MECHANICAL COMPOSITION AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF CALCOMELANOSOLS AND CALCOCAMBISOLS ON THE JABLANICA MOUNTAIN

Abstract

Differences in mechanical composition of two soil types on hard limestone and its subtypes were investigated in order to get closer look on variability and dynamics of this soil property over long period of pedogenesis of these soils. Soils on hard limestones on Jablanica Mountain were select as a case study. During the field survey campaign on different locations 18 basic soil profiles of calcomelanosols were excavated, with the following subtypes: organogenic (5) organomineral (12) and brownized (1) and 4 soil profiles calcocambisols with a typical subtype. Field survey and laboraotry testing was implemented according standard methods adopted in our country and the Former Yugoslavia. Clay content is generally high and increases from organogenic subtype towards brownized calcomelanosols and calcocambisols subtypes. During the process of evolution of the calcomelanosols into brownized calcomelanosols and calcocambisols, the content of soil organic matter decreases. The fine earth of examined soil samples usually is non-carbonate, but in a limited number of soil samples a very small quantities of CaCO 3 were detected. In terms of its soil reaction, the examined soils can be classified into three categories (very strongly acid, moderately acid and neutral). The content of total nitrogen in the examined soils is high and vary in the ranges of 0.21-1.95% in calcomelanosols and 0.31-0.56% for hor. A and 0.18-0.27 are low content of easy available phosphorus and optimal content of potassium. The chemical properties of the soils tested depend on the residue released by dissolving of the solid lime rock (limestone, dolomite, silicate limestone), the relief conditions especially altitude, vegetation and the degree of degradation, cultivation, the depth of the soil profile, deposition of materials from the higher parts, erosion, the previous stage and evolution. The investigated soils are non-carbonate. Only some profiles contains minimal amounts of carbonates, which is due to the physical decomposition of the rock. These are actually sandblasted particles from the limestone cork. Therefore, they do not have a major impact on the soil reaction. The humus content in the calcomelanosols averages 12, 6%. The average humus quantity in hor. A on 134 profiles from the republic is 11, 19% (Филиппвски, 1996). The humus content in the organogenic calcomelanosols is highest and averages 23,04%, organominerals 8, 46%, brownized 14, 05% and hor. A of the calcocambisols 7, 53%. As a result of reduced flow of organic waste and improved conditions of mineralisation, the humus content reduces in the cambic horizon of the brownized calcomelanosols (3, 36%) and calcocambisols (average 2, 53%). According to Маркпски (2013), organogenic calcomelanosols of the Republic of Macedonia on average contain 19, 47% humus, organominerals 13, 17% and brownized hor.A 12, 44% and hor. (B)rz 6, 66%. According to the same author, the humus content in hor.A of calcocambisols averages 8, 50%, and cambic horizon 5, 18%. The humus