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Effects of Fallow Length on Organic Carbon and Soil Fabric of Some Tropical Udults
Author(s) -
Wadsworth G.,
Southard R. J.,
Singer M. J.
Publication year - 1988
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/sssaj1988.03615995005200050041x
Subject(s) - subsoil , total organic carbon , soil water , soil horizon , weathering , topsoil , soil carbon , soil science , environmental science , porosity , mineralogy , chemistry , geology , environmental chemistry , geochemistry , organic chemistry
Soil samples representing eight different ages of forest regrowth (0–50 yr following clearing) from fields in a pineapple slash and burn agricultural system were collected for organic carbon (OC) analysis and study of soil physical properties. The OC content of the surface soils decreased for 10 yr following clearing, then gradually increased close to the original level after 50 yr. Major micromorphological differences were apparent in surface horizons as a function of OC content. Soils with higher OC contents were more strongly aggregated and have more visible porosity than those with less OC. Bulk density and OC are statistically, significantly, negatively correlated ( r 2 = 0.64, p < 0.05), for combined data from all four representative pedons. Particle size distribution had a large effect on subsoil micromorphology. Argillic horizon fabric within the finest grained pedon was mostly mosepic with few discrete cutans suggesting that in situ weathering is a dominant clay forming process. Coarser textured pedons had well‐oriented argillans in the skelvosepic to vo‐masepic fabric of the argillic horizons. The short‐cycle slash and burn methods studied here have no observable effects on the micromorphology of the argillic horizons.