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Micromorphology of some Chernozemic Soils with Grumic Properties in Saskatchewan, Canada
Author(s) -
Mermut A. R.,
St.Arnaud R. J.
Publication year - 1983
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/sssaj1983.03615995004700030029x
Subject(s) - soil water , loam , geology , vertisol , soil science , void (composites) , clay soil , mineralogy , materials science , composite material
Two clayey soils (Indian Head and Balcarres Associations) and two fine loamy soils (Swinton and Weyburn Associations), all currently classified under the Chernozemic order (Borolls), were used in this study to establish the micromorphology of soils with grumic properties. Micromorphometric analyses consisted of fabric classification and estimation of void types, skeleton grains, and plasmic fabric by a point counting method. Basic plasmic fabric, plasma separations, and pedological features separate the clay soils from the two other Chernozemic profiles. The clayey soils have produced entirely different void patterns with a majority of planar voids, suggesting stress phenomena in these soils. The presence of soil nodules partly incorporated into the f ‐matrix which is considered to be strong evidence of a churning process and especially the fraction of masepic plasmic fabric in the total plasma are in good agreement with void and related distribution pattern characteristics indicating a dynamic layer of up to 1 m in thickness within the two clayey profiles. Aside from the climatic parameters, these soils are very similar to Vertisols. The study signifies the necessity to reconsider the classification of such soils.