islands are located in one of the most active parts of the
circum-Pacific Ring of Fire (see Sect. 2.2) and lie at the
junction of two oceanic plates and two continental plates.
The Japanese islands experience seismic activity, tectonic
uplift, and rapid downcutting by streams, which have
resulted in a steep topography and narrow lowlands. About
10% of the world’s active volcanic mountains (111) are
found in Japan (Fig. 2.16). Volcanic tephra has been
deposited in large quantities on hilly and mountainous terrain and on Pleistocene terraces and is a main parent material
of Japanese soil (Andosols). Therefore, these topographical
and geological characteristics are one of the most noteworthy contributing factors to the spatial distribution pattern of
soil groups in Japan (Fig. 3.2). For example, Andosols are
found along volcanic areas, Brown Forest soils and Cambic
Red-Yellow soils (refer to Cambisols) are distributed in
steep mountainous zones far from active volcanoes and
Fluvic soils cover narrow lowlands.
(1) Brown Forest Soils
Table 3.2 shows the summarized extent of soil great groups
and soil groups in Japan. The most widely spread soil great
group is Brown Forest soils, which account for about 33% of
Japan’s total land area. Brown Forest soils are mainly distributed in Western Japan and cover 47% of the Kinki–
Chugoku–Shikoku region, which is characterized by a
temperate climate and hilly-mountainous areas with little
volcanic ash deposition. Brown Forest soils are also the main
soil great group in the northern part of Hokkaido, the
western part of Tohoku region, and the southern part of the
Tokai–Hokuriku region. These areas have a subarctic temperate climate and hilly-mountainous areas without fresh
volcanic ash deposition, conditions which coincide well with
the global distribution pattern of Cambisols (Food and
Agriculture Organization 2001).
(2) Andosols
Andosols have the second largest distribution area among
the soil great groups in Japan. The total distribution area of
Andosols in Japan is estimated at some 0.1 million km
2 ,
which is about 10% of the global Andosol distribution area.
Andosols are mainly distributed in the southern part of
Hokkaido, in the northeastern part of Tohoku, and in the
Kanto and Kyushu regions. As shown in Fig. 3.3, Volcanogenous Regosols are distributed around volcanoes.
Regosolic Andosols and then Allophanic Andosols are distributed with increasing distance from the source of volcanic
ash. Allophanic Andosols are the most dominant soil groups
in the Andosol great group, and about 60% of the Andosol
distribution areas are covered by the Allophanic
group. Allophanic Andosols are mainly distributed on the
east side of volcanoes (Fig. 3.3). Because high-altitude
Table 3.1 (continued)
Soil classification system of Japan (2017)
World reference base for soil
resources (2015)
USDA Soil Taxonomy (2014)
Great group
Group
Subgroup
Calcaric
Calcaric Rendzic Leptosols
Calcaric Leptosols
Lithic Haprendolls
Lithic Udorthents
Aquic
Leptosols (Gleyic)
Lithic Udorthents
Haplic
Leptosols
Lithic Udorthents
Terrestrial
Regosols
Regosols
Udorthents
Marlitic
Calcaric Regosols
Calcaric Leptosols
Typic Udorthents
Lithic Udorthents
Calcaric
Calcaric Regosols
Calcaric Phaeozems
Typic Haprendolls
Typic Udorthents
Para-lithic
Dystric Regosols
Dystric Leptosols
Typic Udorthents
Lithic Udorthents
Granitic
Skeletic Regosols
Skeletic Leptosols
Typic Udorthents
Lithic Udorthents
Haplic
Dystric Regosols
Typic Udorthents
Please note that it shows only representative classification names corresponding to each classification and does not cover all cases
62
H. Shinjo and Y. Takata
circum-Pacific Ring of Fire (see Sect. 2.2) and lie at the
junction of two oceanic plates and two continental plates.
The Japanese islands experience seismic activity, tectonic
uplift, and rapid downcutting by streams, which have
resulted in a steep topography and narrow lowlands. About
10% of the world’s active volcanic mountains (111) are
found in Japan (Fig. 2.16). Volcanic tephra has been
deposited in large quantities on hilly and mountainous terrain and on Pleistocene terraces and is a main parent material
of Japanese soil (Andosols). Therefore, these topographical
and geological characteristics are one of the most noteworthy contributing factors to the spatial distribution pattern of
soil groups in Japan (Fig. 3.2). For example, Andosols are
found along volcanic areas, Brown Forest soils and Cambic
Red-Yellow soils (refer to Cambisols) are distributed in
steep mountainous zones far from active volcanoes and
Fluvic soils cover narrow lowlands.
(1) Brown Forest Soils
Table 3.2 shows the summarized extent of soil great groups
and soil groups in Japan. The most widely spread soil great
group is Brown Forest soils, which account for about 33% of
Japan’s total land area. Brown Forest soils are mainly distributed in Western Japan and cover 47% of the Kinki–
Chugoku–Shikoku region, which is characterized by a
temperate climate and hilly-mountainous areas with little
volcanic ash deposition. Brown Forest soils are also the main
soil great group in the northern part of Hokkaido, the
western part of Tohoku region, and the southern part of the
Tokai–Hokuriku region. These areas have a subarctic temperate climate and hilly-mountainous areas without fresh
volcanic ash deposition, conditions which coincide well with
the global distribution pattern of Cambisols (Food and
Agriculture Organization 2001).
(2) Andosols
Andosols have the second largest distribution area among
the soil great groups in Japan. The total distribution area of
Andosols in Japan is estimated at some 0.1 million km
2 ,
which is about 10% of the global Andosol distribution area.
Andosols are mainly distributed in the southern part of
Hokkaido, in the northeastern part of Tohoku, and in the
Kanto and Kyushu regions. As shown in Fig. 3.3, Volcanogenous Regosols are distributed around volcanoes.
Regosolic Andosols and then Allophanic Andosols are distributed with increasing distance from the source of volcanic
ash. Allophanic Andosols are the most dominant soil groups
in the Andosol great group, and about 60% of the Andosol
distribution areas are covered by the Allophanic
group. Allophanic Andosols are mainly distributed on the
east side of volcanoes (Fig. 3.3). Because high-altitude
Table 3.1 (continued)
Soil classification system of Japan (2017)
World reference base for soil
resources (2015)
USDA Soil Taxonomy (2014)
Great group
Group
Subgroup
Calcaric
Calcaric Rendzic Leptosols
Calcaric Leptosols
Lithic Haprendolls
Lithic Udorthents
Aquic
Leptosols (Gleyic)
Lithic Udorthents
Haplic
Leptosols
Lithic Udorthents
Terrestrial
Regosols
Regosols
Udorthents
Marlitic
Calcaric Regosols
Calcaric Leptosols
Typic Udorthents
Lithic Udorthents
Calcaric
Calcaric Regosols
Calcaric Phaeozems
Typic Haprendolls
Typic Udorthents
Para-lithic
Dystric Regosols
Dystric Leptosols
Typic Udorthents
Lithic Udorthents
Granitic
Skeletic Regosols
Skeletic Leptosols
Typic Udorthents
Lithic Udorthents
Haplic
Dystric Regosols
Typic Udorthents
Please note that it shows only representative classification names corresponding to each classification and does not cover all cases
62
H. Shinjo and Y. Takata