CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAJOR SOIL GROUPS IN AN AREA DOMINATED BY SOLONETZIC SOILS

Abstract

The profiles taken for this study were from an area in which Solonetzic soils and Chernozemic soils were, geographically, closely associated. The chemical and physical characteristics of the Solonetz and Solodized Solonetz profiles clearly distinguished them from the Orthic Chernozemic soils. The B horizon of the Solonetz and Solodized Solonetz soils contained over 15 per cent exchangeable sodium and had a pronounced accumulation of llluvial clay. The C horizons were quite saline, the principal salt being sodium sulphate. The geographically associated Orthic Chernozemic soils exhibited none of these characteristics. The A horizons of these Solonetzic soils were more acid than the A horizons of the Orthic Chernozemic soils. The more strongly leached profiles taken in this study had morphological and chemical characteristics that were intermediate between the above two groups; some were classed as Solods and some as Eluviated Chernozemic soils. It is suggested that the classification of these latter soils warrants further study.