Andosol to Luvisol evolution in Central Mexico: timing, mechanisms and environmental setting

• Published in: Catena (Giessen) Vol. 54; no. 3; pp. 495 - 513
• Main Authors: Sedov, S.N., Solleiro-Rebolledo, E., Gama-Castro, J.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 30.12.2003
• Subjects: Andosol; Climatic change; Late Quaternary pedogenesis; Luvisol; Soil evolution; Tephra-paleosol sequence; Late Quaternary pedogenesis; Luvisol; Climatic change; Soil evolution; Tephra-paleosol sequence; Andosol
• ISSN: 0341-8162; 1872-6887
• DOI: 10.1016/S0341-8162(03)00123-1

Surface and buried Andosols and buried Luvisols of the Nevado de Toluca Late Quaternary tephra-paleosol sequence (Central Mexico) were studied to show whether these soils present an evolutionary sequence and to determine the pedogenic mechanisms and environmental factors involved in the evolutionary process. Micromorphological observations and mineralogical composition of fine sand and clay fractions were used to detect type and succession of soil-forming process. Some of the buried Andosols, defined as “intergrade” Andosols, have a predominantly blocky structure, humus-depleted areas, redoximorphic features and thin clay coatings in Ah horizons. Clay fractions of buried Andosols contain halloysite besides amorphous components, whereas in modern Andosols, allophane is dominant. Luvisols have micro-areas with granular structure and abundant phytoliths in the groundmass of Bt horizons assumed to be the relict Andosol features. Luvisol clay fractions are dominated by halloysite and kaolinite. Primary minerals show micromorphological weathering features in all studied soils being stronger in Luvisols; however, even in Luvisols, sand fractions consist mostly of unstable volcanic silicates. We hypothesise that the studied profiles form an evolutionary sequence: Andosols–“intergrade” Andosols–Luvisols; the soil transformation is supposed to be linked to progressive crystallisation of 1:1 clay minerals. Comparing the Nevado de Toluca paleosol properties with the existing data on volcanic soil climo- and chronesequences and assessing the regional paleopedological and lacustrine records of Quaternary paleoclimates, we concluded that wet/dry climatic oscillations took place during the formation of the studied paleosols. Rapid crystallisation of 1:1 minerals occurred during dry phases, which speeded up the Andosol to Luvisol transformation and made it independent from the primary mineral weathering status. The Andosol to Luvisol transformation accelerated by climatic fluctuations is thought to be a common soil evolutionary pathway in the subtropical and tropical regions of recent volcanism, which suffered contrasting precipitation oscillations in the Quaternary.