Podzolic soils of Canada: Genesis, distribution, and classification

2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 843-880 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Sanborn ◽  
Luc Lamontagne ◽  
William Hendershot
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Soil Classification ◽  
Soil Survey ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Northern Ontario ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Podzolic Soils ◽  
The 1960S

Sanborn, P., Lamontagne, L. and Hendershot, W. 2011. Podzolic soils of Canada : Genesis, distribution, and classification. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 843–880. Podzolic soils occupy 14.3% of the Canadian landmass, and occur in two widely separated areas, eastern Canada (northern Ontario, Quebec, Maritimes) and British Columbia, usually under coniferous forest and on non-calcareous parent materials. Broad climatic control of Podzol distribution and properties is evident at the national scale, with higher organic matter concentrations (Ferro-Humic Podzols) in wetter climates, in contrast to Humo-Ferric Podzols predominating in drier boreal forest regions. Humic Podzols are least abundant and are restricted to the wettest landscape positions. International and Canadian research suggests that a more diverse range of processes is involved in podzolization than was envisioned in the 1960s, and proposed mechanisms must account for observed patterns of organic matter distribution and a diverse array of inorganic amorphous constituents in profiles. Taxonomic concepts of Podzolic soils in the Canadian System of Soil Classification have remained consistent since the late 1970s, and the higher-level criteria defining the order and its great groups have proved to be meaningful in new applications, such as delineating soil carbon stocks across Canadian landscapes. Canadian contributions to pedological research on Podzols declined dramatically after 1990, coincident with shifting research priorities in soil science and diminished activity in soil survey.

EXTRACTABLE Fe, Al, Si AND C IN B HORIZONS OF PODZOLIC AND BRUNISOLIC SOILS FROM ONTARIO

1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. EVANS ◽  
W. G. WILSON
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Correlation Analysis ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Linear Correlation ◽  
Maximum Amount ◽  
Northern Ontario ◽  
Podzolic Soils ◽  
Linear Correlation Analysis ◽  
Amorphous Forms

To investigate the content of amorphous forms of Fe, Al and Si in podzolic soils, the B horizons from 54 Humo-Ferric Podzols and 24 Eluviated Dystric Brunisols were sampled in northern Ontario. Dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate (DCB) Fed and Ald, acid NH4-oxalate Feo, Alo and Sio, Na-pyrophosphate Fep, Alp and Cp and NaOH-tetraborate Fet and Alt were determined on all samples. Feo/Fed ratios averaged 0.87 and suggested that most of the extractable Fe was amorphous. Inorganically bound Fe and Al in pyrophosphate extracts were estimated by addition of NH4OH to the extracts. The amount of inorganically bound Fe, expressed as a percentage of that extracted by DCB, was calculated at 79 ± 23%, whereas the corresponding value for Al was 61 ± 20%. (Alo-Alp)/Sio atomic ratios, plus linear correlation analysis of (Alo-Alp) against Sio, suggested the presence of amorphous aluminosilicates with Al/Si ratios approaching 3. (Feorg + Alorg)/Cp ratios averaged 0.10, a figure near the value suggested by other authors for the maximum amount of Fe and Al bound to organic matter. (Cp/(Fep + Alp) atomic ratios did not appear to be useful in differentiating Podzolic from Brunisolic soils. Key words: Podzolic soils, chemical criteria, extractants

The long-term impact of low-intensity surface fires on litter decomposition and enzyme activities in boreal coniferous forests

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kajar Köster ◽  
Frank Berninger ◽  
Jussi Heinonsalo ◽  
Aki Lindén ◽  
Egle Köster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Enzymatic Activity ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Fire Disturbance ◽  
Coniferous Forests ◽  
Long Term Impact

In boreal forest ecosystems fire, fungi and bacteria, and their interactions, have a pronounced effect on soil carbon dynamics. In this study we measured enzymatic activities, litter decomposition rates, carbon stocks and fungal and microbial biomasses in a boreal subarctic coniferous forest on a four age classes of non-stand replacing fire chronosequence (2, 42, 60 and 152 years after the fire). The results show that microbial activity recovered slowly after fire and the decomposition of new litter was affected by the disturbance. The percent mass loss of Scots pine litter increased with time from the last fire. Slow litter decomposition during the first post-fire years accelerates soil organic matter accumulation that is essential for the recovery of soil biological activities. Fire reduced the enzymatic activity across all the enzyme types measured. Carbon-degrading, chitin-degrading and phosphorus-dissolving enzymes showed different responses with the time elapsed since the fire disturbance. Microbial and enzymatic activity took decades before recovering to the levels observed in old forest stands. Our study demonstrates that slower post-fire litter decomposition has a pronounced impact on the recovery of soil organic matter following forest fires in northern boreal coniferous forests.

CLAY ILLUVIATION IN SOME ORTHIC PODZOLS OF EASTERN CANADA

1965 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Brydon
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Iron Oxides ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Granular Structure ◽  
Charge Component ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Free Iron ◽  
Fine Clay ◽  
Ph Dependent

The Arago, Barney, and Holmesville soils, Podzols from Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, respectively, each had friable Bfh horizons with moderate granular structure, and with organic matter and free Fe2O3 contents greater than the Ae and C horizons. The Arago and Holmesville had thin Bhft horizons containing over 10% organic matter and 5% free iron oxides. The C horizons of these two soils had some features characteristic of fragipans.The B horizons of the three soils had a high "pH-dependent charge component" in the C.E.C. values. The "permanent charge component" was similar throughout the Arago profile except for the Bhft horizon where clay accumulation had occurred.Translocation of clay from the Ae to the upper B horizons was indicated by the twofold increase in clay content and the relative enrichment of fine clay in the B horizons. Removal of free iron affected the clay contents differently in the different: horizons but the maximum clay content in the upper B horizons remained. The definitions of Orthic Podzols, Textural Podzols, and t horizons should be re-examined.

Vegetation Effects on Soil Properties in the Monteagle Sandy Loam Series: Implications for Land‐use Change

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Neil
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
The Impact

Soil properties are strongly influenced by the composition of the surrounding vegetation. We investigated soil properties of three ecosystems; a coniferous forest, a deciduous forest and an agricultural grassland, to determine the impact of land use change on soil properties. Disturbances such as deforestation followed by cultivation can severely alter soil properties, including losses of soil carbon. We collected nine 40 cm cores from three ecosystem types on the Roebuck Farm, north of Perth Village, Ontario, Canada. Dominant species in each ecosystem included hemlock and white pine in the coniferous forest; sugar maple, birch and beech in the deciduous forest; grasses, legumes and herbs in the grassland. Soil pH varied little between the three ecosystems and over depth. Soils under grassland vegetation had the highest bulk density, especially near the surface. The forest sites showed higher cation exchange capacity and soil moisture than the grassland; these differences largely resulted from higher organic matter levels in the surface forest soils. Vertical distribution of organic matter varied greatly amongst the three ecosystems. In the forest, more of the organic matter was located near the surface, while in the grassland organic matter concentrations varied little with depth. The results suggest that changes in land cover and land use alters litter inputs and nutrient cycling rates, modifying soil physical and chemical properties. Our results further suggest that conversion of forest into agricultural land in this area can lead to a decline in soil carbon storage.

HUMUS FRACTION RATIOS AS A MEANS OF DISCRIMINATING BETWEEN HORIZON TYPES

1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. E. LOWE
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Humic Acid ◽  
Carbon Content ◽  
Fulvic Acid ◽  
Soil Classification ◽  
Acid Fraction ◽  
Humus Fraction ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fraction Distribution

Humus fraction distribution in a wide range of horizon samples was examined by measuring carbon content in humic acid (Ch), in fulvic acid (Cf) and in the strongly colored polyphenolic component of the fulvic acid fraction (Ca). Fraction distribution was described by the ratios Ch/Cf and Ca/Cf. It was concluded that humus fraction ratios were related to horizon types as used in the Canadian System of Soil Classification, and were effective in discriminating between certain horizon types, particularly between Luvisolic Bt and Podzolic Bf. The results also suggested that humus fraction ratios may be effective in separating distinct sub-populations within Ah horizons and Bf horizons in general, based on qualitative differences in organic matter present. Aspects of the role of humus fractions in soil genesis are discussed.

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