Grade of weathering and fertility of volcanic ash soils of Aso volcano |
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Authors: | Shigenori Aomine Koji Wada |
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Institution: | Faculty of Agriculture , Kyushu University Fukuoka , Japan |
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Abstract: | Texture is one of the major criterions in soil classification, probably because it has a decisive influence on soil properties. This is particularly true for volcanic ash soils. Most ashes are largely composed of sand and silt particles with little clay (11, 15). The ash weathers very rapidly (1), and clay site particles less than 2 microns in diameter occur even within a few months, as shown by Ishii at the authors' laboratory. Those clay size particles produced in the early stage of weathering are slightly weathered ones (2), and are still subject to rapid weathering, losing bases and silica under humid and well drained conditions. In consequence the clay fraction of volcanic ash soils is composed of particles which vary in degree of weathering from slightly altered glass and feldspar to true clay mineraloids and minerals. The clay fraction of younger soils as a whole is less and that of older ones is more weathered. Weathering brings a remarkable change in the properties of volcanic ash soils; for example, an inerease in soil acidity, lowering of base saturation and bulk density, or accumlation of organic matter. These changes must exert a great influence on soil fertility directly or indirectly. |
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