Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 325-337 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Soil Science |
| Volume | 163 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 1998 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
We used the ratio between well crystallized Fe-oxides and total Fe (Fe(d-o)/Fe(t)) and weathering indices to study eight soils developed in eolian material overlying glacial deposits in Eastern Nepal with regard to intensity of soil development. Together with selected radiocarbon analyses and information on soil morphology, we tried to interpret the data in terms of relative and absolute age distinctions of the deposits. The results suggest no clear relationship between weathering intensity and morphostratigraphical development and the age of the geomorphic surface. We assume that this is attributable to different orographic conditions for sedimentation of the eolian dust at the study sites and to different degrees of pre-weathering of the eolian covers. However, we can show that formation of organic matter and soil development, in general, started around 2500-2800 years B.P. in the eolian cover of most soils studied. This indicates deposition of the bulk eolian sediments around 2800 years B.P. and earlier. Two soils have greater relative ages in the subsoil with respect to the weathering indices. In these soils, parts of the eolian sediments are of late glacial origin or even older. Distinct variation of soil development and weathering indices within a vertical distance of 200 m provided evidence of marginal ice.
Keywords
- Eolian sediments, Fe/Al fractionation, Nepal, Quaternary landscape, Soil weathering
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Soil Science
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In: Soil Science, Vol. 163, No. 4, 04.1998, p. 325-337.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Weathering of soils developed in eolian material overlying glacial deposits in Eastern Nepal
AU - Guggenberger, Georg
AU - Bäumler, Rupert
AU - Zech, Wolfgang
PY - 1998/4
Y1 - 1998/4
N2 - We used the ratio between well crystallized Fe-oxides and total Fe (Fe(d-o)/Fe(t)) and weathering indices to study eight soils developed in eolian material overlying glacial deposits in Eastern Nepal with regard to intensity of soil development. Together with selected radiocarbon analyses and information on soil morphology, we tried to interpret the data in terms of relative and absolute age distinctions of the deposits. The results suggest no clear relationship between weathering intensity and morphostratigraphical development and the age of the geomorphic surface. We assume that this is attributable to different orographic conditions for sedimentation of the eolian dust at the study sites and to different degrees of pre-weathering of the eolian covers. However, we can show that formation of organic matter and soil development, in general, started around 2500-2800 years B.P. in the eolian cover of most soils studied. This indicates deposition of the bulk eolian sediments around 2800 years B.P. and earlier. Two soils have greater relative ages in the subsoil with respect to the weathering indices. In these soils, parts of the eolian sediments are of late glacial origin or even older. Distinct variation of soil development and weathering indices within a vertical distance of 200 m provided evidence of marginal ice.
AB - We used the ratio between well crystallized Fe-oxides and total Fe (Fe(d-o)/Fe(t)) and weathering indices to study eight soils developed in eolian material overlying glacial deposits in Eastern Nepal with regard to intensity of soil development. Together with selected radiocarbon analyses and information on soil morphology, we tried to interpret the data in terms of relative and absolute age distinctions of the deposits. The results suggest no clear relationship between weathering intensity and morphostratigraphical development and the age of the geomorphic surface. We assume that this is attributable to different orographic conditions for sedimentation of the eolian dust at the study sites and to different degrees of pre-weathering of the eolian covers. However, we can show that formation of organic matter and soil development, in general, started around 2500-2800 years B.P. in the eolian cover of most soils studied. This indicates deposition of the bulk eolian sediments around 2800 years B.P. and earlier. Two soils have greater relative ages in the subsoil with respect to the weathering indices. In these soils, parts of the eolian sediments are of late glacial origin or even older. Distinct variation of soil development and weathering indices within a vertical distance of 200 m provided evidence of marginal ice.
KW - Eolian sediments
KW - Fe/Al fractionation
KW - Nepal
KW - Quaternary landscape
KW - Soil weathering
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0344835897&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/00010694-199804000-00007
DO - 10.1097/00010694-199804000-00007
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0344835897
VL - 163
SP - 325
EP - 337
JO - Soil Science
JF - Soil Science
SN - 0038-075X
IS - 4
ER -