Pedogenesis and Classification

This book is the first of two volumes intended to replace the old and now out of print Precis de pedologie, the previous three editions of which were pro- duced by the same publisher in 1960, 1965 and 1970. It was apparent that the term 'precis', which means that the text was neces- sarily condensed and summarised, no longer corresponded with the present day situation, for pedology has developed considerably in the past 10 years and it now makes use of the most modern and varied research techniques. It has become an entirely separate discipline and has assumed, at least in certain countries, considerable importance. In addition, different schools of thought have developed and their sometimes contradictory viewpoints are presented at many international conferences, which, if valid conclusions are to be reached from them, required considerable space for discussion. Thus, even by being very concise it was no longer possible to deal with the whole of soil science within the space of one volume, so that a two volume format became a necessity. As soil science is known to have two fundamentally distinct aspects, it has been easy to determine the contents of each volume and also to give each an identity and unity, as well as enabling a different kind of presentation to be made in each case.

Table of Contents:
I The Physicochemical Processes of Pedogenesis.- and definitions.- 1 Weathering and clay formation.- I General introduction.- II Geochemical weathering: total hydrolysis and neoformation of clay.- II Biochemical weathering: dominated by gradual hydrolysis and transformations.- IV Influence of environmental factors on weathering.- V Conclusion.- References.- 2 The dynamics of organic matter.- I Introduction.- II Biological humification: biochemical processes.- III The effect of environmental factors on biological humification.- IV The slow development of humic materials; maturation.- V Classification of humus.- VI Conclusion.- References.- 3 The movement of material within soils.- I Introduction and definitions.- II Mechanisms of migration: eluviation and illuviation.- III Biogeochemical cycles and biological processes of upward movement.- IV Influence of environmental factors on the transport of material within soils.- V Conclusion.- References.- 4 General principles of the origin and development of soils.- I Soil development cycles: definitions.- II The time factor: determination of soil age.- III Effect of environmental factors on development cycles.- IV Study of long cycles.- V Conclusion.- References.- II Pedogenesis: The Basis of Soil Classification.- 5 Soil classification.- I General introduction.- II Criteria used in modern classifications.- III Definition and hierarchical position of taxonomic units: horizons.- IV The American classification (soil taxonomy).- V FAO classification.- VI The proposed environmental classification.- References.- 6 Immature soils and soils with little profile differentiation.- A Immature soils.- I General characters and classification.- II Immature climatic soils.- III Immature erosional soils.- IV Immature depositional soils.- B Unsaturated humic soils.- I Introduction.- II Rankers.- III Andosols.- References.- 7 Calcimagnesian soils.- I Introduction: general characters.- II Environment, morphology and biochemistry of the basic types.- III Formation of humus-carbonate complexes: biochemical and geochemical processes.- IV Development of calcimagnesian soils in temperate plainlands.- V Development of calcimagnesian soils at high altitude.- VI Classification of calcimagnesian soils: main types.- References.- 8 Soils with matured humus: isohumic soils and vertisols.- A Isohumic soils.- I General characters.- II Isohumic soils with saturated complex.- III Brunified isohumic soils: brunizems or phaeozems.- IV Fersiallitic isohumic soils.- V Soils of arid regions.- B Vertisols.- I General characters.- II Vertisol profile: environment, morphology, properties.- III Development of vertisols.- IV Main types of vertisols: problems of classification.- References.- 9 Brunified soils.- I Genral characters.- II Temperate brown soils.- III Temperate lessived soils.- IV Boreal lessived soils.- References.- 10 Podzolised soils.- I General characters.- II Podzolised soils with little or no hydromorphism.- III Hydromorphic podzolised soils.- References.- 11 Hydromorphic soils.- I General characters.- II Soils with perched water table of pluvial origin.- III Soils with a deep phreatic water table: gleys.- IV Organic hydromorphic soils: peats.- V Related hydromorphic soils: capillary absorption and impoverishment of materials rich in fine clays.- References.- 12 Sesquioxide-rich soils.- I General characters.- A Fersiallitic soils.- I The morphological and geochemical characters of fersiallitic profiles.- II The dynamics of fersiallitisation.- III Main types of fersiallitic soils: classification.- B Ferruginous soils.- I Profiles of ferruginous soils: morphological and geochemical characters.- II Development of ferruginous soils and ferrisols.- III Classification of ferruginous soils.- C Ferrallitic soils.- I General characters.- II The morphology and geochemistry of ferrallitic profiles.- III Physicochemical process of ferrallitisation.- IV Classification and main types of ferrallitic soils.- References.- 13 Salsodic soils.- I General characters.- II Study of salsodic profiles: environment, morphology, geochemistry.- III The dynamics of ionic equilibria.- IV Development of salsodic soils: role of environmental factors.- V Summary: classification of salsodic soils.- VI Properties and utilisation of salsodic soils.- References.