Numerical analysis of a [soil] chronosequence, including the development of a chronofunction

Multivariate techniques were applied to 11 chemical and physical properties of soil samples collected along a prograded beach chronosequence, located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The samples were taken from three horizons at each of seven sites. The 21 samples were consid...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Soil Science Society of America journal Vol. 45; no. 3; pp. 558 - 563
Main Authors:	Sondheim, M.W, Singleton, G.A, Lavkulich, L.M
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Soil Science Society of America 01-01-1981
Subjects:	soil
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	Multivariate techniques were applied to 11 chemical and physical properties of soil samples collected along a prograded beach chronosequence, located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The samples were taken from three horizons at each of seven sites. The 21 samples were considered as independent observations. Application of principal component analysis with a normal varimax rotation gave highly interpretable results. The first component was readily identified with podzolic pedogenic processes, whereas the second component appeared to relate closely to sea spray input. A nonlinear optimization procedure was used to fit the first principal component to an empirical equation incorporating a logistic term for time and an exponential term for depth. A correlation coefficient value of 0.99 was obtained. The notion of a pedogenic damping depth analagous to a thermal damping depth is suggested.
Bibliography:	F F23 Former Graduate Student, currently Systems Analyst‐Pedologist with the Terrestrial Studies Branch, British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Victoria, B.C. V8W 1X4 Canada; former Graduate Student, currently Pedologist with Hardy Associates, 4052 Graveley St., Burnaby, B.C. V5C 3T6 Canada; Professor and Head of Dep. of Soil Science, respectively. Contribution from the Dep. of Soil Science, Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 2A2 Canada.
ISSN:	0361-5995 1435-0661
DOI:	10.2136/sssaj1981.03615995004500030025x