Micromorphological Features of Pan Horizon in the Soils Derived from Different Parent Materials

Abstract

We have five soil series of pan soils in South Korea out of 391 series: Gangreung, Bugog, Yeongog, Jangweon, and Pogog. Productivity decreases in pan soils as pan horizons impede percolation and capillary rise of water and interrupt root extension. This study was performed to investigate pedogenic processes of pan soils mainly located in footslope and river terrace by analyzing physicochemical properties and soil micro-morphology. Korean pan soils belong to Alfisols, Ultisols, or Inceptisols and have udic or aquic soil moisture regime, mesic temperature regime, and mixed mineral substances. Texture of pan horizons selected for the present study was mainly silty clay loam with clay contents ranging from 26.3 to 45.3%. Bulk density of the pan horizons ranged from 1.4 to <TEX>$2.1Mg\;m^{-3}$</TEX> and their soil structure were subangular or angular structure. In terms of micro-morphological structure, Bt horizon of Gangreung series was formed as platy and striated b-fabric structure possibly affected by uplift of coastal terrace following clay sedimentation by flood. Jangweon series showed micro-morphology of massive structure and crystallic b-fabric as macropores between coarse debris established by debris fall in slope were filled with silt-sized particles. The Bt horizons having massive structure and striated b-fabric in Yeongog, Pogog, and Bugog series implies that those horizons experienced horizontal mass flow after clay accumulation.