or severe aggregate slaking (SAS) prior to a 60 mm simulated rainstorm (kinetic energy, 15.9 kJ m⁻³; droplet diameter, 2.97 mm) and collected runoff at regular intervals. The degree of aggregate slaking was controlled by the rate at which soils were wetted to saturation. The PSDs of eroded materials and of parent soils were determined using a laser particle size analyser. For each soil, PSD frequency curves of eroded sediments and parent soils were generally of a similar shape but most eroded sediments had larger clay contents than their parent soils. In the SAS treatment, cumulative clay enrichment in the eroded materials was inversely related to the parent soil clay content, these being 28.5, 26.6 and 22.8% richer in clay than their parent soils for the loam, sandy clay and clay, respectively. Generally, total clay loss was greater from soils with SAS than from those with MAS because of erosion rates; however, clay enrichment of sediments, compared with parent soil clay contents, was mostly greater in samples with MAS. Greater clay enrichment took place during the early seal development stage in the loam, but could not readily be associated with specific stages of seal development for the clay. In the sandy clay, the relation between seal development and clay enrichment in the eroded material depended on the initial degree of aggregate slaking. The observed large preferential loss of clay by erosion in cultivated soils re-emphasizes the need to employ erosion control measures.     

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.     

福建主要土壤的粘粒云母含量和供钾潜力

利用X射线衍射法估算了福建省221个土壤样品中粘粒云母含量并讨论了与粘粒云母含量变化有关的因素。结果表明母质是影响粘粒云母含量的主要因素。海积物、河积物及页岩上发育的土壤粘粒云母含量一般较高;基性岩上发育的土壤粘粒云母含量一般较低。风化度较高的赤红壤、红壤、黄红壤和黄壤等土类的粘粒云母含量一般较低。风化度较低的C层的粘粒云母含量一般较B层和A层高,但异源母质的堆积可以使A层粘粒云母含量高于B层和C层。     

Clay mineralogy of the B horizons of two hydrandepts,a Torrox and a Humitropept in Hawaii

The mineralogy of the clay fractions separated from the B horizons of two Hydrandepts (Hilo and Akaka soils), a Torrox (Molokai soil) and a Humitropept (Kolekole soil) was determined by a combination of methods.The Hydrandept B horizons were characterized by predominance of hydrous non-crystalline alumina and iron oxides associated with considerable amounts of humus and with very small amounts of silica. Allophane, allophane-like constituents and imogolite were present but in minor amounts. Gibbsite, goethite, chlorite and illite were also present as accessory minerals.The Torrox and Humitropept B horizons were characterized by predominance of kaolinite, hematite and goethite. The iron oxide minerals were present as fine particles (40–80 A diameter) often clustered to form larger aggregates. Neither imogolite nor allophane and allophane-like constituents were detected. Considerable amounts of dithionite-citrate soluble Al and humus were, however, present in the Humitropept B horizon, which may reflect the effect of an admixture of volcanic ash to the parent material.     

我国北亚热带白浆化土壤矿物学特性的研究

本文对北亚热带地区七个白浆化土壤的原生矿物和次生矿物的特性进行了研究。重，轻矿物含量表明土壤继承了母质的特性，粘淀层与漂白层的母质沉积是间断的，前者风化强度大于后者。石英颗粒表现特征显示漂白层物来来源于黄土物质再堆积，粘土矿物以水云母为主，其结晶度较差，氧化铁类型以针铁矿和赤铁矿为主，也有非晶质氧化铁和硅酸盐中的Ｆｅ＾２＋，其形成条件与现代化成土条件一致。     

Particle size and free iron oxide distribution in some latosols and groundwater laterites of Ghana

The distribution of particle size and Na-dithionite-extractable (di-Fe₂ O₃) and NH₄-oxalate-extractable (ox-Fe₂O₃) iron oxides were investigated in twelve soil profiles representing latosols and groundwater laterites. Soil profiles studied were selected from the major ecological zones of Ghana. The pattern of distribution of free Fe₂O₃ was closely related to that of clay (< 2μ) in soil profiles of the humid forest zones where clay content was more than 40% in the B horizons. In soil profiles of the relatively dry savannah zones with less than 40% clay in the B horizon, the pattern of distribution of free Fe₂O₃ was closely related to that of silt (2–20 μ). The amount of free Fe₂O₃ in the soils appeared to be related to kind of parent rock or parent material and to climatic factors operating in the various ecological zones. Using the amount of di-Fe₂O₃ in the B horizon as a basis for assessing the relative degrees of pedogenesis in soil profiles developed from the same kind of parent material, it was concluded that soil profile development had progressed most in the rain forest zone. Free Fe₂O₃ was considered as having reached an advanced stage of crystallinity or aging in most of the soils because of the low ox-Fe₂O₃/di-Fe₂O₃ ratios in the solums of most of the soil profiles. Soils studied were placed in the ferrallitic and ferruginous soil classes of D'Hoore. The great soil groups could not be characterized by depth function curves of free Fe₂O₃. However, it was proposed that the relative amounts of di-Fe₂O₃ in the B horizons of the soil profiles could be used as a basis for classifying these soils at the family level.     

ABSTRACT of the Articles Printed in Journal of the Science of Soil and Manure,Japan

A contrasting occurrence of clay minerals was found within a soil profile which was derived from volcanic materials in the suburbs of Fukuoka-city, Northern Kyushu. The soil profile is located on an isolated terrace, and the morphological characteristics of the soil correspond exactly to Andosols, so-called Kuroboku soils or Humic Allophane soils.

The clay fraction of upper horizons of the soil consists largely of alumina-rich gel-like materials, gibbsite, and layer silicates such as chlorite and chloritevermiculite intergrades, while that of lower horizons is composed of allophane and gibbsite or halloysite. There was no positive indication of allophane in the upper horizons. Corresponding with the clay mineralogical composition, quartz is abundant in the fine sand fraction of the upper horizons, while the mineral is very scarce or none in the lower horizons, suggesting a close relation between the petrological nature of parent volcanic materials and the mineralogical composition of weathering products. The dominant clay mineral in the volcanic 1.10il might be dependent on the petrological nature of parent materials, and allophane is mostly formed from andesitic materials, and alumina-rich gel-like materials and layer silicates have come from quartz andesitic materials. Allophane would transform to gibbsite or halloysite according to weathering conditions, and aluminarich gel-like materials change to gibbsite under a well-drained condition.

The soil materials have been so greatly weathered that some horizons contain gibbsite of even more than 40 per cent or halloysite over 70 per cent. The morphology and mineralogy are quite similar to so-cailed “non-volcanic Kuroboku soils.”     

Aggregate Stability and Its Relationship with Some ChemicalProperties of Red Soils in Subtropical China

The stability of aggregates in the surface soil is crucial to soil erosion and runoff generation. Thus, to understand the stability and the breakdown mechanisms of soil aggregates as well as the relationship between aggregate stability and selected soil chemical properties, such as different forms of Fe and A1 oxides, organic matter, CEC and clay content, the aggregates of slightly and severely eroded red soils derived from Quaternary red clay in subtropical China were analyzed using the routine wet sieving and the Le Bissonnais methods. The results indicated that the aggregates of the severely eroded soils were more stable than those of the slightly eroded soils. Different aggregate breakdown mechanisms resulted in different particle size distribution. The slaking from entrapped air in aggregates severely destroyed the soil aggregates,especially in the slightly eroded soils. Meanwhile, mechanical breakdown and microcracking had little effect on the aggregates compared to slaking. The fragments resulting from slaking were mainly microaggregates that increased in size with increasing clay content. The main fragment size of the slightly eroded soils was 1.0-0.2 mm, while for the severely eroded soils it was 5.0-2.0 mm and 1.0-0.5 mm. Overall, more than 20% of the fragments were smaller than 0.2 mm.In addition, aggregate stability was positively and often significantly correlated with Fed, Ald, Feo and clay content, but significantly and negatively correlated to SOC.     

A MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL MOVEMENT OF TWO SOIL CONSTITUENTS INTO ILLUVIAL HORIZONS: APPLICATION TO CLAY RATIOS IN ARGILLIC HORIZONS

The effects of the migration of two soil constituents into illuvial horizons is described by a set of equations. Differential movement of clay fractions during illuviation causes changes in the fine to total clay ratios in A and B horizons. A mathematical model is used for the interpretation of clay fraction data in order to estimate the degree of profile development, the amounts of fine and total clay which have moved, and to determine the original composition of the parent material. No bulk density data of the soil horizons are necessary for the computation. The equations can be programmed on desk calculators. Comparison with measurements on Alfisols in temperate regions was found to be satisfactory.     

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.     

Origin of extractable titanium and vanadium in the a horizons of scottish podzols

The A horizons of Scottish podzols often contain unusually high amounts of EDTA-extractable Ti and V. Five such soils developed on different parent materials were studied, total and EDTA-extractable Ti, V and Fe being determined in the samples and their particle size fractions. The fine sand accounts for 50–80% of the total and extractable amounts of all three elements in the total soil although, in general, both the total and extractable Ti and V concentrations increase with decreasing particle size. Thus the clays contain up to 420 ppm Ti and 27 ppm V extractable with EDTA. The main Ti minerals in the samples are anatase, rutile and ilmenite. Observations by scanning electron microscopy of the surfaces of the minerals show clear evidence of chemical, and possibly physical weathering, processes that may lead to the accumulation of Ti in fine fractions, but not to downward translocation. Vanadium is probably associated with iron oxides and ferromagnesian minerals, from which it is released by weathering and subsequently adsorbed by the clay fraction. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra confirm that most of the V extracted from the samples and their clay fractions is in the vanadyl, (VO)²⁺, form.     

中国亚热带红壤团聚体稳定性与土壤化学性质的关系

The stability of aggregates in the surface soil is crucial to soil erosion and runoff generation. Thus, to understand the stability and the breakdown mechanisms of soil aggregates as well as the relationship between aggregate stability and selected soil chemical properties, such as different forms of Fe and Al oxides, organic matter, CEC and clay content, the aggregates of slightly and severely eroded red soils derived from Quaternary red clay in subtropical China were analyzed using the routine wet sieving and the Le Bissonnais methods. The results indicated that the aggregates of the severely eroded soils were more stable than those of the slightly eroded soils. Different aggregate breakdown mechanisms resulted in different particle size distribution. The slaking from entrapped air in aggregates severely destroyed the soil aggregates, especially in the slightly eroded soils. Meanwhile, mechanical breakdown and microcracking had little effect on the aggregates compared to slaking. The fragments resulting from slaking were mainly microaggregates that increased in size with increasing clay content. The main fragment size of the slightly eroded soils was 1.0-0.2 mm, while for the severely eroded soils it was 5.0-2.0 mm and 1.0-0.5 mm. Overall, more than 20% of the fragments were smaller than 0.2 mm. In addition, aggregate stability was positively and often significantly correlated with Fe_d, Al_d, Fe_o and clay content, but significantly and negatively correlated to SOC.     

Distribution of total and extractable forms of iron,manganese, and aluminum in development of rice soils of saga polder lands

The distribution of pedogenic oxides of Fe, Mn, and Al was described for rice soils of Saga polder lands and its relationship to soil development with time was investigated. The distribution of Mn largely parallelled that of Fe and in response to the soil development their accumulation occurred in the B horizons of the profiles. Manganese was the clement most susceptible to downward movement, which lad to a pronounced lowering of extractable Mn content in the surface horizons in well-developed soil morphology. By contrast, this is not the case for Al which, in general, had little change in extractable Al and a slight increase in total Al with depth as the time increased. Apparently the distribution of Mn was largely governed by the extent of reduction processes, whereas in the Al distribution clay migration may be a principal controlling factor. The distribution of Fe may be due chiefly to the reduction processes, with some contribution from the clay migration.     

海南岛北部玄武岩区土壤母质均一性及相对年龄判定

【目的】时间序列法是定量研究土壤发生过程、演变速率及其变化阈值的重要手段,构建可靠的土壤时间序列需对土壤母质均一性和相对年龄进行判定。【方法】以海南岛北部不同喷发期玄武岩发育土壤所构成的成土时间序列（0.09、0.146、0.64、1.12、1.81、2.30 Ma B. P.）为对象,利用各种土壤属性参数（包括剖面形态、颗粒组成、稳定元素含量、风化发育指数和元素变化率等）对该时间序列母质均一性和土壤相对年龄进行判定。【结果】各剖面颜色、质地、结构等形态总体呈均一、渐变的特征,去除黏粒后的粗粉粒含量、稳定元素Ti/Zr比值在剖面内和剖面间变化均较小,表明时间序列土壤的起源母质相同。随着成土年龄的增加,黏粒含量和剖面发育指数呈线性增加的趋势,土壤风化强度指标（B指数、CIW指数、CIA指数和ba值）服从对数函数变化规律,在土壤相对年龄的判定中具有较好的指示意义。【结论】研究区土壤母质来源相同,土壤相对年龄可通过相关土壤属性体现出来,为定量研究土壤发生阈值奠定了基础。     

MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION OF ELUVIATION-ILLUVIATION PROCESSES AND THE COMPUTATION OF THE EFFECTS OF CLAY MIGRATION IN HOMOGENEOUS SOIL PARENT MATERIALS

Clay movement and its effect on the differences in texture between the A and B horizons are expressed by mathematical equations. The factors which are considered are the actual amount of clay which has moved (l), the ratio of the thick nesses of the horizons (N), and the original clay content (C). Parent materials are assumed to be homogeneous. Knowing the clay contents of the A and B horizons, it is possible to calculate for given N ratios the theoretical amount of clay which has moved in order to achieve the observed textural difference. The theoretical clay content C'of the parent material can also be computed. All computations assume homogeneous parent materials and closed profiles, i.e. materials that do not collapse, shrink, or swell, and consider all other clay transformations non-operative. An eluviations index k, which indicates the proportion of the original clay that has been translocated, is proposed for evaluating the intensity of clay migration. Examples of practical applications are given: i.e. the required difference in clay content between A and B in the definition of the argillic horizon should not be kept constant in soils which have variable initial clay contents; graphs illustrate the effects of clay migration for constant C and k values (isoparentic and isoluvic lines). All computations can be made by desk calculators provided with an extended memory for storage of data and programmes.     

Forms and pedogenetic distribution of extractable iron and aluminum in selected soils of Nigeria

The content of various forms of Fe and Al in six well-drained soil profiles sampled from different parts of Nigeria was determined by selective extraction methods. Dithionite-Fe (total free Fe oxides) content increases with the increase of depth. The oxalate-extractable Fe (amorphous Fe oxides) constitutes less than 10% of the total free Fe oxides throughout the profiles. The active Fe ratio decreases with the increase of profile depth, suggesting that larger proportions of Fe oxides are present as crystalline forms in the lower horizons of these well-drained profiles. Little or no relationships were found in the case of Al.The constant clay/dithionite-Fe ratio within the four profiles from the wetter southern part of Nigeria indicates the co-migration of clay and Fe oxides from the A horizon into the B horizon (lessivage). However, this relationship was not observed in the two soil profiles sampled from the drier northern part of the country.The need for expansion or alteration of the present U.S.D.A. system of soil classification is emphasized.     

Pore‐size distribution and particle arrangement in fragipan and nonfragipan horizons

Fragipan is a widely distributed subsoil horizon that induces severe limitations to plant growth and land use, mainly because of its high bulk density. In this work, we evaluated the pore‐size distribution through the analysis of the cumulative curve of intruded mercury volume in some soils with fragipan horizons. This approach provides information also about the arrangement of particles, thus we compared the results obtained for fragipan and nonfragipan horizons to relate porosity and particle arrangement with the specific physical properties of fragipans. The total volume of intruded mercury did not allow to discriminate between fragipan and nonfragipan horizons. However, from the variation of the pore volume as a function of the radius, two modal classes of pores were found, coarse and fine, respectively. The fine‐pore class arose from the arrangement of clay particles, and its volume was correlated to clay contents (r = 0.787) and to clay packing density (r = –0.621). The clay fractions in fragipans were less densely packed than in the other B horizons, even if they had similar clay contents. The coarser‐pore modal class is known to arise from the interactions between clay, silt, and sand particles, and its volume was different among horizons. Fragipan had a low volume of this modal pore class. In addition, a packing density for the coarser phase of 0.74, corresponding to a rhombohedral packing, was found only in fragipans. Thus, the low permeability and high bulk density of fragipans are linked to specific arrangements of the particles: an open packing of the clay phase is associated to an extremely dense packing of silt and sand. This combination is not present in any other soil horizon.     

Rubidium measured by XRF as a predictor of soil particle size in limestone and siliceous parent materials

Purpose

Information about particle size distribution (PSD) and soil texture is essential for understanding soil drainage, porosity, nutrient availability, and trafficability. The sieve-pipette/gravimetric method traditionally used for particle size analysis is labour-intensive and resource-intensive. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry may provide a rapid alternative. The study’s aim was to examine the use of XRF for rapid determination of PSD in Irish soils.

Methods

Soils (n?=?355) from existing archives in Ireland were analysed with a benchtop energy-dispersive XRF (EDXRF). Correlation and regression analyses were determined to compare Rb, Fe, Al, and Si concentrations to % clay, % silt, and % sand. Also, linear regression models were developed to compare % clay, % sand, and % silt measured by the gravimetric method to values predicted by EDXRF.

Results

The relationship between element concentration and PSD was dependent on parent material. Rb, Al, and Fe showed a significant (p?<?0.05) correlation (r?>?0.50) with % clay and % sand in soils derived from limestone and siliceous stone parent materials. Rb was the best predictor for % clay (R²?=?0.49, RMSE?=?10.20) in soils derived from limestone and siliceous stone-derived soils.

Conclusion

Geochemistry and clay mineralogy of the soils’ parent material strongly influenced the EDXRF’s ability to predict particle size. The EDXRF could predict % clay in soils from parent materials which weather easily, but the opposite was true for soils with parent material recalcitrant to weathering. In conclusion, this study has shown that the EDXRF can screen % clay in soils derived from limestone and siliceous stone parent materials.

     

黄土高原淋溶土黏粒、氧化铁与颜色的关系及发生学解释——以山西土系调查的31个黏化层为例

以黄土高原山西省14个淋溶土剖面的31个偏红的黏化层(Bt)为研究对象,分析了其全铁、游离氧化铁、无定形态氧化铁的含量与土壤颜色参数、黏粒含量之间的相关性,并建立了定量关系模型。结果表明:Bt的黏粒含量与氧化铁含量之间呈极显著正相关(P0.01);颜色的红度与全铁、游离氧化铁和无定形氧化铁含量之间均呈极显著正相关(P0.01),其中游离氧化铁是最直接的土壤红色"染色剂";其他色调、明度与彩度等颜色参数与土壤全铁、游离氧化铁含量之间亦呈现出显著的相关性,这也间接说明了黏粒含量与土壤颜色具有一定相关性。野外观测发现,某些黏化层结构体表面颜色较结构体内基质颜色更红,证实了在土壤结构体表面氧化铁随着黏粒在土壤空隙中的迁移淀积。黄土高原淋溶土偏红的黏化层多是来自由于土壤侵蚀而出露地表或接近地表的第三纪保德红土和第四纪红黏土,其黏粒含量、土壤颜色等指标均表明第三纪的古气候条件较第四纪更为湿热。     

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.