Indicators of Pedogenic Processes in Red Clayey Soils of the Cape Martyan Reserve, South Crimea

Abstract

Specific red clayey soils on the eluvium of limestone, which are traditionally associated with Mediterranean terra rossa, have been described in the Cape Martyan Reserve in south Crimea. Though such soils are well studied, there are several open questions related to the genesis of the red-colored soils of Cape Martyan. Many researchers consider them as surface paleosols combining features formed in the previous epochs and those of current processes. Based on the analyses of the physical and chemical properties, composition of the clay fraction, and micromorphological features of red soils, we have shown that almost all soil-forming processes, except for the long-term dissolution of calcareous rocks and rubification of residual silicate clay, are slightly pronounced, because the compact clay parent material is low sensitive to pedogenesis. Evidences of the fact that past pedogenesis differed from the modern one are almost absent in the soil profiles, which corresponds to the data on the climate stability in this area since the Pliocene. The studied soils may be assigned to Vetusols—ancient soils formed under relatively constant bioclimatic conditions.