Premium
Differences in Exchangeable Aluminum and Soil Acidity in Loess Soils of Iowa
Author(s) -
Richardson J. L.,
Riecken F. F.
Publication year - 1977
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/sssaj1977.03615995004100030033x
Subject(s) - soil water , cation exchange capacity , soil ph , organic matter , loess , soil science , environmental science , soil horizon , environmental chemistry , horizon , soil organic matter , soil series , soil classification , chemistry , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , organic chemistry , geomorphology , physics , geotechnical engineering , astronomy
The relationship of soil natural drainage, native vegetation, and textural development to exchangeable aluminum, exchange acidity, pH (CaCl 2 ), total carbon and clay was studied in selected loess soils in Iowa. Greatest differences in measured properties in the laboratory were observed along biosequences. Prairie soils had only trace amounts of exchangeable aluminum, but usually had the most A‐horizon exchange acidity. Forest soils had both maximum exchangeable aluminum and exchange acidity in the B‐horizon, corresponding to maximum clay accumulation. “Transition” soils, presumably an encroachment of forest on a former prairie, were similar to forest soils. Only minor differences in measured properties were observed in natural drainage sequences. Acidity correlates with organic matter in prairie soils and with clay content in forest soils. The organic matter appears to act as a buffer in prairie soils and in the A‐horizon of transition and forest soils. Aluminum acts to buffer the forest and transition soil B‐horizons.