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The Use of Redox Potentials in Studies of Soil Genesis¹

ABSTRACT

Redox potentials have been measured in situ, with variations in time and space, in two well drained Podzols, McBride fine sandy loam, and in a Humic Gley Soil, Parkhill loam. In addition, redox potentials were studied in sand columns under an organic layer in a laboratory experiment.

Extremely low potentials persisted late into the growing season in the Parkhill loam, while low potentials were not observed in McBride fine sandy loam or in Marlette loam during the period from May to November. In McBride fine sandy loam and in Marlette loam, the surface horizon gave lower readings than the lower horizons during the summer months. In the Parkhill loam, the A_G horizons gave the lowest readings in the spring.

A redox profile was also observed in a study using sand columns under a humus layer. This was associated with a relatively greater amount of reduced iron in the upper part of a well drained sand column. It is postulated that this ferrous iron could be dissolved in the upper part of the solum, translocated, and then precipitated when it reached a higher oxidation zone lower in the soil profile. Additional studies are under way to test this hypothesis.

The measurement of redox potentials may be useful in studies of the development of Podzols, Ground Water Podzols, and Humic Gley soils.

¹ Contribution of the Department of Soil Science, Michigan State College. Presented before Division V Soil Sci. Soc. of Am. Dallas, Texas. Nov. 18, 1953, Journal Article No. 1638.

² Graduate Ass't. and Ass't. Prof., respectively. Dept. of Soil Science, Michigan State College.

Received for publication April 26, 1954.