Development of the Solonchak Process in Soils of Small River Valleys in the Taiga-Forest Zone in Relation to the Production of Potassium Salts

Abstract

Secondary saline alluvial soils formed under conditions of the taiga-forest zone within the Verkhnekamsk salt deposit have been studied. The results of this study indicate that continuous soil salinization is caused by mineralized water filtering from the stored waste products of potash production. The influence of surface and ground waters of chloride–sodium and potassium–sodium composition results in the formation of solonchakous soils and secondary solonchaks. The specific features of these soils—acidity neutralization, gypsum formation, the appearance of carbonates, the entering of sodium and potassium into the soil adsorption complex, and an increase in its base saturation—are described, and further technogenic evolution of alluvial soils is predicted. It is suggested that qualifiers Salictechnic, Chlordictechnic, Gypsictechnic, and Sodictechnic should be added to the system of the World Reference Base for Soil Resources for better characterization of the specific technogenic salinization of soils, which have preserved the main morphological features of the natural profile.