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Samples of Fimus Soils — soils with a fimic epipedon according to the Chinese Soil Taxonomic Classification (ISS-AS) — were analyzed for extractable phosphorus using both the NaHCO 3 and citric acid methods. The latter method, required to distinguish “anthropic epipedons” (Soil Survey Staff) and the “fimic A horizon” (FAO) from other surface horizons, showed that the extractable P criterion...
In southwest Rwanda, upland forest soils developed on quartzites and micaceous sandstones along steep slopes have sometimes the macromorphological look of true Podzols. An investigation of the micromorphological, mineralogical and chemical properties, however, reveals only weak indications of illuviation of amorphous organic complexes. This process of cheluviation seems to be secondary relative...
Whole soils from nine different Podzol B-horizons were analysed by wet-chemistry, solid-state cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning (CPMAS) 13 C-NMR spectroscopy and pyrolysis-field ionization mass spectrometry (Py-FIMS). The wet-chemical analyses referred to site-specific contents of polysaccharides, lipids, lignins, fulvic acids, humic acids and humins in the organic matter of each...
Soil grid data were gathered from 110 points and three depths in the Vagia plain, Greece. A total of 48 soil parameters for each point were studied and reduced using multivariate analysis techniques, based on a common variance criterion, and Principal Component Analysis, without loosing less than 8% of the topological information. They were finally reduced to twelve properties which were the most...
This article traces the development of conceptual paradigms of soil classification and mapping from the pre-1960's model of crisp classes in attribute space linked to crisply delineated mapping units in geographical space, to modern approaches using fuzzy classification and geostatistical interpolation for simultaneously handling continuous variation in both attributes and location. Continuous classification...
Cryoturbation is a dominant pedologic process in permafrost-affected soils and is used to delineate Gelisols in soil taxonomy and Cryosols in the Canadian and recently proposed World Reference Base for Soil Resources, and Cryozems in Russian systems of soil classification. In this paper we summarize evidence for cryoturbation that can be used for classifying soils containing permafrost. Based on a...
The Gypsisols and Gypsic Solonchaks of the Middle Euphrates Floodplain from Syria are described and characterised. These soils are developed on alluvial fans and glacises consisting of gypsiferous water-deposited sediments transported from the neighbouring higher areas. The profile of these Gypsisols is better developed than that of the upland Gypsisols. The main characteristics of the studied Gypsisols...
Modern soil taxonomic systems, including Soil Taxonomy (ST) and the World Reference Base (WRB) for Soil Resources, classify soils using diagnostic horizons, properties, and materials. Although these systems are based on genetic principles, the approaches used have de-emphasized the role of soil processes in soil taxonomic systems. Meanwhile, a consideration of soil processes is important for understanding...
Recent antarctic soil studies suggest that in terrestrial ecosystems of coastal regions soil formation and chemical weathering occur to a greater extent than predicted by former models. This paper summarizes pedogenic findings from the Casey area on the coast of East Antarctica and presents a proposal of soil formation sequences on a large-scale data base. Soil organic matter accumulation and podzolization...
Many terms in earth sciences, and their underlying ideas, have been developed in temperate-humid countries. Both geological and climatic reasons cause gypsum-rich soils to occur in dry lands. Soil science has paid little attention to gypseous soils, and this limited knowledge is reflected in the direct loan of customary terms of soil science that can lead to misconceptions on the composition and behaviour...
Integrated Toposequence Analysis (ITA) was used to integrate scientific and local knowledge on land resources and land use systems and to identify factors determining land use and land resource management. The application of ITA at different toposequence types resulted in a nested, geo-referenced information system relevant to different decision-making levels, and demonstrated the variation in soils,...
The soil mantles the land, except where there is bare rock or ice, and it varies more or less continuously. Many of its properties change continuously in time, too. We can measure the soil at only a finite number of places and times on small supports, and any statement concerning the soil at other places or times involves prediction. Variation in soil is also complex, so complex that no description...
Local names have been used for centuries to name land, plots or sites and soils in the Netherlands . Most of these names can still be found on old topographic maps. The naming of land on the farm was similar to the custom of naming cattle, as the farmer knew his plots in great detail. Unfortunately, neither oral nor written traditions exist today concerning the use of specific names to identify soils...
It is now widely recognized that local farmers possess an important body of knowledge concerning soils and their use for agriculture. This article argues that in order for that knowledge to be useful for sustainable development interventions, it is necessary to go beyond the collection of indigenous soil taxonomies and also explore the theories farmers have on soil formation and degradation processes...
Methodologies for collection and integration of scientific and indigenous soils knowledge are discussed in relation to two interdisciplinary projects involving soil scientists, other natural scientists and anthropologists. In Uganda and Tanzania, participatory methods paralleled scientific soil survey. Indigenous or 'local' soil classification was explored by a semi-structured, iterative discussion...
Gypsic and petrogypsic horizons occur in large areas of arid and semiarid regions of the world. The occurrence of gypsum in soils is considered a key feature by most soil classification and mapping systems that have coined specific names for these soils and horizons. However, the current methodology for description and definition of gypsic and petrogypsic horizons in the two most popular soil taxonomic...
A numerical procedure to allocate qualitative observations of soil individuals to soil classes is proposed. It takes into account both the fuzzy nature of soil classes and the imprecision of the cursory descriptions of soil individuals. The procedure is based on possibility theory and it uses an algorithm for fuzzy pattern matching. It includes three steps: (i) translating soil class and soil individual...
In this paper the concept of soil endemism is elucidated. Endemic soils are restricted to a particular geographic area based on a unique combination of soil-forming factors that may operate from the landscape to the eco-region scale. To validate that soils are endemic, soil bodies occurring on different continents but having a similar combination of soil-forming factors were compared using National...
Pedologists classify soil individuals into groups in order to communicate with each other about the properties of the soil individuals. Ideally, the classification should be meaningful, and not arbitrary. Some argue that it should be based on the genetics or evolutionary history of soil, such that it predicts properties of newly discovered or poorly known soil individuals. Here we propose pedogenetic...
Earlier hypothesis on the factors and processes of natural degradation in Vertisols and also their evaluation for crops on the basis of only hydraulic properties was developed on limited soils by the Division of Soil Resource Studies (DSRS) of the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS & LUP), Nagpur, India. In order to validate the above similar soils occurring in major states...
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