Andisols

The word Andosol comes from the Japanese an = black and do = soil.

Andosols are largely associated with volcanic rocks over the entire

Earth. But they cover only a small area (about 110 million ha, or

less than 1 per cent of the lands of the world). Very fertile, they are

cultivated wherever possible. In the regions with these soils, population

density can reach 1000 persons per sq. km. At the physical, chemical

and mineralogical levels they have exceptional properties, the study of

which is particularly instructive and indirectly helps to understand the

properties of all the other soil types.

10.1 PRINCIPAL FEATURES AND ECOLOGY

10.1.1 Typical Profile

The soil is humiferous and dark brown or black. The organic carbon

content often exceeds 25 kg m–2. The profile is poorly differentiated (AR),

sometimes with a more ochreous intermediate layer [A(B)C profile].

The soil is rather deep, up to a metre or more. The structure depends

on moisture content and on cultural practices. Under cultivation and in

dry state, it is powdery. When wet, the soil mass becomes continuous

but not resistant. It is porous, light and easily penetrated by a knife.

The consistence is then creamy, but without any plasticity. In all cases,

abundance of organic compounds is observed and also a low bulk

density (0.3–0.9 kg dm–3). In very moist environments, the water retained

at 15-bar tension is considerable and higher than one gram water per

gram of the <2 μm fraction. In this case, kneading of the soil between

thumb and index finger almost always re-releases the water. This is

thixotropy. To put it plainly, application of pressure is liable to change

the state of the soil abruptly from a paste to a liquid.