Keywords: Volcanic soils; andosols; geochemistry; discriminant
analysis; tephra; Indonesia
INTRODUCTION
The late Mt. Krakatau erupted in May-August 1883 and had sterilised all
soil and vegetation in the islands. Much has been investigated on the
vegetation and volcanic activities of Krakatau (R. J. Whittaker, Bush,
& Richards, 1989); however, the soils of Krakatau are less studied. As
the age of the parent material is known precisely, and the area is less
influenced by human activities, examining soils of Krakatau could
provide an insight into the first stages of weathering and pedogenesis
in tropical volcanic regions. The study of volcanic materials and their
weathering products can inform us on the nutrient supply, and impacts on
existing soils (Alloway, Andreastuti, Setiawan, Miksic, & Hua, 2017;
Anda, 2016; Dian Fiantis, Ginting, Nelson, & Minasny, 2019).
Understanding the triggers and controls of soil formation will lead to
better sustainable use and made us aware of the fragility of soil
formation and avoid degradation.