The formation of podzolic B horizons and pedogenic imogolite as influenced by microrelief within a pedon α

• Published in: Geoderma 1991-08, Vol.50 (1), p.63-77
• Main Authors: Wang, C., Ross, G.J., Torrance, J.K., Kodama, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0016-7061; 1872-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/0016-7061(91)90026-P

Microrelief affected the drainage conditions within a sandy podzolic pedon in southeastern Quebec, Canada, which in turn affected soil pH, organic C and extractable Al, Fe and Si within the studied pedon. Imogolite was found in the profiles in the high and intermediate positions but not in the profile in the low position, indicating that microrelief also affected the podzolization processes within a pedon. The absence of imogolite in the solum in the low position was associated with low pH (< 4.5 in H 2O), and lack of extractable inorganic Al and Si, whereas its presence in the sola in the intermediate and high positions was associated with higher pH (5.0 to 5.4) and abundance of extractable inorganic Al and Si. The soil conditions in the sola of the better drained profiles favoured the formation and persistence of imogolite.