Tuesday, 8 November 2005
4

Micromorphological Features of Some Soils in the Afram Plains (Ghana, West Africa).

Dewayne Mays1, William R. Effland2, T. Adjei-Gyapong3, E. Boateng3, and C.D. Dedzoe3. (1) USDA/NRCS, National Soil Survey Center, Federal Building, 100 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE 68508-3866, (2) USDA/NRCS Soil Survey Division, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250, (3) CSIR/SRI, Soil Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana

Six soil pedons were sampled on the upper Afram Basin in Ghana that represented a variety of soil types. These soils developed in coarse-grained Voltaian sandstone and shale. The objective of this paper is to describe the degree of mineral weathering and pedogenesis of these soils. Results from this study showed that quartz was the dominant mineral identified in optical mineralogy and kaolinite was the dominant mineral in X-ray diffractions. Faunal activities such as termites and earthworms, and vegetation differences were important soil developmental factors observed in photomicrographs. Also, iron and clay illuviation were dominant in soils on mature landscapes.

Back to The Genesis, Geomorphology, and Characterization of Soils
Back to S05 Pedology

Back to The ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings (November 6-10, 2005)