On soil genesis in temperate humid climate. VII. The formation of a glossaqualf in a silt-loam terrace deposit.

Abstract

The physical, chemical and micromorphological properties of a poorly drained soil profile developed on clayey parent material covered by a thin layer of loess are described. Clay skins on peds were absent in the B-horizon which is considered to be of Pleistocene age. In thin sections, however, oriented clay was observed inside peds occurring undisturbed as free grain and channel argillans, and disturbed by pedoturbation as quasicutans and papules. Clay was leached vertically through the B horizon along planar voids between prisms, leaving accumulations of skeleton grains. Some clay was also leached from the A₂ horizon. Kaolinite was more mobile than illite or smectite. Reduction processes resulted in strongly bleached areas around prisms and in well developed mangans on ped faces and around channels. The profile was classified as an aerie glossaqualf. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)