Chapter 4 Soil morphology

摘要: Publisher Summary Morphology is the most important feature used to differentiate Vertisols from other soil orders. The major morphological markers of are linear and normal gilgai (micro-relief), cyclic horizons, surface cracking upon desiccation, slickensides. Soil structure also peculiar, especially occurrence wedge-shaped aggregates. Slickensides between aggregates characteristic Vertisols. striking characteristics associated with swelling shrinking on alternate wetting drying cycles. were believed be homogeneous, but recent studies showed that very complex. differences in degree expression any reflect chemical, physical, mineralogical, environmental conditions. Vertisols, without giving reference their genesis, discussed chapter. It describes macromorphology micromorphology vertisols. Macromorphology includes gilgai, nature cracking, granular structure, slickensides sphenoids, color, depth, carbonates Fe Mn segregations, clay distribution, bulk density. These may not all present except for Micromorphology determine direction pedogenic processes rather than quantify magnitude such expressions.