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Calcite Contributions by Earthworms to Forest Soils in Northern Illinois
Author(s) -
Wiecek C. S.,
Messenger A. S.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1972.03615995003600030031x
Subject(s) - calcite , earthworm , soil water , incubation , pedogenesis , weathering , geology , soil horizon , environmental chemistry , chemistry , geochemistry , soil science , mineralogy , paleontology , biochemistry
Calcite spheroids and recognizable spheroid fragments originating in earthworm calciferous glands, contribute up to 56 kg/ha CaCO 3 to the upper portions of the Al horizons of some forested, deeply‐leached soils. Horizons with a fresh pH from 6.3 to 7.5 may contain calcite spheroids; soil pastes of these horizons reach a pH between 7.2 and 8.0 upon incubation. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the weathering of calcite spheroids is partly responsible for pH values in excess of 7.0 in the undried Al horizons of otherwise acid soils under forest cover.