Micromorphology of Three Gray Luvisols in East-Central Saskatchewan

Santos, M. C. D.; Mermut, A. R.; Anderson, Daniel W.; Arnaud, R. J. St.

doi:10.4141/cjss85-077

Cited by 8 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 3 publications

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“…The likelihood of these alternative pedological pathways occurring in Saskatchewan Gray Luvisols is small. Luvisols in Saskatchewan occur primarily on well-drained slope positions, limiting the possibility of alternating redox conditions (and hence the possibility of ferrolysis), although slow permeability of the Bt horizon may lead to a perched water table and weathering of primary minerals in the Ae (Santos et al 1985).…”

Section: Pedological Pathwaysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Time for nonilluvial Bt horizons?

Pennock

Fisher²

2022

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

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The Bt horizon is the diagnostic horizon of the Luvisolic Order in Canada. According to the Canadian System of Soil Classification (CSSC), the Bt must be formed from clay illuviation through the processes of lessivage (i.e., physical transport of clay). In a study of a Luvisol catena in the central Saskatchewan, we demonstrate that Ae/Bm horizons overlying IIBt horizons are formed in a sandy mantle overlying till (i.e., a lithological discontinuity) and that the sandy mantle contributed negligible amounts of illuvial clay despite the presence of clay skins on ped surfaces in the IIBt horizon. We extended the results of this study to the regional scale by examining sand fractions in 63 pedons of Luvisol-dominated soil associations from soil surveys in the Northern Forest Reserves (between latitudes 53<sup>o</sup>N and 55<sup>o</sup>N). Of the 63 pedons, 13 had lithological discontinuities identified in their profile description and a further 27 had discontinuities identified through shifts in the sand fractions between horizons. For the profiles with discontinuities, inherited particle size differences are a more likely cause of coarse-over-fine textural contrasts than lessivage. A regional analysis of the distribution of Luvisol-dominated associations showed distinct zonations that account, in part, for the differences in the occurrence of lithological discontinuities. Based on these results, we suggest that the criteria for Bt horizons in the CSSC should be broadened to include non-illuvial coarse-over-fine texture-contrast horizons and that the criteria for the Luvisolic order also be broadened to include these non-illuvial Bt horizons.

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Section: Pedological Pathwaysmentioning

confidence: 99%