An Investigation of the Micromorphological and Scanning Electron Microscope Characteristics of Saliferous and Gypsiferous Aridisols of Eshtehard region, Karaj

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Former Graduate Student, Soil Science, University of Tehran

2 Member of Scientific Board of Azad Islamic University of Arak

3 Professor, Department of Soil Science, University of Tehran

4 Assistant professor, Department of Soil Science, University of Tehran

Abstract

Saliferous and gypsiferous aridisols constitute a major part of soils in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran. However limited information regarding their formations and crystalline forms is available. To investigate the formation of saliferous and gypsiferous soils of Eshtehard region in Karaj and to classify them, physicochemical, micromorphological, and SEM studies were carried out. An assessment of the soil physical and chemical properties, including soil texture, electrical conductivity (saturated extract), soil reaction, organic carbon percentage, equivalent calcium carbonate, gypsum content(percentage), soluble cations and anions was made on samples taken from pedological structure(pedons). Standard procedures were employed all throughout the study. In a study of  thin sections,  pedogenic gypsum  was observed as oriented crystals, infilling  voids. It was lenticular shape when within soil matrix. SEM analysis revealated the presence of  gypsum lenticular crystals accompanied by halite crystals of cubic forms. These were verified through EDS curves. Based upon physico-chemical, micromorphological and SEM studies, it is finally concluded that soils of lowland type have been formed as  per ascendum mode, while those of gravelly colluvial forms have been formed as per descendum mode.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Soil Research
Volume 21, Issue 2
February 2008
Pages 291-298

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