Soil profile development of the Korudağı toposequence, northwest Turkey

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to determine the relation between soil profile development and landscape. For this purpose, a field survey was carried out on the same topography and climate to determine the soil profile development degree on different parent materials in the Korudağ Catena (Çanakkale, northwest Turkey). Seven soil profiles were excavated (each 50 m elevation between 350 and 50 m) and described based on soil taxonomy. Profile development index values of soils were calculated to compare and quantify soil horizon properties with their parent materials. The data were collected through field study and physicochemical analyses. Nine characteristics including rubification, color paling, color lightening, melanization, carbonate morphology, moist consistence, dry consistence, pH, texture and structure, were evaluated to calculate the profile development index. This index was calculated as P7 > P1 > P2 > P3 > P5 > P6 > P4, respectively. The P7 profile on the footslope position has the highest profile development due to higher moisture content and the chemical weathering process. The lowest profile development was observed in P4. This profile's topographic position (shoulder) and vegetative density are the major reason. The effect of steepness, curvature, and vegetation on controlling profile development was obvious at the P4 on the shoulder position. In the Korudağ Catena, vegetative density, slope and slope length, elevation difference, and moisture content control the pedogenic process and profile development. This study also showed the profile development changing in a catena with the same aspect, where morphological changes occur on similar parent materials at similar ages but at short distances due to erosion storage processes.