CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Dyck, M.F.; Kachanoski, R.G.; and Woods, S.A.
Date : 2008.
Title : The soil-landscape paradigm and hydrology.
Publication : Canadian Society of Soil Science 2008 Annual Meeting: Frontiers of Soil Science. July 6 - 10, 2008. University of Northern British Columbia Prince George, British Columbia.
Issue : Program and Abstracts Volume:
Page(s) : 71.
Abstract
The soil landscape-paradigm, as presented by Hudson (1992), has its roots in Jenny’s soil forming factor equation: SOIL = f(Climate, Organisms, Relief, Parent material, Time, Human activities). Genetic soil classification systems such as the Canadian system state that, during pedogenesis, the five factors interact to form the soil profile (pedon). Essentially, the soil landscape paradigm states that the spatial distribution soil profiles are a result of spatial variations in the interactions between the soil forming factors. The pedon, catena, and soil landscape unit are thus meant to be representative of the spatial variations in the interactions between the soil forming factors at different spatial scales. Soil maps, therefore, not only contain information about the spatial distribution of soils, but are also thought to contain information about the spatial variability of the soil forming factors. Although soil scientists recognize that the interactions between the soil forming factors likely change with time, it is more difficult to resolve these temporal changes using the soil-landscape paradigm. Often it is assumed that there is very little or no temporal variations in the soil forming factors during soil genesis. With the exception of paleosols, temporal changes in the soil forming factors can not usually be distinguished by visual observation of a soil profile. Indeed, it is unclear how long it takes changes in soil forming factors to show up as changes in soil morphology, or how these temporal changes can be represented in a soil classification system. It can be shown that the soil forming factors are connected with hydrology and the soil water balance in some way. In this presentation, examples will be given showing how temporal changes in soil water balance at the pedon, catena and landscape scale make it difficult to apply soil survey information to hydrological problems. Discussion will also focus on possible feedbacks between soil horizon formation and soil hydrology. The general conclusion is that temporal changes in soil forming factors are not well represented in the Canadian System of Soil Classification. Future amendments to the Canadian System should explicitly recognize temporal changes in soil forming factors.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology