OCCURRENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF FERROMANGANIFEROUS CONCRETIONS IN SOME SASKATCHEWAN SOILS

Abstract

The distribution, composition and nature of concretions occurring in some moderately well-drained to poorly drained soils of Saskatchewan were investigated. The soils selected were: gleyed humo-ferric Podzol, orthic luvic gleysol, orthic gray luvisol and gleyed gray luvisol. The concretions range from < 0.1 to > 15 mm in diameter and are distributed throughout the sola with maximum concentrations of about 8% in Aeg and Bf horizons. The data indicate that the concretions from gleysolic and gray luvisolic soils are markedly higher in Fe, Mn and P than the surrounding soil matrix; concretions from the Podzol are high in Fe but very low in Mn and P. Mn is directly related to the size of concretions whereas Fe and P contents generally increase with decreasing size of concretions. The formation of concretions and their significance in soil genesis are discussed.