مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Characterization of soil profile development on different landscape in semi –arid region of Turkey a case study; Ankara-Soğulca catchment

Abstract :

The main objective of this research was to determine the relations between soil profile development and landscape in Ankara-Sogulca Catchment located in the semiarid region of Turkey. Dominant geological materials are marl, lime stone and sand stone in the study area. Six soil pedons were examined by field investigation on along transect (crosswise from East to West direction) of the Sogulca Catchment. Soil formations were highly associated with topographic positions which have influence on morphological and physico-chemical characteristics of the soils. Therefore, slope degree has been regarded as one of the most important factors that controls the pedogenic process on PI, PII and PV located on hillslope positions. Because, topography or relief affects how water and other material are added to and removed from soils. Thus, they can be defined as young soils due to minimum soil formation and classified as Entisol/Leptosol. In addition, pedon VI, Typic Xerofluvent/Eutric Fluvisol, formed on toeslope position and alluvial deposit has less soil profile development. Inceptisol/Cambisol and Calcisol (PIII and PIV) formed on plateau position had the greatest degree of pedogenesis. It was determined that main subsurface diagnostic horizons of Inceptisol are cambic and calcic horizons. This study clearly showed that landscape position strongly affects soil pedogenetic development either directly or indirectly in the local region.