PARENT MATERIALS AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERAL SOILS IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA

Abstract

Analysis of seven spodosols from southeast Alaska formed on contrasting parent materials show that the soils have similar chemical properties in upper horizons in spite of some wide differences in parent materials. With soils formed on basalt and limestone, influences of parent materials on chemical properties are evident only in the lowest horizons. Considerable accumulation of organic matter is found in these soils in surface layers and within the mineral profile. Also, nitrogen and mineral element contents of the surface organic layers are relatively high. Upper layers of the soil remain moist throughout the season and rooting is largely limited to the surface organic layers and the top few inches of mineral soil. The shallow rooting with the high rainfall of the area apparently limits the influence of lower horizons and parent materials on chemical properties of the upper soil.