Volcanic Ash

Deaño E.
BSABE- SEC 1 Volcanic Ash January 16, 2020
Assignment
Effect of volcanic ash in soil properties
1. Physical
2. Chemical
3. Biological
Answer
1. Volcanic ash soils have many unique physical properties that are
attributable directly to the properties of the parent material, the
noncrystalline materials formed by weathering, and the soil organic matter
accumulated during soil formation. These properties include dark soil color,
difficult clay dispersion, unique consistence, low bulk density, and high
water holding capacity. Soil color is the most striking feature observed for
volcanic ash soils, especially for their A horizons. Andisols typically display
a large difference in texture when comparing field and laboratory
determination methods. Noncrystalline materials play an important role as
cementing agents and react with an excess amount of sodium
hexametaphosphate.
Furthermore, each of the inorganic colloids shows a different point of zero
net charge, so that complete dispersion of mineral particles is virtually
impossible. Andisols generally have low bulk densities that are attributable
to the development of highly porous soil structure. Andisols usually show
low degrees of stickiness, plasticity, and hardness that result from the
abundance of noncrystalline materials and/or soil organic matter. These
physical properties also provide an excellent environment for root growth.
Andisols have well-developed soil structure resulting in high porosity with a
range of pore sizes that retain a large amount of water with varying tensions.
2. Volcanic ash soils display a wide range of chemical characteristics that

strongly reflect the influence of the parent material and degree of
weathering. Of these chemical properties, soil organic matter, active Al and
Fe, and variable charge are the most prominent attributes regulating
chemical reactions in volcanic ash soils. Organic matter influences many soil
chemical and physical properties and enhances soil biological activity and
productivity.
The dark color of humus horizons is one of the most important properties
involved in the central concept of Japanese Kurobokudo and it is ascribed to
the predominance of A-type hemic acid. There is an inverse relationship
between the accumulation of organic C and formation of allophanic clays in
Andisols with udic soil moisture regimes. The reason for this inverse
relationship is that soil organic matter plays an anti-allophanic role; Al
preferentially forms Al-humus complexes and is unavailable to combine
with Si to form allophanic clays. Aluminum-humus complexes are very
reactive with phosphate and fluoride as compared to allophanic clays.
Variable charge characteristics are primarily due to noncrystalline materials
and soil organic matter. The influence of variable charge surfaces has been
recognized in the farming of Andisols.
3. Various kinds of soils can be formed from volcanic ash depending on the
individual set of soil forming factors at different sites. Among these soils,
Andisols or Andosols show unique properties mostly due to abundant
noncrystalline materials such as allophane, imogolite, Al-humus complexes,
ferrihydrite and so on. Highly porous structures made of aggregated
noncrystalline Andisol materials have a light and fluffy nature,
accommodating large amounts of both plant-available and hygroscopic
water.
They show many other unique physical properties different from other
soils. Moreover, Andisols have unique chemical properties, including
aluminum-rich elemental composition, large amount of humus accumulation
in A horizons, variable charge characteristics, high phosphate retention
capacity, high affinity for multi-valent cations, high KCl-extractable and
water-soluble Al in nonallophanic Andisols at an acidic to weakly acidic pH
range, and so on. Finally, topics related to biological activity in volcanic ash
soils are discussed regarding P supply from apatite and K supply from
biotite for crops in fresh volcanic ash, effects of KCl-extractable and water-
soluble Al on soil-borne diseases, adsorption characteristics of viruses on
Andisols and P tropistic root growth of Brassica plants in P-deficient
Andisols.
References
‘’Development of Soil science" Chapter 6 chemical Characteristics of Volcanic
Ash Soil, M.Nanzyo S. Shoji.volume 21, 1993. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-
2481(08)70267-8
“Unique Properties of Volcanic Ash Soil" Nanzyo, Masami January 1,2002.
Volcanic Ash Versus Mineral Dust:Atmospheric Process and Environmental And

Climate Impacts, ISRN Atmospheric Sciences. Baerbel,Langmann,Volume 2013,
Article ID 245076, 17 http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/245076

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Deaño E.

BSABE- SEC 1 Volcanic Ash January 16, 2020

2. Volcanic ash soils display a wide range of chemical characteristics that

“Unique Properties of Volcanic Ash Soil" Nanzyo, Masami January 1,2002.

Volcanic Ash Versus Mineral Dust:Atmospheric Process and Environmental And

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