Three-hundred-and-sixty-six samples of recent alluvial surface soils collected in Japan were analyzed for total elemental composition. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was used to analyze 18 elements (Al, Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sr, Ti, V and Zn). The amount of SiO_2 was calculated by subtracting the sums of the oxides of major elements (Al_2O_3, CaO, Fe_2O_3, K_2O, MgO, MnO_2, Na_2O, P_2O_5, TiO_2), minor elements (Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, Zn) and ignition loss from total soil weight. To analyze the differences in elemental composition of samples, statistical calculation analyses including correlation analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used. We clarified the background level and distribution of elemental composition. Some elements like Si, K and Ba were abundant in the southwestern part of Japan, and that coincides with the distribution of acidic rock. On the other hand some elements like Mg, Fe, Co, Ti, V, Al and Mn are abundant in the eastern part of Japan and selected regions which seem to be affected by volcanic ash. From principal component analysis, the elemental composition of recent alluvial soils was explained by the first component of felsic to mafic nature, by the second component of mobility of each element and by the third component of the degree of influence of hydrothermal deposit ( or of the degree of oxidation and reduction). From cluster analysis, 6 clusters were set up. Each cluster was characterized based on the principal component score and mean elemental composition. By calculating the ratio of the 6 numerically obtained clusters in the order and suborder of classification of cultivated soils in Japan, the following points were clarified: 1) The coarser the soil texture and the grayer the color of subsoil, the more felsic elemental composition. 2) In the case of Brown Lowland soils, they were more felsic when the soil has mottles.
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