MICROMORPHOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL, AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF A PODZOLIC SOIL WITH A FRAGIPAN

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The soil had a thick, dark brown, highly porous Podzolic B horizon with a high content of amorphous Fe, Al- organic matter complex material and a low bulk density, underlain abruptly by a dense, gray fragipan with a bulk density of nearly 2 g/cm3. Mean pore diameters of subhorizons within the Podzolic B ranged from about 25 to 120 μm and those of the fragipan were about 0.5 μm. The marked contrast in porosity was consistent both with hydraulic conductivity values of about 20 cm/h in the Podzolic B and 0.2 cm/h in the fragipan, and with the micromorphology. Strongly oriented argillans in the fragipan indicated some clay translocation. The clay mineralogy indicated weak weathering of phyllosilicates, but appreciable weathering of primary minerals must have occurred to produce the amorphous Fe and Al- rich amorphous material in the Podzolic B. Seepage along the surface of the fragipan, and the absence of roots in this layer indicated the significance of this horizon with respect to plant growth and to the water regime of the soil.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: