Physicochemical characteristics of plinthic and non-plinthic soils in dry deciduous forests on the east bank of Mekong, Cambodia

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Abstract

The morphology and physicochemical properties of soils in Kratie, central Cambodia, were studied to characterize the forest soils in relation to the presence of plinthite and to elucidate the soil physicochemical factors affecting the distribution of dry deciduous forests in seasonally dry tropics. Plinthic soils (sites NT-1 and NT-2) differed from non-plinthic soils (sites SE-1 and SE-2) in the presence of a Bv horizon that contained hard and rounded iron nodules and a sand fraction with a more red color and rounded shape. Despite the difference in soil morphology, the effective soil depths of all four plots, as estimated by soil hardness, were remarkably shallower (<70cm) than the evergreen forest soils on the west bank of the Mekong River. The difference in effective soil depth between the two regions is thought to control the large-scale distribution of the evergreen and deciduous forests in central Cambodia. The soils in the study area showed high pH, high exchangeable base content, and high CEC/clay values. According to the WRB classification, soils in NT-1, NT-2, SE-1, and SE-2 were classified as Pisoplinthic Lixic Plinthosols, Pisoplinthic Lixic Plinthosols (Albic), Albic Alisols (Ferric, Clayic), and Albic Luvisols (Hypereutric, Profondic), respectively. According to the US Soil Taxonomy, the soils were classified as Plinthic Paleustalfs (NT-1 and NT-2), Ombroaquic Haplustults (SE-1), and Oxyaquic Haplustalfs (SE-2).

Journal

  • Pedologist

    Pedologist 54 (1), 2-10, 2010-06-30

    Japanese Society of Pedology

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