Soil horizons as the basis for classification of alluvial soils

The horizons of different types in alluvial soils of central Russia are compared with respect to their morphological characteristics using the method of dendrograms. It is argued that diagnostic soil horizons should clearly reflect in their properties the character of pedogenic processes and, thus, be the basis for classification of alluvial soils. Overall, seven types of soil horizons are suggested as diagnostic horizons for flood-plain soils of the Russian Plain.     

Soils of floodplains in arid regions of Inner Asia (the Zavkhan River,Mongolia)

The environmental conditions of soil formation and the diversity and classification position of soils developing on the Zavkhan River floodplain are considered, and the morphogenetic and agrochemical properties of these soils are characterized. It is shown that the conditions of soil formation on the floodplain of the Zavkhan River are specified by the mountainous topography, the effect of the large Mongol Els sand massif, the character of the alluviation processes, the groundwater level and salinity, and the regime of floods. The position of the floodplain in the system of altitudinal zones largely dictates the character of the soil cover pattern. In terms of the new Russian soil classification system, the soils studied belong to three trunks, four orders, and seven types: stratified humus alluvial soils, light-humus alluvial soils, light-humus quasigley alluvial soils, light-humus stratozems, and solonchaks. The soils of floodplain ecosystems in arid regions are characterized by low fertility. For their efficient use for pasturing and crop growing, the ecologically balanced differentiated application of manure, mineral fertilizers (NPK), and some microelements is required.     

Specific features of the morphology of volcanic soils in the altitudinal zones of Kamchatka

Under conditions of active volcanism, the soils on different geomorphic positions (from high-mountain landscapes to river valleys) are formed under the impact of periodic ashfalls. The exogenous processes affect the redistribution of volcanic ashes by the elements of the relief, so that the soils of different altitudinal zones have their own morphological specificity. It is suggested that two additional types of volcanic soils should be included in the new Russian soil classification: the type of alluvial volcanic soils in the order of volcanic soils and the type of volcanic lithozems in the order of lithozems. These soils can be considered intergrades between volcanic and alluvial soils and between volcanic soils and lithozems, respectively.     

Comparative use of factor-ecological and profile-genetic classifications for studying alluvial soils

We show the feasibility of applying the 2008 profile-genetic classification for studying alluvial soils and necessity of its improvement at the genus and species levels.     

Study of Pedo Genesis of soils of Bundi district (Rajasthan)

The soils of Rajasthan vary from desert sand to heavy clay with all intermediate stages like sandy loam, loam and clay loam. The last two textural groups are more prevalant on the eastern, northeastern and southeastern part of the Aravallies which run almost in the middle of the State from southeast to northeast. The latter groups of soils have more potential from the point of agricultural development in the State. These soils are widely termed as alluvial soils which is a general term to indicate the nontaxonomic group of soils that have parent material of alluvial origin, Riecken ¹⁷, Kelloog ⁸ has referred to the soils developed from the alluvium as classified under variety of world soil groups. In our country many of the alluvial soils have not yet been studied from the soil genesis point of view as a measure to classify the soils under taxonomic groups. Ray Chawdhary and Mukerji ¹⁵, concluded that the alluvial soil groups of our country are ill defined and the classification of these soils need more study. Basu ³ was able to distinguish the genetic characteristics of the soils of Deccan. Agrawal and Mukherji ¹⁾ established that distinct genetic soil types have come into expression under Gangetic alluvium. Agarwal ² has concluded about the three types of soils in the toposequence with precipitated calcium throughout, zone of calcium accumulation in the bottom of the profile and soils free of calcium, and suggests that the soils of Gangetic plain be called as derived from alluvium. A process of reclassifying the alluvial soil series into taxonomic groups is a common trend in the United States since the last two decades.     

Automated updating of medium-scale soil maps

An approach towards an automated updating of medium-scale soil maps via imitation of traditional mapping technologies is suggested. It is based on formulation of the rules of mapping in the form of classification trees for separating different soil cover patterns and on creation of the maps of soil-forming factors with the use of satellite data. Algorithms for mapping alluvial soils (Fluvisols), eroded (abraded), and anthropogenically transformed soils are presented. This approach was tested for the southern (Trans-Oka) part of Moscow oblast. The model for an automated soil mapping was realized using ILWIS software. The polygons of alluvial soils were mapped with a higher accuracy via the automated separation of floodplains according to the digital terrain model. The total area of alluvial soils shown on the medium-scale soil map decreased from 373 to 340 km². Calculations of slope angles according to digital terrain models allowed us to localize soil cover patterns with participation of eroded soils with a higher accuracy; their area decreased insignificantly: from 791 to 781 km². Anthropogenically transformed soils of building areas were mapped for the territory of Moscow oblast on the basis of satellite data for the first time. Their areas were delineated taking into account land use types and comprised 551 km², i.e., 15.4% of the total area (3570 km²) of the Trans-Oka part of Moscow oblast.     

The role of iron compounds in fixing heavy metals and arsenic in alluvial and soddy-podzolic soils in the Perm area

In Perm, alluvial soils are strongly contaminated with heavy metals (Zn, Cu, and Ni, in particular) due to the ingress of liquid sewage. The concentration of a number of chemical elements is far higher in Fe-rohrensteins (tubular concretions around plant roots) of alluvial soils as compared to the fine earth. Ni and Cu are associated with Fe in rohrensteins of alluvial soils. The soddy-podzolic soils are in general less contaminated at a distance of 30 km to the northwest of Perm. Their contamination results from aerosols emitted by Perm industrial enterprises. Fe-Mn nodules that concentrate Ni and As are formed in hydromorphic podzolic soils. Mn oxides represent a separate phase carrying heavy metals and metalloids (manganophiles). Oxianions (As, Cr, and P) are closely bound to Fe in nodules, which are formed because of the alternating redox regime in soddy-podzolic soils. However, oxianions are not associated with Fe in rohrensteins of alluvial soils.     

南疆土壤的属性分类及其类间界限指标的初步研究

本文通过大量剖面资料,应用综合数值分析法分类,取得了南疆各类土壤的主成份方程、散点图和类间界限指标等结果,为南疆例行分类系统的修订,提供了较充分依据。经32个剖面验证表明,其结果可供今后南疆土壤调查制图参考。这样的属性分类,还有利于野外识别土壤和确定其改良的难易程度,使调查成果发挥实效。着重讨论了南疆盐土与盐化土壤的分类(级)的界限指标。其划分盐土的指标主要有五项,关键是整盐、Na⁺和3.43%的表盐。     

SOIL TEXTURE PATTERNS IN THE ALLUVIUM OF THE LOWER INDUS PLAINS

Soil texture was mapped in the immature alluvial soils of the Lower Indus plain. A disadvantage of soil texture as a mapping criterion in such soils is the great complexity of their textural patterns. The geomorphological background of the Lower Indus plains is examined, and a classification of texture and textural profiles is defined. The mapping unit proposed, the‘textural association', comprises a certain range of textural profiles within a given landform, related to each other by the modes of deposition which established that landform. It seems likely that the textural association could, in more detailed surveys, form the basis of a soil series classification.     

Hydrogenic heavy metal pollution of alluvial soils in the city of Perm

The differences in the sources and compositions of the pollutants among the alluvial soils within the city of Perm were revealed. Heavy metal pollution of hydrogenic origin is caused by unpurified sewage water. The main source of pollution of the urbanozems and replantozems of the city is the aerial input of heavy metals. The lead content in the alluvial soils of the city was twice lower and the mean Zn and Ni contents were 1.5 and 4.0 times higher than in the urbanozems and replantozems, respectively. The concentrations of Sr, Zn, Ni, Cu, and Cr did not correlate positively with the content of clay particles in the fine earth of the alluvial soils. The higher pollution of the light-textured soils showed that, nowadays, its main source was sewage water but not sludge. In the alluvial soils, small Fe-rohrensteins are formed. They serve as microgeochemical barriers for some part of the microelements. The Pb and Zn contents in the rohrensteins of the soils of the Las’va river basin reached 440 and 890 mg/kg, respectively. In the upper horizon of this soil, the contents of Pb and Zn in the rohrensteins were 42 and 17% of their concentration in the fine earth, respectively.     

重庆市全新统冲积物发育土壤的系统分类研究

为明确重庆市第四系全新统(Qh)冲积物发育土壤在中国土壤系统分类中的归属,本文以该成土母质发育的土壤为研究对象,挖掘9个典型土壤剖面,通过野外观测、分层取样及理化性质分析等,依据现行中国土壤系统分类检索,对其进行分类和命名,并与发生分类进行参比。结果表明:9个供试土壤剖面分别归属于雏形土和新成土2个土纲,5个亚类,其中5个为石灰淡色潮湿雏形土,1个为铁质简育常湿雏形土,1个为斑纹简育湿润雏形土,1个为潜育潮湿冲积新成土,1个为石灰潮湿冲积新成土;隶属于发生学分类潮土土类的6个供试剖面分别归为系统分类中淡色潮湿雏形土、简育常湿雏形土和简育湿润雏形土3个土类,而隶属于发生学分类新积土土类的3个供试剖面则分别归为系统分类中淡色潮湿雏形土和潮湿冲积新成土2个土类。结合成土环境分析可知,地形、气候和母质是影响重庆市第四系全新统冲积物发育土壤系统分类的重要因素。     

黑龙江密山和虎林一带生草灰化土和潜育性草甸土区的土壤生成环境及其特性

密山虎林地区位于中国黑龙江省的东部,是穆陵河冲积平原的森林沼泽生草灰化土和潜育化草甸土区,这个区域的土壤发育和特性是与生成环境密切的联系着。一、密山虎林地区的自然条件1.气候根据现有的记载,本区年雨量在600毫米左右,大部雨水在4—10月降落,因此植物生长期内雨水较为充沛。年平均温度2—4℃,绝     

Floodplain soils in the lower reaches of the Khovd River in the Great Lakes Basin of Mongolia

The ecologic-geographic conditions of the pedogenesis and the diversity and classification position of the floodplain soils in the lower reaches of the Khovd River have been studied. The soil cover is composed of alluvial soils of the synlithogenic trunk and solonchaks of the postlithogenic trunk. The major properties of these soils are characterized. The dominant role in the soil genesis is played by gleyzation and salinization processes. Data on the contents of the macro- and microelements in the soils are given, and their agrochemical effect is assessed. Potential destructive agrogenic processes in the soils of floodplain ecosystems upon their use for haymaking and pasturing and upon their use for arable farming are discussed. A grouping of the major soil types in the studied area with respect to their use is proposed.     

Mineralogical composition of the clay fraction in alluvial soils of eastern Georgia

The mineralogical composition of the clay fractions separated from alluvial soils in the valleys of the Kura and Iori rivers—the main rivers of eastern Georgia—has been studied. It is shown that alluvial soils are very diverse with respect to their physicochemical properties, particle-size distribution, and mineralogy. In comparison with zonal automorphic soils, the alluvial soils have a lower content of organic matter and a coarser texture. The diversity of mineral associations in them is larger than that in the zonal soils.     

Paleoclimatic implications of micromorphic features of Quaternary paleosols of NW Himalayas and polygenetic soils of the Gangetic Plains — A comparative study

Micromorphological examination of the paleosols (50–10 ka) developed in alluvial fan deposits of the NW Himalayas and the bordering polygenetic soils (mainly Holocene) of the Gangetic Plains has been used to differentiate the pedosedimentary features indicating climatic changes during late Quaternary time. The paleosols within rapidly aggrading sediments of the alluvial fans of the Dehradun valley resulted in response to the reduced rate of sedimentation and climatic changes and correspond to the MIS3 and MIS2 stages. Distinctive micromorphic features of these paleosols provided the details of the prevalent pedogenesis in response to the paleoclimatic changes during 50 ka. Microfabrics of these paleosols show reorganization of the pedality from massive and/or subangular blocky to platy and prismatic structures, strong to very strong mobilization of the plasma, different types of textural pedofeatures along with faunal activities. These pedofeatures are indicative of cold-humid climate with subsequent change to even colder but drier conditions during the last Glaciation. Comparison of the micromorphological characters of the paleosols of the NW Himalayas and the polygenetic soils of the Gangetic Plains show the same degree of soil development indicating 5–10 ka pedogenic intervals in alluvial fans of the Dehradun Valley. However, the difference in their pedofeatures is attributed to different pedogenic environments. The paleosols of the Dehradun Valley show predominance of the illuvial features with superposed impure silty clay on earlier clay pedofeatures and banded clay fabric features without any pedogenic calcium carbonate. The bordering Gangetic Plains are covered with polygenetic soils developed on stable surfaces and are < 13.5 ka. These surficial soils developed during the period marked by deglaciation and correspond to MIS1 stage. These are defined by the juxtaposition of different illuvial pedofeatures along with pedogenic calcium carbonate. This study suggests that formation of the paleosols in NW Himalayas was mainly controlled by warmer intervals during the last glaciation and the movement along the adjacent thrusts. While fluctuating climate punctuated with humid–semiarid–humid conditions played a major role during the formation of soils on the Gangetic Plains in Holocene that favoured illuviation, calcification and dissolution of pedogenic carbonates in the polygenetic soils.     

Hydrocarbon Status of Alluvial Soils in the Istra Morphostructural Node (Moscow Oblast)

The effect of the current block structure of the earth’s crust and its most active sites (morphostructural nodes) on the natural hydrocarbon status of alluvial soils has been considered. Studies have been performed in the Istra district of Moscow oblast within the Istra morphostructural node. The node represents an area of increased geodynamic activity of the earth’s crust located at the convergence or intersection of block boundaries: mobile linear zones following large river valleys with alluvial soils. Soil cover mainly consists of alluvial humic-gley soils (Eutric Gleyic Fluvisols) of different depths and alluvial mucky-gley soils (Eutric Gleyic Histic Fluvisols). Some soils manifest stratification. Two factors forming the hydrocarbon status of soils are considered: soil processes and the effect of geodynamic activity, which is manifested within the morphostructural node. The contents of bitumoids and retained methane and butanes in alluvial soils appreciably increase at the entry of river valley into the node. The occurrence frequency of 5–6-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (perylene and benzo[ghi]perylene) in mineral horizons increases. It has been concluded that alluvial soils within the Istra morphostructural node are characterized by the biogeochemical type of hydrocarbon status with signs of emanation type at sites with the highest geodynamic activity.     

Changes in agrophysical properties of floodplain soils under different anthropogenic loads

Agrophysical properties of alluvial soils were studied in the floodplains of the Oka River and the small rivers of Besputa (the Oka tributary) and Pol’noi Voronezh (the Voronezh tributary). The properties of the soils under different land use types (plowland, hayfield, pasture, and meadow) were compared. The features and degrees of alteration of the properties of the floodplain soils under different uses were determined. The greatest changes in the properties were found for saturated alluvial meadow soils of the Oka River floodplain under plowland. In these areas, strong degradation of the physical status of the soils was noted: compaction of the plow and subplow soil layers, an increase in the content of coarse aggregates and clods, changes in the porespace structure, and a decrease in the soil water permeability. It was shown that the soils of small river floodplains were sensitive to anthropogenic loads. In saturated alluvial soddy soils of the Besputa River floodplain, the soil water permeability decreased because of their compaction under the impact of cattle grazing. Saturated alluvial meadow soils of the Pol’noi Voronezh River floodplain were resistant to anthropogenic loads. Only a tendency towards an increase in the topsoil bulk density was observed under the impact of cattle grazing.     

Morphogenetic features of soils in the Cat Tien National Park,southern Vietnam

Morphogenetic features of soils on the selected plots in the Cat Tien National Park in southern Vietnam have been studied with the use of a set of morphological, analytical, and instrumental methods. The lithological factor and topographic position play the leading role in the development of the particular genetic soil features. The soils can be subdivided into four groups according to these factors. The soils developing from volcanic deposits with a predominance of tephra can be classified as thin clayey brown tropical soils (Dystric Skeletic Rhodic Cambisols (Clayic)), and the soils developed from less weathered colluvial derivatives of basalts with some admixture of tephra can be classified as dark-humus clayey tropical soils (Skeletic Greyzemic Umbrisols (Clayic)). Very poor soils developed from the eluvium of argillites are classified as thin weakly developed clayey tropical soils (Dystric Regosols (Clayic)). The soils forming from the alluvial sediments of different textures are classified as alluvial loamy sandy soils (Dystric Fluvisols (Arenic, Drainic)) and as alluvial clay loamy soils (Eutric Fluvisols (Episiltic, Endoclayic)).     

天山中部北麓丘陵地带土壤发生特性与系统分类

通过样地调查与土壤理化性质分析相结合对天山中部北麓丘陵地带的土壤特性进行研究,确定各剖面的诊断层和诊断特性及其在系统分类中的位置。结果表明天山中部北麓丘陵地带在系统分类中可划归为3个土纲4个土类;系统分类中土壤的分类位置与发生分类位置并不具有简单的一一对应的关系。     

Mesofauna in soils of the ivolga depression (Western Transbaikal region)

Mesofauna of chestnut, meadow-chestnut, meadow alluvial, clayey mucky-gley swampy alluvial soils, and hydromorphic solonchaks has been studied within the Ivolga depression. Variations in the population density of soil invertebrates (from 29.9 to 284.3 specimens per m²) are controlled by the particular soil ecological conditions. Dominant mesofauna species are morphologically and physiologically adapted for living near the soil surface. About 85–90% of them are allocated to the uppermost 10-cm-thick soil layer. The hydrothermic regime (r = 0.94) and the low bioproductivity of phytocenoses (r = 0.74) are the major factors limiting the mesofauna functioning in soils of the Ivolga depression. The biocenotic similarity of the invertebrate complexes in the chestnut, meadow-chestnut, and solonchak soils and in the alluvial swampy and meadow soils is revealed. The highest diversity of the ecological groups of soil mesofauna is seen in the clayey mucky-gley swampy alluvial soils.