THE APPLICATION OF MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS TO SOIL STUDIES

Allocation of a profile to a predetermined group is normally made by the surveyor in the field but alternatively a computer can be programmed to process data and make the allocation. Differences arising from these procedures may be due to differences in either the information used by computer and surveyor or the rules used to analyse the data. There is a third method, in which the surveyor, using the same data as the computer, provides a link between the other two. Comparison, in general terms, of possible results from these three methods is supported by a study on profiles from the Riverina, N.S.W. Using data for a standard set of variables and allocating into one of three groups, misallocation of 4 per cent of a test sample of forty-six profiles resulted from both the computer method and the surveyor in the laboratory as compared with the surveyor's allocation of the same profiles on morphological properties in the field. This concurrence between the surveyor and the computer method allows the skill of the surveyor to be extended by way of the computer to technicians.     

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.     

Changes in soil acidity and related variables over 25 years in the North Pennine Uplands, UK

Abstract. Soil profiles, first sampled between 1963 and 1973, were resampled in 1991 in an upland area with modertely high deposition of pollutants. One hundred horizons from 32 profiles, representing 10 different soil subgroups were analysed for pH and seven variables related to pH, using the same laboratory methods on both sampling occasions. To allow comparisons to be made with results obtained with these old methods, analysis of the 1991 samples was repeated for some determinands using the methods currently used in the analytical laboratory. Organic and A horizons show a consistent increase in acidity between samplings. Although brown soils and lithomorphic soils have increased in acidity throughout their depth, gleys and podzols have decreased in acidity at depth, probably because of poor water transmission downwards into these horizons. Correlations with other determinands suggest that the dominant process in the soils is leaching of basic cations and their replacement on exchange sites by protons and probably aluminium ions. A cause of the increase in soil acidity is likely to be the deposition of atmospherically transported pollutants.     

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME SOLONETZIC SOILS IN THE GLACIAL LAKE EDMONTON BASIN OF ALBERTA

Physical and chemical analyses of five geographically associated Solonetzic and Chernozemic Black soil profiles from the glacial Lake Edmonton basin were conducted to investigate the mechanisms operative in their genesis. Soils, classified as Black Solonetz and Black Solodized Solonetz, satisfied both morphological and chemical criteria as set forth by the National Soil Survey Committee of Canada for soils of the Solonetzic Order. The lack of pronounced solodization in the Bnt horizons of these soils was attributable to the proximity of bedrock to the surface which prevented the removal of Na salts from the profile. A high content of exchangeable Na in the Bnt horizons appeared to have assisted the comminution of coarse clay particles to fine clay particles. The soil, classified as Saline Black, had the chemical properties but lacked the morphology of Solonetzic soils. Two Eluviated Black profiles were genetically different from each other. While the Eluviated Black profile in one case was completely solodized and appeared to be regrading towards the normal soil type, the soil at the other site had features that reflected the influence of weak solonetzic processes.     

THE WEATHERING OF CHLORITIC MINERALS IN SOME SCOTTISH SOILS

The mineralogy of 14 chloritic soils of various drainage classes developed on different parent materials from the Loch Awe area of Argyllshire, Caithness, and the Southern Uplands reveals only minor variations'in clay mineralogy with profile depth, the frequent presence of primary minerals indicating that all the soils are immature, and that weathering is at an early stage. Iron-rich chlorite generally persists throughout the profiles, varying little in amount or chemical composition between horizons; where identifiable, the polytype is II b. Oxidation of iron modifies the thermal characteristics of the chlorite in all the freely-drained soils but usually only in the surface horizons of gleys. Irrespective of soil type or drainage class, in most profiles chlorite weathers only slightly, probably by vermiculitization around the edges of flakes.     

Effects of deep tillage and profile modification on soil properties,root growth,and crop yields in the United States and Canada

Unfavorable conditions of soil profiles, through their adverse effects on the growth, proliferation, and activity of roots, may severely limit the yield of crops at some locations in the United States and Canada. A review of the literature showed that deep tillage and modification of soils having unfavorable profiles may increase crop production by providing larger, more favorable zones of soil for the growth, proliferation, and activity of roots. The improved conditions may result from disrupting dense, high-strength horizons; leaching or burying salts or toxic materials; increasing the capacity of sandy soils to retain water; and reducing the erodibility of soil. When the horizons causing problems were adequately disrupted or altered, yields of crops were generally increased. Benefits from the treatments were greater when precipitation or irrigation were limited than when they were adequate. There are many soils on which no benefits can be expected from deep tillage and profile modification.     

Microbiomes of the Soils of Solonetzic Complex with Contrasting Salinization on the Volga–Ural Interfluve

The analysis of ribosomal genes has been applied to study microbiomes of two soils of the solonetzic soil complex in the northern Caspian region. These soils—solonetz and quasigleyic chestnut soil—drastically differ in their salinity characteristics. The specificity of the vertical distribution of prokaryotes by the genetic soil horizons from the surface to the depth of 120 cm in these soils is discussed. The differences in the structure of microbiomes in the upper soil horizons can be related to the differences in the vegetation cover of the two soils, whereas the differentiation of microbiomes along the soil profiles is affected by the soil salinization. The solonetz is characterized by a much sharper decrease in the abundance and diversity of microorganisms down the soil profile in comparison with the leached quasigleyic chestnut soil. The total number of prokaryotes is mainly limited by the organic carbon content. In the upper soil horizons, Archaea from the phylum Thaumarchaeota are relatively abundant; their percentage decreases down the soil profiles. In the lower horizons of the solonetz, the genes of Marinobacter bacteria, which are considered marine inhabitants, have been found. It is probable that they persist in the soil since the previous transgression of the Caspian Sea.     

Soils with complex organic profiles on the Vasyugan Plain

Soils with intricate patterns of their humus profiles developing in the neutral-calcium landscapes of the southern taiga of Western Siberia under highly dynamic paleogeographic, climatic, and weather conditions are characterized. The specific features of these soils comprise the diverse modern humus horizons along with the relic ones of different preservation rates, shallow leaching of carbonates, and a weak development of the middle-profile soil horizons. Specifying these organo-accumulative soils is substantiated by their high humus content against the geochemical background of the clayey calcareous parent rocks. The conjugated series of soils reflect different stages of the soil evolution (the humus profile degradation, the development of eluvial process, and the increase of contrasts in the acid-base conditions) and the hydromorphic transformation accompanied by the formation of organic horizons making the humus profile more complicated. In accordance with the diagnostic horizons, the position of the soils studied was determined in the Classification and Diagnostics of Soils of Russia. The relic enrichment of the humus horizon is proposed to be used as a specific feature of these soils.     

A study of argillic horizons in some soils in Morocco

Whether some soils observed in Morocco prior to the 1966 conference on Mediterranean soils held in Madrid had argillic horizons was the subject of active discussions. Textural differences between A- and B-horizons were obvious. Consequently, individual horizons of a number of profiles were sampled for micromorphological study. No clay films were observed in thin sections representing the B-horizons free in carbonate. Peds had pressure faces and internal striations in the matrix. Microchurning and swelling and shrinking are believed to have obliterated evidence of clay illuviation in the B-horizons, but clay coatings were observed at greater depth in well-developed B_ca-horizons.     

Soils on hard rocks in the northwest of Russia: Chemical and mineralogical properties,genesis, and classification problems

Soil formation on hard rocks—nepheline syenite, amphibolite, metamorphized gabbro diabase, and their derivatives—was studied in the mountainous tundra and in the northern and middle taiga zones of the Kola Peninsula and Karelia (in the Kivach Reserve). It was found that the soils developing from these rocks could be classified into three groups: (1) petrozems with the O-M profile (the most common variant), (2) podzols and podzolized podburs on the substrates with an admixture of morainic derivatives of acid rocks, and (3) shallow (<5–10 cm) pebbly soils on the substrates without an admixture of allochthonous material (the rarest variant). In soils of the third group, the pedogenic alteration of the mineral matrix does not result in the appearance of phyllosilicates in the fine fractions if these phyllosilicates are initially absent in the rock. In these soils, the protion of the organic matter, and binding of iron released from the weathered silicate minerals into iron-organic complexes) are virtually undifferentiated by the separate soil horizons because of the very low thickness of the soil profiles. These soils have the Oao-BHFao-M profile; it is suggested that they can be classified as leptic podburs. An admixture of morainic material containing phyllosilicate minerals favors a more pronounced differentiation of the modern pedogenic processes by separate soil horizons even in the case of shallow soil profiles; the intense transformation of phyllosilicates takes place in the soils.     

The morphology and genesis of eight surface-water gley soils developed in till in England and Wales

The morphology is described of eight surface-water gley soils developed in til in Wales and central and northern England. Physical and chemical analyses as well as micromorphological observations are used to investigate processes affecting the genesis of the soils. The characteristic property of surface-water gley soils, namely slowly permeable subsurface horizons, causes a degree of periodie waterlogging within the profile. Effects of gleying and shrink/swell processes are described. Three main aspects of weathering are shown to be operating: decalcification in two of the three calcareous profiles, the breakdown of coarse into finer particles and the alteration of the clay fraction, chiefly the formation of mixed-layer minerals from mica. Argillic B horizons are present in some soils. In profiles developed in calcareous till the degree of decalcification relates strongly to the amounts of recognizable clay concentrations as seen in thin section. Of the other five profiles three clearly have argillic B horizons. Problems associated with the identification of argillic B horizons in surface-water gley soils in till are discussed.     

The origin and early genesis of clay bands in youthful sandy soils along lake Michigan,U.S.A.

A beach ridge and dune complex with good radiocarbon control sampling the last 3500 radiocarbon years B.P. provides new insights on the early genesis of clay bands in sandy soils. Soil profiles were sampled by age groups, described in the field, and then subjected to laboratory analyses for particle-size distribution, pH, organic carbon, carbonate minerals, and extractable iron and manganese. This study suggests that small increases in pH, brought about by small increases in carbonate content within the soil profile, are responsible for flocculating small amounts of illuviated clay. This process, along with a transition to a greater hydraulic conductivity with soil depth due to coarser textures in any given profile, partly explains the existence and possible reason for the initiation of illuvial zones and eventually for clay-band horizons. A pronounced increase in the thickness of incipient clay-band horizons in soils older than 2300 years appears due to finer textures in the parent materials than are present in younger soils. Because of slightly reduced porosity and lower permeability, carbonates and a high pH are retained in both illuvial and eluvial horizons of some of these older soils. In addition, only in those profiles older than 2300 years do clay and iron oxide concentrations coincide and is there some suggestion of greater amounts of extractable manganese in horizons of minimum iron and clay. A pronounced segregation of clay-iron bands is not apparent at the study area but should occur in future years as additional amounts of iron and clay are deposited.     

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.     

Clay minerals in a soil chronosequence derived from basalt on Hainan Island, China and its implication for pedogenesis

A soil chronosequence consisting of six profiles formed on quartz tholeiite basalt ranging in age from 10,000 years to 1. 8 Million years (My) was studied here. Soil clays were identified using XRD diffractogram decomposition methods for samples obtained from the A and C horizons of profiles. The results showed that kaolinite minerals dominated in all the clay fractions. Gibbsite was prominent in the C horizons in the soils from older rocks. Clays in the A horizon of relatively young soils showed an initial stage of illite formation, followed by smectite mixed layer minerals (illite-smectites and then vermiculite-illite) and finally by vermiculite. The initial presence of illite is interesting as there is no magmatic micaceous or phyllosilicate phase in these basalts and the formation of illite we attribute to a secondary process, probably created by alkali transport by plant materials. The change in 2:1 clay mineralogy reflects the overall change in Si/Al ratios in the soils over longer periods of weathering. In all cases gibbsite is more abundant in the C horizons than the A horizons. The difference in gibbsite content between the A and C horizons we attribute to plant transport of siliceous phytolite material to the surface. Continued high rainfall over long periods of time removed the alkali faster than the plants could bring it to the surface, which led to continuous lowering of 2:1 minerals from younger to older in the soil chronosequence. Nevertheless a 2:1, silica-rich mineral persists in the clay assemblages although in very minor amounts.     

Preliminary Assessment of Oil Contamination Levels in Soils Contaminated with Oil Lakes in the Greater Burgan Oil Fields,Kuwait

Measurements taken for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), total organic carbon (TOC) and trace metals [vanadium (V), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb)] in 40 soil samples are used to delineate oil contamination levels and state of oil penetration in soils heavily contaminated with oil lakes in Al-Ahmadi and Burgan oil fields. All soil horizons in Al-Ahmadi profile contain very high concentrations of TPHs down to the depth interval 80–95 cm. In contrast, TPH contaminations are restricted to the upper 50 cm layer in the Burgan profiles, then drop sharply to natural background levels in subsequent soil horizons. A strong and positive relationship exists between the high TOC and TPH contents of the two profiles. The two soil profiles contain contaminations of V and Ni as well as high concentrations of Cd and Pb. Possible sources of these metals are oil contaminants from the lakes and/or deposited airborne oil fallouts. V/Ni ratios of the surface tar sludge and the soil horizons in the two profiles cannot be used in identifying terrestrial oil spills or as indicators of oil contamination in Kuwaiti soils.     

Chemical composition of young and old carbon pools throughout Cambisol and Luvisol profiles under forests

The long-term storage of soil organic matter (SOM) in forest soils is still poorly understood. In this study, particle size fractionation in combination with accelerator mass spectroscopy (AMS) and solid state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was applied to investigate organic carbon (OC) stabilisation in Cambisol and Luvisol profiles under spruce (Picea abies) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests. In most samples, OC was preferentially associated with <2 μm fractions. Throughout soil profiles the contribution of OC in the clay fraction to the total OC increased from 27%-53% in A horizons to 44-86% in E, B and EB horizons. The 200-2000 μm fractions from all sites and all depths showed a percentage of modern C (pmC)>100. They were enriched in ¹⁴C owing to high inputs of recent material from leaves and roots. Clearly less active material was associated with <2 and 2-20 μm fractions. This demonstrated that the particle size fractionation procedure applied to our study was capable to isolate a young OC fraction in all samples. The pmC values were strongly decreasing with depth but the decrease was much more pronounced in the fine fractions. The <2 and 2-20 μm fractions of B, E and EB horizons revealed radiocarbon ages between 512 and 4745 years before present which indicated that the SOM in those horizons was little affected by the recent vegetation. The major components of labile and stable SOM pools in topsoils and subsoils were always O/N-alkyl C (28-53%) and alkyl C (14-48%) compounds. NMR spectra of bulk soils and particle size fractions indicated that high alkyl C and O/N-alkyl C proportions throughout the soil profile are typical of Cambisols and Luvisols which were not subjected to regular burning. A relation between radiocarbon age and chemical composition throughout soil profiles was not observed. This suggests that the long-term stabilisation of SOM is mainly controlled by the existence of various mechanisms of protection offered by the soil matrix and soil minerals but not by the chemical structure of SOM itself.     

三江平原白浆土发生学特性

本文对三江平原三个典型白浆土剖面的理化性质、土壤微形态和矿物学性质的研究，探讨了白浆土的发生学特性。土体中Ｚｒ／Ｓｒ和Ｔｉ／Ｚｒ比率的变异系数表明，所研究的土壤剖面其成土母质岩性是连续的。典型白浆土具有一个松软的表土层、一个漂白层和一个相当厚的粘化淀积层。研究还表明，粘粒的悬浮迁移是白浆土的主要成土过程。表层和白浆层在成土过程中有Ｆｅ－Ｍｎ结核形成，且是原地形成的，其Ｆｅ、Ｍｎ明显源于原生矿物的风     

Variation in the acid-base parameters of automorphic loamy soils in the taiga and tundra zones of the Komi Republic

A database for the main genetic horizons of loamy automorphic soddy-podzolic, typical podzolic, gley-podzolic, and surface-gley tundra soils of the Komi Republic was developed on the basis of the available archive and literature data and unpublished results of the authors. The database included the following parameters: the pH_water and pH_KCl, the exchangeable and total acidity, and the degree of SEC saturation. All the parameters were characterized by normal distribution types. The variation coefficients V for the pH_water and pH_KCl were <10%. For the exchangeable and total acidities and the degree of SEC saturation, the V values varied among the soils and horizons in the range of 10–50%. The greatest differences in the acid-base properties of all the soils were revealed between the groups of organic horizons, the eluvial horizons, and the B horizon by the cluster analysis. Between the separate subtypes of podzolic soils, the maximum differences were observed in the organic and, to a lesser extent, eluvial horizons; the B horizons of the different soils in the taiga and tundra zones did not significantly differ in these terms. For the entire profiles, the highest similarity was found between the typical podzolic and gley-podzolic soils, which were more similar to the automorphic soils of the tundra zone than to soddy-podzolic soils.     

Specific Features of Profile Distribution and Crystallochemistry of Phyllosilicates in Soils of the Cisbaikal Forest-Steppe

The mineralogical composition of agrogray, dark gray, and agro-dark gray soils (Luvic Greyzemic Retic Phaeozems); agro-dark gray residual-calcareous soils (Calcaric Cambic Phaeozems); clay-illuvial agrochernozems (Luvic Chernic Phaeozems); and agrochernozems with migrational–mycelial carbonates (Haplic Chernozems) developed in the forest-steppe of Central Siberia within the Irkutsk Depression has been studied. The clay (<1 μm) fraction separated from these soils consists of mixed-layer minerals with alternating layers of hydromica, smectite, vermiculite, and chlorite; the proportions between them change within the soil profiles. The clay fraction also contains hydromicas, kaolinite, chlorite, and some admixture of the fine-dispersed quartz. Each type of the soils is characterized by its own distribution pattern of clay material with specific alternation of layers in the mixed-layer formations. Mixed-layer minerals of the chlorite–vermiculite type predominate in the upper horizons of texture-differentiated soils. Down the soil profile, the content of mixed-layer mica–smectitic minerals increases. In the clay fraction of arable dark gray-humus soils with residual carbonates, the distribution of the clay fraction and major mineral phases in the soil profile is relatively even. An increased content of well-crystallized kaolinite is typical of these soils. The parent material of agrochernozems has a layered character: the upper horizons are generally depleted of clay, and the middle-profile and lower horizons are characterized by the considerable kaolinite content. In general, the clay material of soils of the Tulun–Irkutsk forest-steppe differs considerably from the clay material of foreststeppe soils developed from loesslike and mantle loams in the European part of Russia. In particular, this difference is seen in the proportions between major mineral phases and between biotitic and muscovitic components, as well as in the degree of crystallinity and behavior of kaolinite and chlorite.