Pedocalic Tendencies in Soils of Southern England

Abstract

THE late Dr. C. F. Marbut proposed the division of the soils of the world into two primary groups, namely, pedocals and pedalfers. Pedocals are soils developed under climates which are too dry to maintain a continuous downward movement of water to the water table. They therefore contain a horizon of accumulation of calcium carbonate (and sometimes other salts also) in the soil profile, usually in the B horizon. Pedalfers are soils developed under more humid climates. They are completely leached and contain no horizon of calcium carbonate accumulation. Thus the steppe and desert soils of the semiarid and arid regions are distinguished from thepodsolic and lateritic soils of the humid temperate and humid tropical climates. It has been generally accepted that the climate of Great Britain is too wet for pedocals to develop. Under free drainage conditions, therefore, horizons of secondary calcium carbonate accumulation should not occur.