In an attempt to get further information about the genetical problem of upland soils in the coastal region of Okhotsk Sea, Hokkaido, four representative soil profiles composing a hydrosequence, Akebono Catena, were investigated from the view-point of the soil physics. This soil catena consisted of following three soil types; Acid brown forest soils, Pseudogley soils and Peaty-gley soils (Fig. 1 and 2). Comparative physical studies were carried out during three years from 1962 to 1964 with these four profiles. Seasonal fluctuations of the three phases of soils were mainly described (Table 1, 2 and 3 ; Fig. 4, 5 and 6). Based on these data, it seemed that each soil type had the specific water regime summarized as follows; Acid brown forest soils : well drained, and periodically leaching type of water regime with water-saturated zone of -70 to -120 cm. Pseudogley soils (including two sub-types): transitional, or stagnant type of water regime with water-saturated zone of -30 to -70 cm, but rather getting dry in summer. Peaty-gley soils; waterlogged, and half-boggy water regime with water-saturated zone of -20 to -50 cm. From these results, it was concluded that the hydro-physical characteristics of these soils should be taken into account as the basis of soil genesis and classification of such soils as composing a hydrosequence.
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