1. SELF-ORGANIZATION OF SOIL SYSTEMS, ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF
TIME-SCALES AND
ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF
PEDOGENIC PROCESSES
V. O. Targulian,
Lomonosov Moscow State University;
Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of
Sciences,

2. The main goal of this presentation is to generalize some existing notions and concepts of soil systems behavior in time, both under constant and evolving environment, to propose some considerations and working hypothesis concerning soil self-development, soil evolution, characteristic times of pedogenic processes and, at least, to assess the ecological significance of the WRB diagnostic horizons/properties

3. Main Topics:
Soil formation as a synergetic process of the soil system self-organization;
Two main concepts of soil system behavior in time and their harmonization;
Characteristic times of the WRB diagnostic horizons and specific pedogenic processes.
Ecological significance of pedogenic processes and the main diagnostic soil horizons

4. The main working hypothesis of the presentation is that soil formation could be perceived as a synergetic process of the soil system self-organization

5. The soil formation (in its ideal model) - is a synergetic process of soil system self-organization in time, which tends to the attractor – mature soil body in steady state; In this process initial unsteady components and structures of the lithomatrix are transformed into new steady components and structures of the pedomatrix (soil body, soil cover). The pedomatrix after its formation becomes by the feedbacks a powerful regulator of the further functioning of the soil system.

6. Mountain tropical
foggy forest (Mexico)

7. Mountain tropical
Hystic Podzol
(Mexico)

8. Calcareous Arenosols,
Pacific low atolls,
Cook Islands
Plowed Albeluvisol,
Central Russia

9. system on the land surface
Soil as a biospheric
bio-abiotic
system on the land surface

10. ATMOSPHERE S I T O N E ABOVEGROUND C O STAGE S Y T S O M I L
BELOWGROUND
STAGE
WEATHERING
MANTLE
REGOLITH

11. solar-

12. Endogenic cycles of rocks in lithosphere n*103 – 108 years
Gas cycles
n*10-1 – 101 years
Water cycles
n*10-1 – 102 years
Biotic cycles
n*10-1 – 103 years
Exogenic cycles
of denudation &
sedimentation
n*102 – 104 years
Anthropo-
technogenic cycles
n*101 – 104 years
Soil system residence time at land surface
n*102 – 106 years
Endogenic cycles of rocks in lithosphere
n*103 – 108 years
Place of a soil on crossing of the main matter fluxes & cycles at land surface;
Characteristic times of matter renewal in functioning soil system

13. as bio-abiotic exogenic systemBt
Mottled clay saprolite
Ortho-biotic
zone
Para-biotic
Meta-biotic
Soil and
weathering
mantle
as in situ
formed
horizonated
body –
SITON
and as a
functioning
CRITICAL ZONE
of a landscape
Ideal model of well-developed soil & weathering mantle in humid tropics by the age of years;
The total thickness of
SITON
as bio-abiotic exogenic system
Soil proper as an upper part of
weathering mantle
Medium
and lower
parts of
weathering
mantle
Red-yellow saprolite
Coarse saprolite
Ground water
Parent rock

14. 100 D E P T H LIVING BIOTA HUMUS 50 % volume POROSITY GASES
LIVING
BIOTA
100
HUMUS 50 %
volume
POROSITY D E P T H
GASES
SOLID PHASE:
MINERAL AND ORGANO-
MINERAL
PARTICLES
SOLUTIONS 1м
2 м
INTERACTIVE COMPONENTS OF MULTIPHASE
BIO-ABIOTIC SOIL SYSTEM

15. Soil system functioning
and soil formation

16. Functioning (or “life”) of the multiphase soil system starts immediately at 0-time in the zone of multiple atmo-hydro-bio-litho- interactions within the parent material (lithomatrix of the soil system).

17. = = Labile flux factors – “aggressors”:
helio-atmo-hydro-bio; Driving forces
of pedogenesis =
Exogenic soil-forming
potential of climate and biota - PCB
Interactions of flux and site factors and their potentials in belowground stage of ecosystem
genic
Emergence of soil
functioning multiphase
system in enclosing
parent material
Static immovable site factors– “acceptors”: parent rocks,relief; litho-topo-matrix of soil system
Transformational potential of parent rocks - TPPR
Redistribution potential of relief –RPR =

18. Processes (fluxes, cycles, exchange reactions) operating in the functioning soil system are not completely closed and reversible, therefore, they produce a range of residual products of functioning (RPF): gaseous, liquid, and solid Formation, accumulation, and differentiation of solid RPF in the soil system are the essence of soil formation as in situ development of the soil body (pedomatrix) from the parent material (lithomatrix); Soil formation (pedogenesis) is the “irreversible time-arrow” of the soil system functioning.

20. Relation between multiphase processes of soil system functioning and specific pedogenic processes of formation solid phase pedogenic features

21. Relationship between functioning of soil system
Solid phase profile
time
ortho
ortho
ortho
оrthо
para
para
para
para
L I t o m a t r I x
n*101-2
years
n*103-4
years
n*105-6
years
meta
meta
Sapro-
lite
meta
meta
labile
profiles of
biota, gases,
solutions,
heat
Vertical zones of multiphase soil functioning
Relationship between functioning of soil system
and formation of solid phase soil body

22. We need to distinguish the multiphase soil system functioning and the solid phase soil body self-organization (self-development) in time:
--multiphase soil system functioning on the land surface is potentially endless process, if not interrupted by denudation or burying,
--solid phase soil body self-organization is potentially self-terminated process, as any synergetic process tending to attractor.

23. present day horizonation of
climate
& biota
present day horizonation of
soil functioning
soild
phase
profile
soil functioning & development
solu-
tions
time
0-time
biota
heat
gases A
ortho
ortho
ortho
ortho E
functioning within
steady state
soil body
functioning
with pedogenic
horizonation
func-
tioning
without
pedogenic
horizona-
tion
Bt,m
para
para
para
para
litho-
matrix
steady state soil body
solid phase record
of long-term
functioning
sapro-
lite
meta
meta
meta
meta
time
solid phase
soil body
regulates soil functioning
MODEL OF SOIL SELFDEVELOPMENT

24. feedbacks
feedbacks

25. Soil systems behavior in time: self-development and evolution of sols

26. Possible fates of soil systems in geological time scale: n*10 years
burying and new pedogenesis
Possible fates of soil systems in geological time scale: n* years
4-6
Continuation of “life” and evolution on the land surface
0-time
technogenic pollution – “poisoned” pedogenesis
denudation
and
new
pedo-
genesis

27. “meeting” & interaction of factors “agressors” and factors “acceptors”
Factors of soil formation  soil features Factors  pedogenic processes  soil features Factors  processes of soil functioning  pedogenic processes  soil features
“meeting” & interaction of factors “agressors” and factors “acceptors”
fast cycling and renewal of labile components (gases, solutions, biota);
formation & surviving of solid phase microproducts of soil functioning
multiphase bio-abiotic interactions in soil system; in situ labile horizonation of gases, liquids, biota and heat in parent rock;
start of soil system functioning
selection, accumulation & differentiation of solid phase microproducts within a soil system;
formation of pedogenic soil macrofeatures, horizons & profiles;
soil memory
Vertical and lateral diversity of soil bodies and covers in space and time
Emerging and functioning of multiphase soil system in solid phase parent materials
Formation and evolution of pedogenic solid phase structure of soil system in space and time

28. Soil A Soil B Soil C Steady-state Soil features Steady-state model of
soil development
(Dokuchaev, Jenny, Rode, Yaalon)
Fast
processes
Slow
processes
time, years
101
102
103
104
105
Progressive pedogenesis
Regressive pedogenesis
Soil
features
Soil A
Soil B
Evolutionary model of pedogenesis
(Johnson, Keller, & Rockwell, 1984)
Soil C T1 T2 Tn T0

29. Finity of soil self-development in constant environment:
Under the constant environment, soil development is self-terminated process directed towards the steady state, because all specific pedogenic processes are either self-terminated due to depletion of initial resources, or come to dynamic equilibrium with the environment.
Infinity of soil evolution
in the changing environment:
Under the evolving environment without strong erosion and deep burying, soil evolution is an endless process, because specific pedogenic processes are changing following the driving changes of the environment.

30. the steady state? processes
Why soil system can approach
the steady state?
Self-terminating pedogenic processes
Soil features
Clay formation
Texture
differentiation
Carbonate
leaching
Primary silicates
decomposition
Leaching of bases from silicates
time
Dynamically-equilibrium pedogenic
processes
Soil features
Humus (formation
vs decomposition)
Structure
Biogenic elements
time

31. Possible changes of climate and biota
Soil
features
Ideal model of soil and
weathering mantle
self-development
compared with
possible
environment changes
during this time
steady state of system
Fast pedogenic
processes
Slow
pedogenic processes
time, yrs.
Possible changes of climate and biota
during 102 – 106 years
temperature,
precipit.
time, years b.p.

32. Soil-forming potential of climate & biota In arid - semihumid regions
In humid regions
Annual
precip., to
tropical
biomass
temperate
boreal
polar
90o
45o 0o
latitude
In arid - semihumid regions
Annual
precip., to
steppes
biomass
semideserts
savannas
tundra-steppes
(sub)tropical
polar deserts
deserts
90o
45o 0o
latitude

33. Two main models of soil evolution
rainforcement of weathering and
pedogenesis
developing & obliterating soil evolution
weakening of weathering & pedogenesis
inheriting & superimposing soil evolution

34. Dynamically equilibrium
Individual pedogenic processes (IPP) in soil self-development and evolution
IPP groups
Finite
Dynamically equilibrium
Irreversible
Reversible
Obliterative
Non-obliterative
Organic matter accumulation - +
Structuring
Pedoturbations
Salinization - desalinization
Ca(Mg)CO3 migration
Weathering
Clay formation
Leaching from solum
Vertical translocations of
clays, Fe, Al, Si

35. of diagnostic horizons and specific pedogenic processes
Characteristic times
of diagnostic horizons and
specific pedogenic processes

36. Characteristic times (CT) of the main diagnostic horizons and properties (WRB)
Long CT n*
years:
Ferralic, Nitic
Petro-(duric-plinthic-calcic-gypsic),
Geric & Ferralic prop.
diagnostic
features
Short CT
n* years:
Litter, Cryic,
Folic, Ochric,
Gleyic, Salic, Stagnic, Sulphuric, Takyric, Melanic,
Plaggic -1 2
Medium CT
n* years:
Albic, Andic, Argic, Calcic, Cambic, Duric, Ferric, Fulvic, Fragic, Gypsic, Histic, Mollic, Natric, Umbric, Vertic -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
years

37. Characteristic times of specific pedogenic processes (SPP) in soil self-development
diagnostic
features
of SPP
Slow SPP
n* years:
ferralitization
allitization,
petro-cementation,
deep sapro-litization 6
Fast SPP
n* years:
littering ,
gleyzation,
stagnation,
salinization,
brunification,
cryo-, bio-turbations,
structuring,
compaction,
etc… -1 2
Medium-rate SPP
n*103 years:
mollic, umbric humification,
cheluviation,
andosolization,
lessivage, partluvation,
fersiallitization,
Fe-,Si-cementation,
carbonates migration
etc… -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
years

38. young ( alluvial, volcanic, dune) soils
Characteristic times of specific pedogenic processes (SPP) related to soil absolute age
diagnostic
features
of SPP
Slow SPP
n* years 5 6
Medium-rate SPP
n* years
Fast SPP
n* years -1 2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
years
young ( alluvial, volcanic, dune) soils
tundra & boreal soils
temperate soils
tropical soils

39. temperate seasonally freezing
Absolute age of soils and the real duration of the pedogenesis (taking into account the warm and frozen conditions within the each year)
T h e H o l o c e n e s o i l a g e
X 1000 years
arctic
tundra
Frozen
“age”
Warm
“age”
boreal permafrost
temperate seasonally freezing
subtropics & tropics

40. Interactions of the specific pedogenic processes
Direct linkages
(SPP chronochains, which are rather clear)
Medium-rate
SPP
Fast SPP
Slow SPP
Feedbacks
(SPP time bombs, which are often latent)
There are the main areas of synergetic interactions
in soil systems

41. Ecological significance of WRB diagnostic horizons

42. Diagnostic horizons (WRB) are perceived as attractors of the soil system development:

43. Diagnostic horizons (WRB) are perceived as attractors of the soil system development:
«Good» attractors are those states of the soil horizons, upon reaching which the horizons become more favorable for biota than in their previous states (in terms of biological productivity, biodiversity, and reproduction).
«Bad» attractors are those states of the soil horizons, upon reaching which the horizons become less favorable for biota than in their previous states (in terms of biological productivity, biodiversity, and reproduction).

44. «Good» attractors--diagnostic horizons (WRB) ecologically favorable for biota :
Mollic
Umbric
Chernic
Melanic
Histic (eutrophic)
Hortic
Terric
Andic
Cambic
Calcic
Nitic
Vitric
Ochric (?)

45. «Bad» attractors--diagnostic horizons (WRB) ecologically unfavorable for biota:
Albic
Argic
Cryic
Duric
Ferralic
Ferric
7. Fragic
8. Gypsic
9. Natric
10. Petrocalcic
11. Petroduric
12. Petrogypsic
13. Petroplinthic
14. Plinthic
15. Salic
16. Spodic
17. Sulfuric
18. Takyric
19. Vertic
20. Yermic
21. Abrupt texture
22. Alic properties
23. Geric properties
24. Gleyic properties
25. Stagnic properties
26. Permafrost

46. MODAL DISTRIBUTION OF SOIL BIOTA AND HORIZONS-ATTRACTORS IN SOIL PROFILEО
ORTHО-
«GOOD»
ATTRACTORS А Е
РАRA- В
«BAD»
АТТRACTORS
МЕТА- ВС
SOLID PHASE
SOIL PROFILE
BIOTIC ZONES
IN SOIL

47. Conclusions:
1. Soil formation in the broad sense is a synergetic process of the soil system in situ self-organization during its functioning in time and space.
2. Soil formation, sensu stricto, is the transformation of the solid-phase lithomatrix of the soil system into the pedomatrix (soil body, soil cover).
3. Soil system functioning and soil formation are intimately linked but basically different processes: the former is infinite in time, if not interrupted by external factors; the latter, as any self-organization process, is finite in time and tends to reach its attractor (the steady state).

48. .
4. Soil formation consists of the set of specific pedogenic processes
(SPP), which have different characteristic times and rates to reach
their individual steady states, i.e. their attractors.
5. SPP could be subdivided into three groups according to their
characteristic times: fast SPP, medium-rate SPP and slow SPP,
interacting in each soil body.
6. Partial steady states could be reached by faster SPP on the
background of slower proceeding SPP, so the direct
and feedback synergetic interactions among the different SPP are
acting during pedogenesis; the complete steady state is
implemented, when the slowest SPP is realized in the soil system.
7. Real duration of active pedogenesis in cold soils is shorter in 3-5 times than their absolute age, so no these soils have reached complete steady state but only partial steady states by fast and medium rate SPP. .

49. 8. All the diagnostic soil horizons (WRB) are perceived as more or less stable and «mature» attractors of soil self-development. They are separated into «good» and «bad» attractors with respect to biota.
9. «Good» attractors include 13 out of 39 diagnostic horizons and properties (33%). They are mainly shaped by biotic fluxes and cycles, which are comparable to or exceed abiotic fluxes and cycles in their power and capacity. In this case, biota transforms and improves the environment rather than adapts to it.
10. «Bad» attractors include 26 out of 39 diagnostic horizons and properties (67%). They are shaped by the mutual action of biotic and abiotic fluxes and cycles under the predominance of abiotic ones. In this case, biota adapts to the environment rather than transforms it.

50. FEW WORDS
TO PROVOKE
THE DISCUSSION

51. Soil formation - the myths and reality
Gaia hypothesis (Lovelock, 1989, 1991): biota conducts all processes on the Earth surface, transforms and regulates abiotic environment rather than adapts to it.
Soil formation is the transformation of parent material by biota with an obligatory consequent increase in its fertility and ecological suitability (Williams, 1930, 1945; Ponomareva, 1975; Van Breeman, 1990).
Fertility is the main specific property of soil (widespread opinion).
Is it true?

52. Soil formation is a global, complex, bio-abiotic process inherent in biosperic planet; it comprises innumerable interactions of biotic and abiotic fluxes and cycles, which create various specific pedogenic processes (SPP);
These SPP have different capacities, rates and opposing trends, therefore they build soil bodies as resultant systems with very complex and discrepant set of soil horizons and features;
Global pedogenesis is not purposeful, ruled only by biota, harmonious process, on the contrary, it is very contradictory bio-abiotic process in time and space, which can cause positive as well as negative results for land biota;
Such understanding of soil formation allows us to assess the role of soil systems in the biosphere more sensibly and to avoid an overestimated “biospheric euphoria”

53. Soil fertility has his own specificity among these systems:
Fertility is a distinctive but not absolutely specific feature of soil;
Fertility is also the ingraine feature of all bio-abiotic Earth systems including atmosphere and hydrosphere, terrestrial and marine ecosystems and the biosphere as a whole;
Soil fertility has his own specificity among these systems:
it is “long-term stored” fertility in a form of stable solid phase soil composition and arrangement,
it is “inertial” fertility long-term accumulated in situ within a soil system 7

54. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION