The Chronosequence Concept and Soil Formation

One method of studying the effects of time as a soil-forming factor is to recognize and investigate a chronosequence, wherein four out of five soil-forming factors are constant or vary ineffectively. Thus, observed differences between soils of different ages forming a sequence are deemed to be the result of the lapse of varying intervals of time since the initiation of soil formation. In this paper theoretical considerations underlying the chronosequence concept are examined and soil development is discussed. Several non-strict chronosequences are reviewed, and a number of chronosequence studies are examined. The significance of such studies is assessed, and general desiderata for future investigations set out.