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Distribution Profile: Andosols

Andosols develop from volcanic materials like ash and cinder. They are found near volcanoes in regions like Africa, South America, and Asia. Andosols have a dark, organic-rich surface horizon above a lighter brown subsurface horizon. These soils form quickly from the weathering of porous volcanic materials, which releases aluminum ions that bind humus into stable complexes, accumulating organic matter in the topsoil. Andosols are high in nutrients and good for agriculture but require phosphorus additions due to fixation by iron and aluminum.

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58 views

Distribution Profile: Andosols

Andosols develop from volcanic materials like ash and cinder. They are found near volcanoes in regions like Africa, South America, and Asia. Andosols have a dark, organic-rich surface horizon above a lighter brown subsurface horizon. These soils form quickly from the weathering of porous volcanic materials, which releases aluminum ions that bind humus into stable complexes, accumulating organic matter in the topsoil. Andosols are high in nutrients and good for agriculture but require phosphorus additions due to fixation by iron and aluminum.

Uploaded by

toporoacho
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ANDOSOLS

DEFINITION DISTRIBUTION
Andosols develop on Andosols are found along
materials ejected from volcanoes volcanoes. They are mainly
PROFILE present in the African Rift Valley,
such as ashes, pumice and cinder.
Andosols are defined by the
presence of a vitric horizon
A A typical Andosol profile has a
dark coloured surface horizon
in the northern and southern
part of the Andes, in the Central
(volcanic glass) or an andic horizon
(weathered volcanic materials)
E with a high organic matter
content. Underneath this dark
American Volcanic arc and near
the active volcanoes of the Sunda
within 25cm of the surface. horizon comes a lighter brown Arc in Asia
horizon. The difference

B between these two horizons is


usually clear.
Agric
horizon F O R M AT I O N
The volcanic materials are very porous, permeable and fine-
grained, and are very easily weathered down in humid
climates. This quick weathering releases Al3+-ions which bind
with humus to form stable Al-humus complexes. The
aluminium protects the organic part of the complex against
Volcanic ash
bio-degradation and keeps the organic matter in place in the
topsoil. This leads to the accumulation of organic matter in
the topsoil, creating a very thick, dark horizon.

USE & MANAGEMENT High levels of iron and aluminium in these soils
will fix phosphorus making it unavailable for
Andosols are high in nutrients, have a good soil structure plants. These soils therefore require large
and are easy to cultivate, so they have a high potential for additions of phosphorus. Also, if Andosols
agricultural production. They can be planted with a wide variety of occur on steep slopes, they are best kept under
crops such as sugar cane, tobacco, sweet potato, tea, vegetables and forest to prevent soil erosion.
wheat. If the groundwater comes near the surface, Andosols are
also great for paddy rice.

Cultivation systems on Andosols in the volcanic


highlands of Madagascar.

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