Pedogenic carbonate in Chernozemic soils and landscapes of southeastern Saskatchewan

The objective of this study was to characterize soil carbonates and estimate their accumulation by using a method based on δ13C values of soil carbonate in pedons and landscapes. Dark Brown Chernozem soils of the Amulet Association (with mixed C3 and C4 plants) and native Black Chernozem soils of the Oxbow Association (with a pure C3 plants) were included. Six soil samples representing the Cca and Ck horizons of the Oxbow and Amulet Associations were chosen for detailed pedogenic carbonate studies, which include particle size fractionation, mineralogical identification, surface morphology examination, and stable carbon isotopic compositions analysis on the particle size fractions.X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses of the fractionated particle sizes indicated that dolomite dominates the carbonate occurring in the Ck horizons, and is mainly in medium and coarse silt fractions. In the Cca horizons, carbonate in clay and fine silt fractions is mostly calcite, whereas dolom...