Ultramafic Soils - Soil Geography of the USA: A Diagnostic-Horizon Approach - page 269

Table 23.3 Factors influencing the development of ultramafic soils
Area Soil series Soil taxa Role of soil-forming factor Citations

Climate

CA,
OR

Walnett, Gasquet,
Brockman,
Littlered, Forbes

Ultic Haploxeralfs, Typic Haploxerults,
Xeric Haplohumults, Ultic Palexeralfs

Serpentinitic materials weather rapidly in
warm, humid climates

Alexander ( 2010 )

Italy [Not given] Lithic Ustorthents, Lithic Haplustepts,

Typic Haplustalfs, Typic Endoaqualfs

Release of protons and acidification of soils by
vegetation enhances weathering of
serpentinite

Bonifacio et al. ( 1997 )

Organisms

CA Henneke Lithic Argixerolls Serpentinitic materials have a negative effect

on plant distribution and growth

McGahan et al. ( 2009 )

Parent material

CA Henneke Lithic Argixerolls Serpentinitic materials lead to shallow soils

with abundant coarse fragments

McGahan et al. ( 2009 )

MD Aldino, Chrome,

Legore, Kelly

Typic Fragiudalfs, Typic Hapludalfs, Ultic
Hapludalfs, Aquic Hapludalfs

Serpentinite weathers to smectite, with some
vermiclte and vermiculite-chlorite
intergrades

Rabenhorst et al. ( 1982 )

Italy [Not given] Lithic Ustorthents, Lithic Haplustepts,

Typic Haplustalfs, Typic Endoaqualfs

Bonifacio et al. ( 1997 )

OR Sebastian Lithic Hapludalfs Istok and Harward (1982)

Taiwan [Not given] Typic Udorthents, Hapluderts, Paleudalfs,

Paleudults

Hseu et al. ( 2007 )

MD Aldino, Chrome,

Legore, Kelly

Typic Fragiudalfs, Typic Hapludalfs, Ultic
Hapludalfs, Aquic Hapludalfs

Eolian additions may account for Si and Ca
enrichment on the surface

Rabenhorst et al. ( 1982 )

CA [Not given] Aquic Argixerolls, Cumulic Endoaquolls, Mass wasting may add serpentinitic materials

to non-serpenitic materials

Lee et al. (2004)

Pachic Argiaquolls, Typic Haploxeralfs,
Fluvaquentic Endoaquolls, Typic
Argixerolls

Serpentinitic materials in areas with steep
slopes

(continued)