Evaluation of selected soil development indices in soils derived from sedimentary and igneous rocks, northern Kerman

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

2 Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture Faculty, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

The present research performed to investigate soil evolution in soils developed on sedimentary and igneous parent materials, northern Kerman. Four representative pedons were selected. Physicochemical properties and Micromorphological features investigated in soil samples. The principal oxides content measured using ICP-OES. Color, clay accumulation, Fe content, and geochemical indices were used to assess soil development in the studied pedons. Studied profiles classified in Aridisols order and Calcite, Gypsic and Argillic horizons were dominant. Mean of pedogenic, free, crystalline, and active Fe contents were determined as 9.4, 0.5, 8.8 g/kg and 0.06, respectively. The values of clay and Fe accumulation indices were obtained 17 (in pedon 3) to 76.5 (in pedon 2) and 24344 (in pedon 2) to 2788 (in pedon 3), respectively. The results showed the correlation between Fe contents and color indices at the 99% level. The mean weight of principal oxides noticeably increased in pedons 1 and 3 compared to other studied pedons. All of geochemical indices, except WIP, showed higher weathering in pedons 1 and 3.The results of color, Fe oxides and clay accumulation and CIW, CIA, PWI, V, PIA, STI and R geochemistry indices demonstrated higher evolution of pedon 3 compared to other studied soils. No significant difference in development rate reated to parent materials change was found. Likely, various evolution of studied pedons was due to intractions among geochemical indices and soil-forming factors and processes.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Extended Abstract

Objective

The present research performed to investigate soil evolution in soils developed on sedimentary (pedons 1 and 2) and igneous (pedons 3 and 4) parent materials, northern Kerman during 2020-2021 as a PhD thesis at Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman.

 

Materials and methods

 Four representative pedons were selected. Sandstone, clay and salt flats, gypsiferous red marl, gypsiferous shale, and limestone were dominant in the sedimentary section, whereas igneous section mainly contained andesite, limestone, and tuff. Physicochemical soil properties were investigated to assess soil development. The principal oxides content measured using ICP-OES. Color, clay accumulation, Fe content, and geochemistry indices were used to investigate soil development in the studied pedons.

 

Results

 Clay accumulations together with calcic horizons were found in the area. The strong structure and high percentage of clay size fraction could be a proof of the high rate of soil-forming processes in past. Calcic, gypsic, salic, argillic, and natric were found as the dominant horizons formed, but cambic horizon was less. Thus, the soils were classified as Aridisols (Soil Taxonomy system) and Solonetz and Calcisol RSGs (WRB system). Argilluviation, lessivage, leaching, calcification, and salinization processes observed in studied pedons. Mean pedogenic, free, crystalline, and active Fe contents were determined as 9.4, 0.5, 8.8 g/kg and 0.06, respectively. The Pearson's correlation between Fe contents and color indices at the 99% level was significant which is a proof of moderate soil development. Color, clay, and Fe oxides accumulation indices showed prominent variations based on leaching, transformation and soil weathering intensity. The values of clay and Fe accumulation indices were 17 (pedon 3) to 76.5 (pedon 2), and 24344 (pedon 2) to 2788 (pedon 3), respectively. Fe oxides and clay content indices were correlated, whereas soils with higher development showed higher index values. Pedons 1 and 3 were more weathered due to high contents of immobile principal oxides and low contents of mobile principal oxides. The weighted mean values in principal oxides Fe2O3, TiO2 and Al2O3 were 5.73, 0.7 and 16.8 percent for pedon 2 and 8.4, 0.9 and 14.8 percent in pedon 3. The mean weight of principal oxides noticeably increased in pedons 2 and 3. Besides, the mean weight values of CIW, CIA, WIP, V, PIA, STI and R geochemistry indices (with the exception of PWI index) calculated for pedons 1 and 3 show much higher weathering compared to other pedons. Pedon 4 has the lowest CIA index content (7.22 %) which could be due to weak weathering of the formation environment.

 

Conclusion

 The results of color, Fe oxides and clay accumulation and geochemistry indices in pedon 3 demonstrated the advantage of CIW, CIA, WIP, V, PIA, STI and R geochemistry indices compared to other studied indices. Variations of principal oxides and Fe oxides together with clay translocation along soil depth shows different soil evolution in the area. Besides, CAI, IOAI, Fed/clay rate, Fed content and CIW, CIA, WIP, V, PIA, STI and R geochemistry indices were proofs of more soil evolution in pedon 3 compared to other studied soils. No significant difference in development rate related to parent materials change was found. Likely, variations of weathering and geochemistry indices could be affected by interactions induced by parent materials and soil-forming factors and processes.

 

Keywords: Central Iran, Clay Coating, Geochemistry, Soil color.

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Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research
Volume 54, Issue 1
April 2023
Pages 85-103

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