Given the importance of cohesive soils derived from sediments of the Barreiras Formation, and the extensive area occupied by them in northeastern Brazil, the objective of this study was to identify and characterize the occurrence of cohesive soils in Coastal Plains of Ceara State. Three soil profiles were studied: two cohesive Argisols and one non-cohesive Argisol. Their morphological characteristics and physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties were assessed to confirm the presence of cohesive horizons. The results validated the hypothesis of […]

The diversity of ecosystems in southeastern Brazil can not always be related to edaphic, geomorphologic, or hydrologic factors. Mountain summits, where soils are characterized by common parent material, offer a special environment for studies of soil genesis and dating of cyclic events related to regional climate dynamics. After a detailed investigation of soils from the São José Hills (Prados – Minas Gerais State, Brazil), two soil profiles (P1 and P2) originated from arenite of the Tiradentes Formation were studied. They […]

The analysis of quantitative geomorphologic characteristics is concerned with understanding the soil-landscape relationships, resultant of erosive processes on diverse structures and lithologies. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the morphometric characteristics of the drainage pattern and relief in second order watersheds of the Córrego Rico Watershed in Jaboticabal County, São Paulo State, Brazil, covered by Oxisols and Ultisols. The study was based on vertical aerial photographs in a 1:35.000 scale. Photointerpretation techniques were used to draw the drainage […]

Behavior differences between soils of the South-American and Velhas geomorphic surfaces of the Cerrado region, all of them under native vegetation cover, were evaluated by physical, chemical, and mineralogical characterizations, and principal component analyses. According to their sub-region and geomorphic surfaces, the soils were separated in three groups: 1. clayey to very clayey texture, low- and mesoferric; 2. medium to sandy texture, lowferric; 3. clayey to very clayey texture, ferric. Water retention in the surface horizons of the studied soils […]

Local indicators are useful to identify environments. In the region of Viçosa, Gleysols with their typically gray color are not common, although waterlogged soils under the plant cover “taboa” (Thypha dominguensis) are found. Most of the soils with high water tables are covered by “taboa”, while the gley characteristics are not pronounced, especially in soils with high iron contents. Since there was no clear relation among the height of the water table, O2 deficiency, and color, it was hypothesized that […]

The aim of this work was to evaluate the relations between landforms and soil erosion of an Oxissol with geostatistical techniques in Jaboticabal (SP), Brazil, in two landform models: concave and linear. Soil samples were collected from both landforms at a depth of 0-20 cm, in a regular 50 x 50 m mesh of seven transects, at totally 412 grid points within an area of 93 ha. Physical and chemical properties were determined at each point and used to estimate the soil erodibility by indirect […]

Soils with a planic B horizon underlying a textural B horizon and, therefore, not regarded as Planosols in the Brazilian System of Soil Classification (SIBCS) were characterized and classified. Three representative soil profiles were selected in the county of Ouricuri, Araripina micro-region, within the Sertão Zone of Pernambuco State, an area with a high density of planossolic soils. Soil profiles were morphologically described and disturbed samples taken from each horizon for physical and chemical analyses. Undisturbed samples were collected to […]

Little is known about the soil diversity of Brazilian highland regions, despite their recent upgrading in view of the ecotouristic potential of some areas. Chemical, mineralogical and micromorphological attributes of ten soil profiles along two transects in the quartzitic domains of the Ibitipoca State Park, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, were studied in relation to their pedogenesis. At local level, soil formation is more closely associated with litho-structural elements (lithology, faults and fractures), than with topographical variations. The soils are Al-saturated […]

In northern and western landscapes of São Paulo State, plinthite and petroplinthite are features observed commonly above the cretaceous Adamantina Formation sandstones (Bauru Group). Two representative soil profiles with plinthic, petroplinthic and mottling features were selected in the local landscape to evaluate the mineralogical characteristics and to study their formation. The study was carried out at the foot of a mountainside in the Experimental Station Pindorama of the Agronomic Institute Campinas (IAC), in the north of São Paulo State, Brazil. […]

Plinthite and petroplinthite are commonly present features in soils developed on sandstone of the Bauru Group, Adamantina Formation, in the northern and western region of São Paulo State. The objective of this study was to evaluate chemical properties as well as pedogenic processes that led to the formation of these materials and the soil profile. Two soils at the foot of a representative mountainside of the local landscape with plinthic, petroplinthic and mottling features were selected within areas of the […]