Chapter 13: Tephrogenic Soils of Japan in Comparative Context

2019

Note about ages: Ma = millions of years ago; ka = thousands of years ago; BP = before present, 'present' being defined as AD [CE] 1950 for radiocarbon-derived ages. Radiocarbon (14 C) ages are given in calendar or calibrated (cal) years BP unless noted otherwise, or as calendrical dates (e.g. AD 232). The Holocene encompasses the last 11,700 cal years (Walker et al., 2009).

TephroArchaeology in the North Pacific, Archaeopress, 2019

A r c h a eop r e s s Acc e s s A rch a e o l o gy

by NOTO Takeshi & Gina L. Barnes, chapter 14 in "TephroArchaeology in the North Pacific", Archaeopress, Oxford (2019) FREE E-BOOK DOWNLOAD

2000

Soils systematic arrangement into groups or categories on the basis of their characteristics has become imperative in view of the ever increasing need for the soil-with particular reference to sustainable landuse. Soils of Edo state Nigeria were characterized with a view to understanding its intricate properties and classify it using the United States department of agriculture (USDA) soil taxonomy and correlated with the world reference base (WRB). A free survey technique was used in identifying soil mapping units under different parent materials using the Edo state geological and mineral map. Pedons 1, 2 and 3 were marked as Ekpoma, Benin and Okpella soils respectively. Pedon 1 is derived from clayey sands, pedon 2 from sands and pedon 3 from shale and mudstones. Results showed that in all the three different parent materials sandy and loamy sands were the dominant textural classes. Pedon 3 was found to have more sand followed by pedon 2 and pedon 1, respectively. The C/N ratios in all the profile showed the trend similar to that of OC. Ca and Mg were found to range from very low to low in pedon 1 and 2 and moderate in pedon 3. The available phosphorus did not follow any regular pattern but decreased down the profiles. Total exchangeable acidity (TEA) was lowest in pedon 3(0.05 cmol/kg) and highest in pedon 1(1.12 cmol/kg).the effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) of the soils were critically low, an indication that these soils requires amendment for crop production. The percentage base saturation has relatively high mean values 67.48, 55.50 and 97.68% for pedons 1, 2 and 3 respectively and the LDS showed significant difference among the three different parent materials. There were positive correlations between the soil pH and OC, CN, available phosphorus, TEB (Ca, Mg, K, Na). pedons 1 and 2 were classified as Alfisols (Isohyperthermic Psammentic Arennic Hapludalfs) while pedon 3 was classified as typic kandiustalfs. The landuse potential in Edo state under these different materials is high provided integrated soil fertility management practice is put in place.

Journal of Ecology, 2004

1 The influence of tephra (aerially transported volcanic ejecta) on mire vegetation was investigated in a field experiment at Sarobetsu Mire, northern Hokkaido, Japan, which simulated relatively thin, widespread tephras. It was carried out in the centre of a raised part of the mire in a Carex middendorffii -Sphagnum papillosum community. 2 We tested the effects of varying tephra layer thickness, grain size and season of the simulated tephra impact. 3 Vegetation surveys and analyses of the mire pore water were carried out before and 1 and 2 years after tephra application. Redox potential, oxygen saturation and sulphide concentration were measured in the surface layer of selected plots after 10 months. 4 Pore water chemistry and oxygen saturation changed significantly in some treatments. Some plant species disappeared from certain treatments after tephra application, but the majority survived. Colonization by non-mire species played a significant role in only one treatment. Mosses were more strongly affected by the disturbance than vascular plants. 5 Tephra had stronger effects on the vegetation when layers were thicker, were more fine-grained and when applied at the beginning rather than at the end of the growing season. 6 Moderate tephra deposition is unlikely to cause long-term changes in mire development. Subsequent succession depends on properties of the tephra, on the vegetation type (e.g. life-forms) and on the season, but the original vegetation will probably recover even where the moss layer is severely damaged, as Sphagnum spp. can re-establish by growing through tephra at least up to 6 cm thick.

The status and spatial variability of soil properties across agrarian communities in Yakurr Local Government Area, Southeast Nigeria were assessed and soil management strategies suggested for limiting soil properties. Nine communities were identified within the study area and soil samples collected from young fallow lands measuring 40 m by 40 m at depths of 0 -20 cm and 20 -40 cm to represent surface and subsurface soils respectively. The interpolation of the area was done using the deterministic methods of inverse distance weighting (IDW) in ArcGIS 10.2.2 software. The soils were sandy loam to loamy sand with the coefficients of variation (CV) of particle sizes ranked as clay> silt> sand while soil pH ranged between 5.2 and 5.75, and organic matter ranged from 7.4 in Ntamkpo to 20.3 gkg -1 in Idomi with CV of 27.54%. Total N was generally low in the soils with CV of 31.25% in the surface soils and 58.36% in the subsurface soils. Available P and exchangeable basic cations were rated low but with high CVs except for exchangeable K + and Na + and ranked as P> Mg> Ca> Na> K. The ECEC was however rated medium with CV of 23.8% in the surface soils. It was however observed, that ECEC and organic matter were among the most spatially variable properties in the area. Intensified soil tests and farmer education were suggested to control the use of agrochemicals while unhealthy practices such as bush burning and unplanned continuous cropping should be checked. The integrated use of calcitic and dolomitic limes with organic inputs, crop rotation and bush fallow systems were also advocated.

北海道大学農学部 演習林研究報告 Research Bulletin of the Hokkaido University Forests, 1994

Soils from a range of serpentine and non-serpentine sites in Teshio Experimental Forest, in the northern part of Hokkaido, were analyzed for the elements Ca, Mg, N a, K and trace elements Ni and Cr. Analysis for the same elements was also carried out on foliage ash from seventeen species of common plants growing in serpentine and non-serpentine sites. The serpentine-derived soils were characterized by their high concentration of Mg and lower Ca content. Consequently, an imbalance of these minerals was observed. Results of plant analysis showed that the levels of Ca and Mg found in trees growing in serpentine soils were significantly different among species, and most of the species did indeed maintain an excess of Mg over Ca in their leaf tissues. Picea glehnii appeared to be able to accumulate Ca preferentially to Mg. The species showed this particular mechanism of absorption of the available nutrients from the soil. It may be related to the ability of the roots to take up~ selectively, the minerals needed by the plant! In addition, it can be also concluded that it is clear that the remaining species have adaqted to low Ca levels in the substrate, since they are growing and regenerating in this ser{>(1ntine environment. The heavy metals Ni and Cr in the soils do not appear to have a marked influence (especially Cr) on plant cover because of their very low amounts in the form available to plants.

Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 1999

We studied the mineralogical properties of Andisols of the Kitakami mountain range. Soils of the northern and central parts of the mountain range contained higher levels of acid oxalate extractable silicon (SiD), aluminum (AID)' and iron (FeD) but smaller amounts of sodium pyrophosphate-extractable aluminum (Alp), iron (Fep), and carbon (Cp) than those of the southern part. Consequently, the soils of the northern and central parts of the mountain range contained large amounts of allophane and ferrihydrite whereas in the soils of the southern part Al (Fe)-humus complexes and 2:1 and 2:1:1 clays predominated. The amount of sand (20-2,000 .urn) in the soils tended to decrease sharply from the north to the south of the mountain range. The soils of the northern and central parts of the mountain range contained larger amounts of heavy minerals in their fine sand fraction (20-200 .urn). The soils of the southern part, on the other hand, contained larger amounts of fine-grained quartz (2-20 .urn). All the soils of the mountain range contained substantial amounts of volcanic glass in their sand fraction. However, on a total soil basis, the amount of volcanic glass in the soils decreased from the north to the south of the mountain range and the trend was parallel to that of the sand content of the soils. From these results, we concluded that (i) the soils of the northern and central parts of the mountain range were derived mainly from tephras and (ii) the soils of the southern part were strongly influenced by long-range eolian dust.

Quaternary International, 2011

Relatively few late Pleistocene buried humic soils in volcanic areas have been studied to date, because they are not common worldwide. The present study examined the origin of soil organic matter (SOM) in mainly late Pleistocene buried humic soils within a tephra-soil sequence near Unzen volcano, northeastern Shimabara Peninsula, Kyushu, SW Japan. The buried humic soil horizons were divided into seven horizons in a tephra-soil sequence. The total carbon contents were very high for late Pleistocene soils, with a value of >60 g kg À1 obtained for the oldest buried humic soil (8Ab horizon). The main phytolith types in the buried humic soils are Pleioblastus sect. Nezasa in A and 2Ab, and Sasa sect. Crassinodi in 3Ab, 4Ab, 5Ab, 6Ab, 7Ab/C, and 8Ab. SOM was derived mainly from Gramineae. In the oldest buried humic soil (8Ab horizon), the d 13 C values indicate that C 3 plants contributed more than 50% of the plant-derived carbon in the SOM, and the phytoliths indicate the dominance of C 3 grasses (e.g., Sasa sect. Crassinodi) in the NE and SE of the peninsula. The late Pleistocene humic soils formed due to an abundant supply of organic matter from mainly grass vegetation such as Sasa sect. Crassinodi, regardless of climate change at w30 ka or earlier in the Unzen volcano area. The present study contributes to the paleoenvironmental reconstruction for the late Pleistocene.