Phytolith Transport in Texturally Differentiated Soils

Aims: Over the last decade phytolith analysis has been increasingly used in paleoenvironmental, archeological and paleopedological research. It resulted in standardization of phytolith sample collection, laboratory methods of phytolith extraction, counting and developing reference collections. In spite of all these advances some issues of phytolith translocation in soil profiles have not been comprehensively studied. This study describes an attempt to assess phytolith translocation along the profile of texturally differentiated soils.

Study Design: Comparative analysis of the two soil profiles.

Place and Duration of Study: Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry SB RAS, Core Facility “Cenozoic geochronology” (both in Novosibirsk, Russia), and the Center for Applied Isotope Studies, University of Georgia (Athens, USA), between June 2015 and May 2016.

Methodology: Catenary approach, accelerator mass spectrometry dating and phytolith analysis were used to register phytolith translocation down the profile of polygenetic Umbric-Cutanic Albeluvisols.

Results: The obtained results allowed to establish, depending on soil catenary position and the extent of profile texture differentiation, the following: 1) some facts of phytoliths’ translocation, 2) varying rate of 14C-phytoliths’ rejuvenation, and 3) changes in soil phytolith profiles due to eluvial-illuvial processes. The most pronounced changes in phytolith profiles were found in soils at eluvial position of the catena, while smaller changes were observed in the soil at the transit positions.

Conclusion: The possible translocation of phytolith down soil profiles should be taken into consideration while performing phytolithic analysis of forest soils.