Similarities and differences of the spheroidal microstructure in Vertisols from Turkey and Israel

Vertisols formed on different parent materials from Turkey (Aslanpinari and Begdeş soil series) and Israel (Akko soil series) were studied for their microstructure. The Aslanpinari and Begdeş soils showed similar spheroidal microstructural development in the ABss horizons, whereas the spheres of Akko differed by being smaller and lacking granostriation. Micromorphometric analyses of the three soils revealed similar pore characteristics within and between the aggregates of the ABss horizons. Presence of the spheroidal microstructural units and increase of palygorskite and vermiculite in the ABss horizon of the Bedeş soil, which is in contrast with increasing smectite in the Aslanpinari and Akko soils, links with an increase in the structural stability index and an increase in the hydraulic conductivity.