Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 4.1 Contd...
NORTHERN Light brown Weathering processes, especially lessivage, at
FOREST ZONE soils to their maximum. Thereby, weathering ends in
Podzols formation of Podzols. In other words, formation
and destruction of the soil take place at the
same time. Ferruginous ortstein [alios] *
accumulated; carbonates, sulphates, chlorides
and other similar salts are lost from the C
horizon. The structure is ashy and floury.
FOREST Grey soils The soil-forming processes have transitional
STEPPES character; the B horizon has original nuciform
(hazelnut) structure, ash-grey.
STEPPE ZONE Chernozems Considerable accumulation of neutral, scarcely
soluble humus. Lessivage is weaker than in the
taiga. Decomposition of silicates stops with the
formation of zeolites [various neoformed
mineral]. Iron apparently remains entirely in the
soil; carbonates accumulate; sulphates and
chlorides are lost from the C horizon. The
structure of the soil is granular.
DRY STEPPE Chestnut Lessivage and zeolite formation as well as
ZONE and Brown accumulation of neutral humus becomes weaker;
soils not only carbonates, but also sulphates
accumulate in the soils; only chlorides and
similar salts are lost. The structure of the soil
is more compact than that of the Chernozems.
“AREALE” [
?
] Yellow and The processes of rise of salts to the surface of
DESERT ZONE white sandy the soil predominate; enrichment of the soils in
soils salts, accumulation of carbonates, sulphates
and chlorides. Structure of the soils is massive
despite the floury nature of its parcels [particles].
The sparseness of vegetation and extreme
dryness of the air and of the soil contribute to
almost complete disappearance of humus.
There is almost as much zeolite in the soil as
in the terrain [parent material].
SUBTROPICAL Red lateritic Weathering and lessivage are still stronger than
ZONE soils in the taiga, which is why there are no sulphates,
chlorides or even carbonates in the soil and
in the terrain [parent material]. Nevertheless,
because of the strong oxidation processes in the
soil, large quantities of iron oxides accumulate;
the humus is almost totally burned off.
* In square brackets: additions by the author of the present topic.
