This research studies some soil properties formed on calcareous rocks under a natural plant cover of wide leaves (mainly: Quercus calliprinos and Quercus infectoria) in Banias region (63 – 234) meters height above sea level.
Firstly, 3 soi
l profiles in the studied area were done, then morphological characteristic, type of plant cover and Geographic Position System (GPS) were accomplished.
Samples were taken from profile horizons, then, physical and chemical properties were determined (structure, bulk and real densities, total calcium carbonate percent, organic matter content, action exchange capacity, exchangeable calcium and magnesium, and pH).
The profile depth ranged between low and medium (60 – 137) cm, the pH ranged between neutral and alkaline (7.1- 8.2), there was an increase in calcium carbonate content in the whole profile (17- 88%), and also increase of organic matter contents in the horizon (8- 12%). Due to high clay (18-74) % and organic matter content (8-12) %, the soils showed high cation exchange capacity (CEC) (21- 92 meq/100g). Exchangeable calcium was dominant on the surface of adsorption complex (17- 74 meq/100g), then magnesium in second stage (0.2- 6 meq/100g).
From a classification point, the soils were classified under the following orders:
Entisols, Mollisols, Inceptisols, which have profile types: A – AC – C, A – AR – R, and A – (B) – C.
Soil depth and its content of rocky pieces were varied according to relief degree, plant cover intensity, and parent rocks hardness. Most of soil properties are a parent material descendible, and the soils were slightly developed and recently formed.
To carry out this study, 12 soil profiles were selected and prepared, and soil
samples were collected from the different horizons (surface, subsurface, and C
horizon) in each profile. The results of the analyzed samples indicate that,
topographica
l factors plays an important role in determining some feature,
such as, the depth of the profile, texture, distribution of CaCO3 and the process
of swelling and the shrinking. Concerning the soil fertility, the study showed
that the soil content of microelements is ranging between moderate to low, thus
may be related to the mineralogical composition of the parent material,
weathering status, and to the use of these elements by the plants during the long
lasting exploitation of these soil without any restitution of these element. The
results indicate as well, the decrease of these elements with decreasing
elevation, i.e from the slop to the plain, this probably due to the relation
between the leaching process and topographical position, and to lesser extend to
the (pH) of the soil.
