Mixing Of Organic Matter Research Articles

Germination of True Shallot Seed (TSS) of Onion Cultivars and Mixing of Planting Media

In Indonesia, onion cultivation uses bulbs, which disrupts stocks of consumtion and trade quite significantly. One way to reduce the need for bulbs from onions is to use True Shallot Seed (TSS). Onion of TSS can reduce production costs, and is practical in shipping compared to bulbs. One of the activities in the cultivation of TSS is the preparation of strong, uniform and healthy of seedling. This study aims to examine the appropriate composition of organic matter as a planting medium to accelerate the germination time of various cultivars of TSS. The planting medium tested was a mixture of soil, rice husk, cocopeat and sawdust. This study used a complete randomized block design which was arranged in factorials. The first factor was the variety and the second factor was mixing of organic matter. Mixing organic matter with the soil before planting onion seeds led to an increase in soil pH from 0.77 to 1.51. Mixing soil with organic matter before implementation increased the pH of the media, CEC, WHC, and decreases the bulb density. After germination, the husk and cocopeat mixture showed a pH (5.9), CEC (1.62 mS.cm-1), bulb density (0.3 g/cm3) and WHC (162%). The combination of rice husk and cocopeat as the growing medium (4,9 days), the Sanren cultivar (7,3 days) exhibited the fastest germination and seedling growth rate compared to other cultivars and mixed growing media.
 

The effect of some soil conditioners and moisture deficiency on the weighted mean diameter and growth of maize (Zea mays L.) cultivated in desert soils.

The experiment was conducted at the Tomato Development Research Station, located in Al-Zubayr district, Basra Governorate, with a sandy loam texture, during the autumn season of August 21, 2022. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of soil conditioners (zeolite at 2% and perlite at 1%, 2%, and 3%) with or without organic matter mixing, as well as the organic matter treatment at 3% and the control treatment, and the soil irrigation level on weighted mean diameter and growth of yellow corn (Zea Mays L.). The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, and the means were compared using the least significant difference (LSD) test at a 5% probability level. The experiment included 10 treatments for conditioner and two irrigation levels (100% and 75%). The desired characteristics were studied at two depths: 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm at the beginning and end of the season. The results showed that the treatment ZO outperformed all other treatments in weighted mean diameter, recording 5.243 mm at the beginning of the season. However, at the end of the season, treatments ZO, B1O, B2O, B2, B3O, and B3 surpassed the other treatments. The irrigation level of 75% EP exhibited a significant increase of 11.45% in weighted mean diameter at the beginning of the season compared to the 100% EP irrigation level. However, at the end of the season, the 100% EP irrigation level showed a significant improvement in weighted mean diameter. Furthermore, at the beginning of the season, the 15-30 cm depth showed a significant increase in weighted mean diameter compared to the 0-15 cm depth, while there was no significant difference between the two depths at the end of the season. Treatment B3O showed a significant increase in plant height, recording 185.95 cm. Treatments B3O, B3, B2O, and ZO exhibited significant increases in plant dry weight compared to all other treatments, with values of 10,966.67, 10,866.67, 10,633.33, and 10,233.33 kg/ha, respectively.

Dominance of land-derived organic matter in highly productive Bandon Bay, Thailand

Bandon Bay is Thailand's productive area for mariculture of many economically important species including oysters and clams. High primary productivity in this shallow bay leads to organic matter (OM) production in the water column and its export to underlying sediments and adjacent areas. However, the understanding of the source and fate of OM in Bandon Bay is still scarce. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN) elemental contents, C/N elemental ratios, and stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen isotopic (δ15N) compositions in surface sediments, sediment cores, and suspended particulate matter (SPM) collected from Bandon Bay and surrounding river systems during the wet season in 2019. δ13C values in bay sediments indicate a major contribution of from terrigenous sources. During low tide, river-associated high-δ15N input of SPM from freshwater phytoplankton input to the bay was evident. The OM source apportionment was further made using a four-end-member mixing model showing more than 70% of sediment organic matter to be of terrestrial origin (freshwater phytoplankton and land soils) most likely brought to the bay via Tapi-Phumduang River. In addition, tidal cycles, and prevailing circulation in the bay cause mixing of OM in the bay with marine OM from the Gulf of Thailand. All these processes work together to bring about dispersal, dilution, and transformation of OM in Bandon Bay, which maintain high organic content in the sediment and supply nutrients essential for high shellfish production in Bandon Bay.

Dung inhabiting insects, their diversity, abundance and bio ecology of coprine beetles

The insects most prominently colonized in a nutrient-rich fresh dung habitat are mainly beetles and flies and the group is termed collectively, the dung community. Coprophagous insects play an important role in tropical ecosystems by providing essential functions including mechanically breaking down excrement into smaller-sized particles, mixing of organic matter in the soil, soil aeration, nutrient cycling and to remove unhealthy materials from their surroundings. Against this backdrop, present study is an attempt to assess the insect diversity and abundance inhabiting dairy farm dung community in North & South 24 Parganas, West Bengal along with the study on the life cycle pattern of frequently encountered dung beetle taxa, Oniticellus cinctus (Fabricius) and to observe their role in the decomposition. Altogether 2 dung beetles, 4 dung loving beetles, 8 dung loving flies, 17 dung associated insects of different groups, one mesostigmatic mite species are recorded from cow and buffalo dung community during the study period. December is the period of maximum dung beetle abundance. Beetle activity gets greatly diminished with the rise of temperature above 30 °C. The brood ball made by the functional group ‘Dwellers’ is for oviposition. The brood balls provide the immatures with an assured food supply. Egg to adult developmental period ranges between 43-51 days. The teneral adult period observed under laboratory conditions is 2-3 days. Our findings show that extensive management practices result in more pats with higher insect abundances. Data proves that the members of these two orders, Coleoptera and Diptera are almost perfectly separated seasonally. Flies are most abundant in the premonsoon while beetles during monsoon and postmonsoon. Season is therefore the main temporal axis separating ecologically similar species of dung-inhabiting insects in tropical habitats, while succession aggregates species that may have similar environmental tolerances. This separation between ecologically similar taxa of beetles and flies may be attributable to either competition-based niche segregation or to temperature tolerance-based habitat filtering.

Can One-Run-Fixed-Arrhenius Kerogen Analysis Provide Comparable Organofacies Results to Detailed Palynological Analysis? A Case Study from a Prospective Mississippian Source Rock Reservoir (Bowland Shale, UK)

Organofacies analysis, a fundamental component within source rock appraisal based on the study of kerogen within a source rock, is typically produced from microscopy (palynological) and geochemical (kerogen kinetic) data, both of which are costly to acquire. One-Run-Fixed-Arrhenius (ORFA) kerogen kinetic analysis based on Rock–Eval pyrolysis offers a substantially cheaper kinetic dataset. Here, ORFA and palynological analyses are compared in organofacies characterization of a prospective Mississippian source rock reservoir (Bowland Shale, UK). Two-end-member organofacies were determined based on the abundance of the 56 kcal/mol activation energy peak derived from ORFA data: absence (< 5%) indicating ‘organofacies A’ containing the highest proportion of algal material (Type I kerogen); and presence (> 15%) indicating ‘organofacies B’ containing the highest proportion of sporomorphs (Type II kerogen). A mud-dominated slope setting for the rock reservoir was also used to test the accuracy of organofacies analysis in determining depositional environment. Organofacies A found within lithofacies deposited from dilute waning density flows and hemipelagic suspension settling occurred between shelf edge, slope and basin. Organofacies B found within lithofacies deposited from dilute waning density flows, and low-strength cohesive debrites occurred only within the lower slope. This study demonstrates that ORFA kerogen kinetic analysis provides comparable net results to palynological analysis, enabling cheaper and faster organic characterization during initial source rock appraisal. However, caution must be exercised in drawing interpretations as to biological source(s), organic matter mixing and preservation state(s) without additional investigation using data from detailed palynological analysis.

Soil formation on calcium carbonate-rich parent material in the outer Carpathian Mountains – A case study

In this study, ten stratified calcium carbonate–rich soil profiles from the Polish Outer Carpathians were investigated in order to identity the influence of parent material variability and slope processes on soil diversity and their evolution. Moreover, we evaluated the morphological and physico-chemical soil properties to recognize the diagnostic horizons and classification of such soils. While it is usually thought that carbonate-rich soils are considered as formed in situ, these study soils clearly presented layering and contribution of materials, as they were developed from mixed substrates of different origin, e.g. as the result of mass movements and possible aeolian silt contribution. Irrespective of the type of parent material, every investigated soil showed traces of slope processes, resulting in heterogeneous soil profiles. Further, a few different patterns of primary calcium carbonate arrangement were found. In general, the studied soils were characterized by enrichment with calcium carbonate, not only due to inheritance from calcium carbonate–rich parent material but also translocation of calcium carbonate within soil profiles, the latter depending on soil stratification.Based on the obtained results, four pathways of soil evolution were formulated. Leptosols, which represent initial calcium carbonate–rich soils, may evolve in different directions. First, formation of the thick layer suitable for cambic horizon development under deciduous forests, which enables the classification of such soils as Cambisols, depends on slope processes and allochthonous material deposition. In turn, the decrease of mineralization rates for organic matter, delivery of soil material from the upper parts of the slope as well as mixing of organic matter by mesofauna result in the formation of mollic horizons and transformation of Leptosols into Phaeozems. Further erosion and redeposition of fine soil material provide two types of slope sediments: i) those with silt loam texture dominance, and ii) clay loams interstratified with silty substrates. The first type of sediments are more suitable for water percolation, and after carbonate leaching clay dispersion and translocation occur. In such materials, Luvisols may develop. Sediments with a prevalence of clay loam aided Stagnosol formation, in which pools of carbonates were stabilized due to the reduction of water percolation, leading to stagnation.

Diversity and activity of soil fauna in an industrial settling pond managed by natural attenuation

Forest ecosystems can spontaneously establish themselves on former industrial sites contaminated by metals. The sustainable management of these sites by natural attenuation requires a better understanding of the relationships between soil biodiversity, metals and soil functioning in such ecosystems. In this context, a forest ecosystem growing on iron industry by-products containing potentially toxic metals as major elements was studied using a multiproxy approach including chemical soil properties, microstructure, meso- and macro-fauna. Fauna communities in the topsoil were characterized by a high abundance and taxonomic diversity, but also by an unusual predominance of epigeic and detritivorous species. Fauna community structures were partly explained by the presence not only of heavy metals (Zn, Cd), but also Fe and Mn, dominant metals in iron industry by-products. The uncommon structure of macrofauna communities could have effects on the soil functioning, such as limiting the incorporation and mixing of organic matter into the soil. Mesofauna communities contributed to the metal redistribution in the soil by integrating metals into organo-mineral associations. In terms of management, this study showed the feasibility of using natural attenuation to manage sites with high metal contents but low metal availability and favorable conditions for plant growth. However, the influence of soil biota on metal mobility and soil functioning needs to be further investigated in order to assess the sustainability of such management.

Effects of forest regeneration practices on the flux of soil CO2 after clear-cutting in subtropical China

Reforestation after clear-cutting is used to facilitate rapid establishment of new stands. However, reforestation may cause additional soil disturbance by affecting soil temperature and moisture, thus potentially influencing soil respiration. Our aim was to compare the effects of different reforestation methods on soil CO2 flux after clear-cutting in a Chinese fir plantation in subtropical China: uncut (UC), clear-cut followed by coppicing regeneration without soil preparation (CC), clear-cut followed by coppicing regeneration and reforestation with soil preparation, tending in pits and replanting (CCRP), and clear-cut followed by coppicing regeneration and reforestation with overall soil preparation, tending and replanting (CCRO). Clear-cutting significantly increased the mean soil temperature and decreased the mean soil moisture. Compared to UC, CO2 fluxes were 19.19, 37.49 and 55.93 mg m−2 h−1 higher in CC, CCRP and CCRO, respectively (P < 0.05). Differences in CO2 fluxes were mainly attributed to changes in soil temperature, litter mass and the mixing of organic matter with mineral soil. The results suggest that, when compared to coppicing regeneration, reforestation practices result in additional CO2 released, and that regarding the CO2 emissions, soil preparation and tending in pits is a better choice than overall soil preparation and tending.

Effect of the application of polluted wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Thell.) straw during plowing on the transfer of radiocesium from the soil to komatsuna (Brassica rapa L. var. perviridis)

ABSTRACTRadioactive substances were released into the environment after the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station; this led to the contamination of the soil at Fukushima Prefecture. Mixing of organic matter with soil during plowing is known to influence radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs) absorption by crops. However, the effect of mixing organic matter polluted by radioactive substances during plowing on radiocesium absorption by plants is not yet known. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect on the radiocesium absorption by komatsuna (Brassica rapa L. var. perviridis) cultivated in a 45-L container containing Andosol (14,300 Bq kg−1) or Gray Lowland soil (33,500 Bq kg−1) mixed with polluted wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Thell.) straw (2080 Bq kg−1). The radiocesium concentration of the plants and the soil and the amount of exchangeable radiocesium in the soil were determined using a germanium semiconductor. The transfer of radiocesium from the soil to plants decreased by 53 and 27% in Andosol and Gray Lowland soil, respectively, after the application of 10 t ha−1 polluted wheat straw. This reduction in the level of radiocesium transfer might be attributed to potassium contained in the wheat straw, which might compete with cesium during membrane transport and thereby block the transport of cesium from the soil solution to the roots and from the roots to the shoots. Alternatively, the applied wheat straw probably absorbed radiocesium and decreased the amount of exchangeable radiocesium in the soil. Our findings suggest that the mixing of polluted wheat straw with contaminated soil might influence the absorption of radiocesium content by agricultural products. Further studies are warranted to determine the long-term effects of the application of polluted wheat straw on the rate of radiocesium transfer to crops.

Growth and nutrition of black spruce seedlings in response to disruption of Pleurozium and Sphagnum moss carpets in boreal forested peatlands

In boreal forested peatlands, we disturbed Sphagnum spp. and Pleurozium schreberi carpets to see how disturbance influenced substrate physico-chemistry, and growth and foliar nutrition of planted Picea mariana seedlings. Carpets were hand disturbed using gardening tools to a depth of approximately 25 cm. Carpet disturbance was aimed at disrupting only the organic layer and did not result in the mixing of organic matter with mineral soil. Disturbed carpets, whether P. schreberi or Sphagnum spp., were warmer than undisturbed carpets and had a lower cover of ericaceous shrubs. Pleurozium schreberi carpets had a higher decomposition index than Sphagnum spp. carpets, whereas disturbance had no effect on this variable. Pleurozium schreberi had higher Ntot and dissolved organic N concentrations (DON) than Sphagnum spp., whereas disturbance increased NH 4 + availability in both substrates. Moss disruption increased seedling growth rates as well as their foliar N and P concentrations in both substrates and these variables remained higher in P. schreberi than in Sphagnum spp. within a given treatment. Seedling growth was positively correlated to substrate Ntot, NH 4 + and DON concentrations, and to foliar N and P concentrations, and negatively to substrate C/N and ericaceous shrub cover. Disruption of the moss carpets without mineral soil mixing improved black spruce seedling growth and nutrition in both moss types but the superiority of P. schreberi compared to Sphagnum spp. as a growing substrate remained present.

Evaluating the sulfur isotopic composition of biodegraded petroleum: The case of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin

The sulfur isotopic composition (δ 34S) of petroleum is believed to be affected mainly by sulfur incorporation reactions into the sedimentary organic matter during the early diagenesis. However, secondary processes could affect the original δ 34S of oil under the effect of thermal maturity or of the microbial activity of biodegraded reservoirs. In this study, the different processes that may affect the δ 34S of in-reservoir oils were assessed based on the sulfur content and isotopes of a series of oil and core samples coming from various reservoirs of the Lower Cretaceous Mannville Group, Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB). Based on the molecular study, these samples appear to have reached various levels of maturity and biodegradation, ranging from 0 to 6.5 on the biodegradation scale of Peters and Moldowan. In addition, mixing of organic matter coming from different source rocks was identified based on the comparison with extensive correlation studies performed in the WCSB. Investigation of the δ 34S shows a trend that seems a priori correlated to the level of biodegradation. However, a careful interpretation of molecular and sulfur isotope data leads to the conclusion that the observed δ 34S variations have rather to be ascribed to contributions of oils generated by various source rocks. Alternatively, variations of δ 34S could neither be related to maturity differences nor to kinetic effects during organic sulfur compounds biodegradation. In the case of some specific core samples showing a common origin based on biomarker study, δ 34S variations might not be related to different sources but to secondary sulfur incorporation/exchange processes occurring within the reservoir. These processes would involve reduced sulfur species from bacterial sulfate reduction formed in situ or migrated into Mannville reservoirs. This hypothesis is supported by laboratory experiments showing sulfur exchange/incorporation under plausible conditions for shallow reservoirs.

Mixing of different mineral soil layers by endogeic earthworms affects carbon and nitrogen mineralization

The effect of the endogeic earthworm species Octolasion tyrtaeum (Savigny) on decomposition of uniformly 14C-labelled lignin (lignocellulose) was studied in microcosms with upper mineral soil (Ah-horizon) from two forests on limestone, representing different stages of succession, a beech- and an ash-tree-dominated forest. Microcosms with and without lower mineral soil (Bw-horizon) were set-up; one O. tyrtaeum was added to half of them. It was hypothesised that endogeic earthworms stabilise lignin and the organic matter of the upper mineral soil by mixing with lower mineral soil of low C content. Cumulative C mineralization was increased by earthworms and by the addition of lower mineral soil. Effects of the lower mineral soil were more pronounced in the beech than in the ash forest. Cumulative mineralization of lignin was strongly increased by earthworms, but only in the beech soil (+24.6%). Earthworms predominantly colonized the upper mineral soil; mixing of the upper and lower mineral soils was low. The presence of lower mineral soil did not reduce the rates of decomposition of organic matter and lignin; however, the earthworm-mediated increase in mineralization was less pronounced in treatments with (+8.6%) than in those without (+14.1%) lower mineral soil. These results indicate that the mixing of organic matter with C-unsaturated lower mineral soil by endogeic earthworms reduced microbial decomposition of organic matter in earthworm casts.

The role of the benthic biota in sedimentary metabolism and sediment-water exchange processes in the Goban Spur area (NE Atlantic)

We provide an overview of the role of biological processes in the Benthic boundary layer (BBL) and in sediments on the cycling of particulate organic material in the Goban Spur area (Northeast Atlantic). The benthic fauna, sediment and BBL characteristics were studied along a transect ranging from 208 to 4460 m water depth in different seasons over 3 years. Near-bottom flow velocities are high at the upper part of the slope (1000–1500 m), and high numbers of filter-feeding taxa are found there such that organic carbon normally passing this area during high flow conditions is probably trapped, accumulated, and/or remineralised by the fauna. Overall metabolism in shelf and upper slope sediments is dominated by the macrofauna. More than half of the organic matter flux is respired by macrofauna, with a lower contribution of metazoan meiofauna (4%) and anoxic and suboxic bacterial mineralisation (21%); the remainder (23%) being channelled through nanobiota and oxic bacteria. By its feeding activity and movement, the macrofauna intensely reworks the sediments on the shelf and upper slope. Mixing intensity of bulk sediment and of organic matter are of comparable magnitude. The benthos of the lower slope and abyssal depth is dominated by the microbiota, both in terms of total biomass (>90%) and carbon respiration (about 80%). The macrofauna (16%), meiofauna (4%) and megafauna (0.5%) only marginally contribute to total carbon respiration at depths below 1400 m. Because large animals have a lower share in total metabolism, mixing of organic matter within the sediments is reduced by a factor of 5, whereas mixing of bulk sediment is one to two orders of magnitude lower than on the shelf. The food quality of organic matter in the sediments in the shallowest part of the Goban Spur transect is significantly higher than in sediments in the deeper parts. The residence time of mineralisable carbon is about 120 d on the shelf and compares well with the residence time of the biota. In the deepest station, the mean residence time of mineralisable carbon is more than 3000 d, an order of magnitude higher than that of biotic biomass.

13C and 15N Distributions in three Spodic Dystric Cambisols Under Beech and Spruce

The study of natural isotopic abundance signatures is useful to gain further insights in the processes resulting in depthwise changes in the composition of soil organic matter (SOM). Objectives were to describe the 6I3C and 6I5N abundances of SOM with depth in soils from a 153-year old beech (Bl), a 119-year old spruce (Fl) and a 61-year old spruce (F2) stand at Solling, north-west Germany, and to study, how podzolisation affects the isotopic abundances of I3C and I5N in the SOM. The degree of podzolisation decreased in the order F1> B1 > F2. At the surface of the humus layer of all three sites, 6I3C values are approximately 1 to 4OmO higher than in the leaves and needles, probably mainly due to the discrimination of I3C by microbial decomposition. I3C abundances in the organic layers of B1 and F2 increased only slightly from -27.6OmO PDB (Bl, L) to -27.2OmO PDB (Bl, Oh) and from -26.3% PDB (F2, L) to -25.9% PDB (F2, Oh), suggesting that biotic activity resulted in mixing of organic matter. At F1, however, I3C abundance increased from -27.5%0 PDB (L) to -26.0?? PDB (Oh) which reflects the lack of mixing by animals. In the upper 2-4cm of the mineral soil, i.e., in the eluvial horizons Aeh, I3C values showed a minimum at the spruce sites which was presumably related to translocation of I3C enriched fulvic acids. Depthwise changes in 6″N values were not related to podzolisation processes. At all three sites, a N enrichment with depth occurred in the mineral soil which is the result of the discrimination of I5N by microbial decomposition.

Spatial and temporal distribution of earthworms in a temperate intercropping system in southern Ontario, Canada

Earthworms are known to increase soil bulk density, soil porosity, mixing of organic matter, and to strengthen aggregation of soil particles. They perform important functions in the maintenance and stabilization of the soil matrix. Historically, temperate intercropping research has focused on the above-ground benefits of adding trees into the agricultural landscape. Earthworm research in temperate intercropping systems has been non-existent to date. More emphasis on studying below-ground components, such as earthworms, is required in order to better understand the mechanisms of intercropping ecosystem function. The purpose of this study was to examine seasonal changes in distribution and abundance of earthworms under a temperate intercropping system in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Sampling occurred during the spring and summer of 1997 at the University of Guelph's Agroforestry Research Station, Guelph, Ontario. Earthworm samples were collected at various distances from the tree rows. Significant variation in both earthworm biomass and density were found between the three tree species sampled. Total mean earthworm density was 182 m-2 within the poplar rows, 71 m-2 within the silver maple rows, and 90 m-2 within the white ash rows. A marked difference was also observed in the distribution of earthworms within the tree rows and the field area. For example, total mean density within the tree rows for poplar was 182 individuals m-2, as compared to total mean densities of 117 and 95 individuals m-2, two metres and six metres into the field from the tree, respectively.

Soil respiration following site preparation treatments in boreal mixedwood forest

The effects of experimental site preparation treatments on soil respiration were studied in a boreal mixedwood forest. The treatments were: (1) intact forest (uncut); (2) clearcut without site preparation (cut); (3) clearcut followed by mixing of organic matter with mineral horizons (mixed); and (4) plots from which all organic matter was removed (screefed). Soil respiration was measured as carbon dioxide (CO 2) evolution from surface soil once a month from June to October, 1994 in the field using infra-red gas analyzer (IRGA). In addition, soil temperature and moisture content were determined once a month during the 1994 growing season and soil organic matter content was determined once in July 1994. Mixed plots had the highest soil respiration rates (0.86 to 0.98 g m −2 h −1), followed by the clearcut (0.68 to 0.84 g m −2 h −1) and uncut plots (0.56 to 0.82 g m −2 h −1), with screefed plots having the lowest respiration rates (0.24 to 0.52 g m −2 h −1) from June to September. Soil respiration of the cut plots was not significantly different from that of the uncut control. The site preparation treatments reduced soil moisture and soil organic matter contents significantly. Changes in soil temperature within treatment at 0, 5 and 10 cm depths and between the treatments were not significant. Observed soil respiration patterns were attributed to changes in soil moisture and organic matter content associated with the various treatments. A laboratory incubation experiment elucidated the effects of organic matter, soil moisture, and temperature on soil respiration rates. Site preparation treatments in boreal mixedwood forests affect soil respiration by modifying the moisture and organic matter content of the soil.

The impact of trade on agricultural development: Bombay presidency, 1855–1920

In this study, ten stratified calcium carbonate–rich soil profiles from the Polish Outer Carpathians were investigated in order to identity the influence of parent material variability and slope processes on soil diversity and their evolution. Moreover, we evaluated the morphological and physico-chemical soil properties to recognize the diagnostic horizons and classification of such soils. While it is usually thought that carbonate-rich soils are considered as formed in situ, these study soils clearly presented layering and contribution of materials, as they were developed from mixed substrates of different origin, e.g. as the result of mass movements and possible aeolian silt contribution. Irrespective of the type of parent material, every investigated soil showed traces of slope processes, resulting in heterogeneous soil profiles. Further, a few different patterns of primary calcium carbonate arrangement were found. In general, the studied soils were characterized by enrichment with calcium carbonate, not only due to inheritance from calcium carbonate–rich parent material but also translocation of calcium carbonate within soil profiles, the latter depending on soil stratification.Based on the obtained results, four pathways of soil evolution were formulated. Leptosols, which represent initial calcium carbonate–rich soils, may evolve in different directions. First, formation of the thick layer suitable for cambic horizon development under deciduous forests, which enables the classification of such soils as Cambisols, depends on slope processes and allochthonous material deposition. In turn, the decrease of mineralization rates for organic matter, delivery of soil material from the upper parts of the slope as well as mixing of organic matter by mesofauna result in the formation of mollic horizons and transformation of Leptosols into Phaeozems. Further erosion and redeposition of fine soil material provide two types of slope sediments: i) those with silt loam texture dominance, and ii) clay loams interstratified with silty substrates. The first type of sediments are more suitable for water percolation, and after carbonate leaching clay dispersion and translocation occur. In such materials, Luvisols may develop. Sediments with a prevalence of clay loam aided Stagnosol formation, in which pools of carbonates were stabilized due to the reduction of water percolation, leading to stagnation.