Volume 15, Issue 55 (spring 2011)
jwss 2011, 15(55): 111-125 |
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S. Shamsi Mahmoodabadi, F. Khormali. Micromorphology of the Loess Derived Soils Affected by Land Use Change: A Case Study in Agh-Su Area (Golestan Province) . jwss 2011; 15 (55) :111-125
URL: http://jstnar.iut.ac.ir/article-1-1550-en.html
URL: http://jstnar.iut.ac.ir/article-1-1550-en.html
, shamsisomaye@yahoo.com
Abstract: (43316 Views)
In order to study the effects of different land uses on soil development, a loess hillslope was selected in Agh-Su area, eastern Golestan Province. Six profiles in four land uses including pasture, Quercuse natural forest, Cupressus artificial forest and a cultivated land, were dug and studied. Samples from different horizons were collected for physico-chemical and microscopic analyses. Important physical and chemical attributes such as bulk density (Bd), mean weight diameter (MWD), Organic carbon (SOC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil calcium carbonate (CCE) and available P were compared in land uses. Organic matter, CEC and MWD were significantly lower in the cultivated land use. Organic matter content in the forest and pasture area was considerably higher than that of cultivated land use. Soil profile development studies revealed that forest soils were highly developed. Quercus natural forest soils were classified as Calcic Argixerolls. Unlike cultivated soils which showed the minimum development and were classified as Typic Calcixerepts, formation of argillic horizon with dominant speckled b-fabric in the natural forest indicated the high landscape stability. Crystallitic b-fabric of horizons showed the absence of enough leaching of carbonate and the subsequent migration of clay particles. Intense erosion of the surface horizons of cultivated land use resulted in the outcropping of the subsurface carbonate rich horizon preventing soil development. The soils of pasture and Cuprecuse soils had mollic epipedon and were classified as Typic Calcixerolls with moderate development. Micromorphological properties of soils can help consider changes in pedogenic processes occurring under different land covers.
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