Genesis and mass balance of basaltic soils along a lava plateau chronosequence in Penghu Islands, Taiwan
Journal
Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
Start Page
1
End Page
15
ISSN
0038-0768
1747-0765
Date Issued
2025-08-13
Author(s)
Abstract
Basalt-derived soils are important to global biogeochemical cycles due to their extensive distribution and rapid weathering. The Penghu Islands, located in the Taiwan Strait, provide an ideal setting to investigate the effects of time on pedogenesis within a basaltic chronosequence under humid tropical conditions. Four pedons–PH1, PH2, PH3, and PH4—developed on basaltic lava with stratigraphic ages of 8.5, 9.3, 10.6, and 12 Ma, respectively, were collected. The morphological, physio-chemical, and mineralogical properties of soils were analyzed. A geochemical mass balance approach was conducted to obtain the τj, w value of each element for evaluating the gain and loss of elements. A progressive increase in solum thickness, clay accumulation, and rubification with stratigraphic age were identified, highlighting long-term pedogenic transformations. Younger soils (PH1, PH2), classified as Typic Ustorthents, exhibited minimal horizon development, while older soils (PH3, PH4), classified as Typic Haplustalfs, were characterized by well-developed Bt horizons and high crystallinity of secondary Fe oxides. Mass balance analysis revealed significant elemental depletion, particularly for Si, Al, and Fe, consistent with progressive weathering. However, the τj, w values of Ca and Mg implied net accumulation, suggesting sustained external inputs from marine-derived carbonates and eolian deposition. The τj, w values of trace metals, including Cr and Ni, displayed irregular trends with depth and stratigraphic age, indicating complex interactions between primary mineral dissolution and secondary mineral adsorption. Despite its utility in quantifying element fluxes, mass balance analysis proved inadequate for fully capturing the effect of time on pedogenesis in an open-system environment influenced by external inputs. The lack of a significant correlation between element depletion patterns and plateau age suggested that processes such as eolian deposition, marine carbonate addition, and hydrological influenced variability that cannot be resolved through mass balance alone. This study disentangled in situ weathering from allochthonous contributions, providing a more comprehensive understanding of basaltic soil evolution in dynamic coastal landscapes.
Subjects
Morphology
parent material
pedogenesis
soil classification
trace element
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Type
journal article