Acta Geodynamica et Geomaterialia

Title: SOIL DEVELOPMENT ON LOESS OVERLYING CRETACEOUS SEDIMENTS AND DEVONIAN LIMESTONES
Authors: Žigová Anna and Šťastný Martin
DOI: 10.13168/AGG.2015.0021
Journal: Acta Geodynamica et Geomaterialia, Vol. 12, No. 3 (179), Prague 2015
Full Text: PDF file (15.3 MB)
Keywords: loess, Cretaceous and Devonian rocks, mineral composition, soil development, Luvic Chernozem, Albic Luvisol
Abstract: The development of soil cover on loess in regions of Cretaceous sediments and Devonian limestones in the Bohemian Massif was analysed. The study was performed in areas with different land use. Parent material was characterized on the basis of thin section study. Soils were evaluated by macromorphological analysis, particle size distribution, chemical properties, parameters of soil organic matter and mineral composition of clay fraction. The results revealed differences in the formation of soil cover which are predominately connected with geological conditions. The main pedogenetic process for Bohemian Cretaceous Basin is humification. Pedogenetic clay differentiation is relatively slight. Intense pedogenetic clay differentiation, less pronounced processes of litter formation and humification are characteristic for soils in the Devonian limestone areas. The intensity of processes of pedogenetic clay differentiation is influenced by pH values. The quality and quantity of soil organic matter were influenced by the source of biomass, biological activity and type of land use. Petrography of parent material from thin sections shows some differences among features of Ck horizons. The most abundant minerals of clay fraction of the studied soil are quartz, illite and kaolinite. Bt horizons of Albic Luvisols have an elevated content of illite.