Pedologist
Online ISSN : 2189-7336
Print ISSN : 0031-4064
Volume 60, Issue 1
Displaying 1-14 of 14 articles from this issue
Foreword
Originals
  • Takumi MATSUI, Tadashi TAKAHASHI, Hitoshi KANNO, Masami NANZYO
    2016 Volume 60 Issue 1 Pages 4-13
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: February 23, 2017
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

      Active aluminum (Al) (Al present in Al-humus complexes and allophanic clays) possesses important characteristics for the accumulation of soil organic matter (SOM) in Andosols. Considering the function of the active Al, we studied the effect of an amorphous Al hydroxide gel (Al gel) treatment on the decomposition of SOM in the Andosols. By adding the Al gel to four A horizon samples, we prepared 4 levels of the Al additions (0 to 1% Al) of Al gel-treated soils. We determined the soil respiration (CO2 release) rates and the fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis activity over a 21-day period. In all the soil samples, both the respiration rates and FDA hydrolysis activity were proportionally reduced with the increasing Al gel concentration. The patterns of the temporal change in the respiration rates and FDA hydrolysis activity were different; the respiration rate was higher during the initial period (days 0 – about 7), then gradually decreased. In contrast, the FDA hydrolysis activity gradually increased over 0 – 7 days and remained at an almost constant level thereafter. Based on these results, the respiration rates and the FDA hydrolysis activity are considered to represent the availability of organic carbon (OC) at that time and the stable microbial activity, respectively. Because the water soluble organic carbon (OC) decreased with the Al gel treatment, the formation of Al-organic matter complexes possibly occurred. The decline in the FDA hydrolysis activity with the Al gel treatment indicated a physical effect such as the coating or embedding of microorganisms by the formation of soil aggregates. This was suggested by the fact that the FDA hydrolysis activity recovered after an ultrasonic treatment. This study confirmed the inhibiting effect of the Al gel treatment on the SOM decomposition in the Andosol samples, and its factors were considered to be the increase in the persistency of the SOM and suppression of the microbial activity.

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  • - Comparison the Comprehensive Soil Classification System of Japan First Approximation with Unified Soil Classification System of Japan (2nd Approximation)
    Takashi KANDA, Yusuke TAKATA, Shokichi WAKABAYASHI, Kazunori KOHYAMA, ...
    2016 Volume 60 Issue 1 Pages 14-31
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: February 23, 2017
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

    Despite the development of soil classification system for all land use, there have been no progresses of the soil map delineation in Japan. Several studies pointed out that the distribution area of Andosols could be wider than that on the old soil map (National Land Survey project, NLS) in Hokuriku and Chubu districts. In this study, we delineated new soil maps of these districts (1:200,000) according to the Comprehensive Soil Classification System of Japan First Approximation (CSCJ) and Unified Soil Classification System of Japan (2nd Approximation) (USCJ). From the new CSCJ soil map, Brown Forest soils (distribution area; 31%) was the most dominant soil great group in these regions, and followed by Andosols (27%) and Lowland soils (17%). Comparing CSCJ soil map with NLS, the distribution area of Andosols increased from 5% (NLS) to 27% (CSCJ), and that of Brown Forest soils decreased from 63% (NLS) to 31% (CSCJ). On the other hand, the distribution area of each soil great group in CSCJ soil map wasn’t different from that in USCJ soil map. However, a part of distribution area classified to Red-Yellow soils and Brown Forest soils by CSCJ soil map was changed to another soil great group by USCJ soil map. Furthermore, in spite of cool soil temperature of this region, the distribution of Yellow-Brown Forest soils was dominant in Brown Forest soils great group area in USCJ soil map.

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