ABSTRACT
Coastal flatwoods of the southeastern U.S. are consistently occupied by Spodosols (Soil Survey Staff 1996), soils distinguished by subsoil accumulations of C and associated metals. A significant amount of C is stored in these Spodosols, considering the extent of their occurrence and the thickness of the zones of accumulation (Daniels et al. 1975, Stone et al. 1993). The mechanisms responsible for such large-scale C accumulation are pertinent to global C dynamics but are not well understood. Spodosols occur on excessively to poorly drained landscapes in many regions (Nichols et al. 1990), particularly in cooler climates. However, southern coastal Spodosols are mysteriously found mainly within relatively narrow ranges of hydrological conditions that prevail for flatwoods landforms.
