CHEMICAL STUDIES ON APPALACHIAN UPLAND PODSOL SOILS: I. CONDITIONS GOVERNING BASE-EXCHANGE RELATIONS

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Abstract
The base-exchange properties and the constituent materials of the base-exchange complexes of Quebec Appalachian upland podsol soils have been studied. It has been shown that the "availability" of the acid semihumified organic matter has played the most important part in bringing about existing conditions in these soils. Organic matter is dominating the processes through which these podsol soils pass in their progress from a slightly leached to a severely leached condition. The inorganic base-exchange complexes are superseded by organic complexes. The more "available" iron and aluminium present in these soils the less is their base-exchange capacity. The inorganic base-exchange complexes are unstable under the strongly acidic soil conditions. The restoration of fertility to these soils must be approached through modification of their organic-matter conditions.