The influence of soil type on the magnetic susceptibility measured throughout soil profiles

Abstract

SUMMARY The interpretation of soil susceptibility measurements depends on knowledge of a reference value. This reference value will be influenced by the type of soil. In the present study, data of various soil types, which formed on diverse parent material, are analysed. As the same data set has been used in a soil pollution study, we are able to estimate and exclude the influence of pollution. Susceptibility values of unpolluted soils turn out to significantly depend on the soil type. Chernozem samples yield the highest susceptibility values of the analysed soil types (50–90 × 10−8 m3 kg−1). Cambisol displays intermediate values (20–60 × 10−8 m3 kg−1) and waterlogged soils have the lowest values (5–20 × 10−8 m3 kg−1). The enrichment of topsoil susceptibility (0–20 cm depth) compared to subsoil susceptibility (40–50 cm depth) depends more on the parent material than on the soil type. Given the comparability of soil type and parent material, the values of this study can be used to identify soils with unusual susceptibility values, which may be further analysed in order to pinpoint soil pollution.

Magnetic, geochemical and pedological characterisation of soil profiles from different environments and geological backgrounds near Coimbra, Portugal

“…Correlation coefficients between magnetic parameters and the other available parameters are listed in Table 4. Some groups did not yield significant results, mainly because of the small number of available samples (Hanesch and Scholger, 2005).…”

“…The ratios between magnetic and pedological parameters have been examined by many authors, such as Hanesch and Scholger (2005), Jordanova et al (2010) and Maher (1998). Correlation coefficients between magnetic parameters and the other available parameters are listed in Table 4.…”

“…The magnetic properties of soils proved to be suitable parameters, as they reflect the various degrees of contamination due to human activities and allow us to detect the area most affected by pollution. The measurement of magnetic properties in samples taken in soil profiles enables: 1) acquisition of information about the boundary depth between polluted soil and clean soil (Blaha et al, 2008), 2) discrimination between anthropogenic and lithogenic contributions (Fialová et al, 2006;Magiera et al, 2006), 3) discovery of the underlying parent material's influence on the magnetic signal (Hanesch and Scholger, 2005), 4) understanding of the development of pedogenic processes (Jordanova et al, 2010;Maher et al, 2002) and 5) attainment of climate reconstructions (Alekseeva et al, 2007;Maher et al, 2002). In the present study, data from 6 soil profiles, which formed on diverse parent material and in different environments (rural/urban), are analysed.…”

Pedogenesis of Chernozems in Central Europe — A review

“…Hanesch and Scholger (2005) (Jordanova and Jordanova, 1999). The transformation of goethite or ferrihydrite to maghemite takes part during heating (Nørnberg et al, 2004) at temperatures as low as 220°C (Sidhu, 1988).…”

Erosion factors and magnetic susceptibility in differet compartments of a slope in Gilbués-PI, Brazil

“…The mapping of the MS has stood out as one of the more indirect methods used for agricultural studies (SIQUEIRA et al, 2010b) and environmental characterization (GRIMLEY et al, 2004). Some studies reported the relation between MS and the loss of soil by erosion (HANESCH & SCHOLGER, 2005;VENTURA JR. et al, 2001;PARSONS et al, 2010) and the identification of areas with different erosion potentials (ROYALL, 2001) .…”