Abstract

The morphology, chemistry and clay mineralogy of ten pedons developed on Quaternary basic volcanic ashes in the northwestern highlands of Rwanda under perudic to udic marginal to ustic moisture regimes are reported. Eight pedons have abundant Al(Fe)-humus complexes, allophane and imogolite and thus qualify as Andepts, whereas the other two pedons do not because of their halloysitic clays. These last two soils are thought to be in a more advanced stage of pedogenesis and to have been formed in parent materials consisting of volcanic ash mixed with residuum from the underlying granitic and metamorphic rocks. Their physical, chemical and clay mineralogical properties are distinctive from those of soils in Kenya and Tanzania. The differences are discussed in relation to soil moisture regimes and petrological nature of parent ashes.

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