Abstract:
Soils derived from volcanic eruption parent materials have distinct and unique characteristics
that unalike the other minerals soils. These soils are classified as Andisols, even though not all of
soils developed from volcanic origin is Andisols since they have to complete the criteria of andic
soil properties. Soils from Mt. Patuha of the Holocene age and andesite basalt parent materials
were observed the characteristics and the classification. The research used a descriptive and
comparative method, using survey, soil sampling and laboratory analyses, where the data
obtained were used for characterizing and classifying the soils. The site was located at Patengan
Village, Rancabali District, Bandung Regency, West Java Indonesia. The result showed that soils
had quite dark colour, silt to loamy silt texture, well developed structure of crumb to angular
blocky, friable to firm consistency, many pore and roots and pH around 5. There was also the
indication of lithologic discontinuity. They had non-crystalline minerals like allophane, imogolite
and ferrihydrite together with the crystalline minerals of 1:1 and 2:1 mineral like kaolinite,
halloysite, mica and smectite. The soils were classified as Andisols as a result of accomplish the
whole the requirements of andic soil properties. It strengthens the information of soils from
volcanic parent materials will comply with Andisols. They were classified as medium, mixed,
isothermic, Hapludands in the subgroup level. |
