CHARACTERIZATION OF SOME MOLLISOLS PROPERTIES IN THE COASTAL REGION (LATTAKIA - SYRIA)

Samar  Ghanem

doi:10.59807/jlsar.v6i1.157

Authors

Samar Ghanem Department of Soil and Water Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6504-2071

https://doi.org/10.59807/jlsar.v6i1.157

Keywords:

Mollisols, Lattakia, Soil texture, Organic matter, Mineral composition, Cation exchange

Abstract

This research is part of a comprehensive study conducted on the soils in Lattakia Governorate between 2019 and 2020. Six profiles of Mollisols from the coastal areas of the governate involving their morphological, physical, chemical, mineral, and organic aspects were studied. The results showed high percentage of organic matter in the Mollic Epipedon with partial washing of carbonates in some profiles and formed on a calcareous parent material. The texture of the soil was affected by the type of the parent rock and was clayey in most horizons of the profiles on calcareous rock. The mineral composition showed the dominance of calcite followed by quartz in the soil profiles of limestone rocks, while primary minerals dominated in igneous rocks. A general chemical analysis showed the dominance was clearly for calcium oxide together with relatively high values for silicon, iron, and magnesium oxides in the mafic and ultramafic rocks. The profile soils were characterized by high cation exchange capacity with high saturation with bases. There was no dominant type of humus with the humification rate ranging from high to medium, while that for humin was low to medium.

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