In order to evaluate the effects of parent material on clay mineralogy in northface of the Elborz mountain area that is covered with deciduous trees, five mountain physiographical units with dolomite, sandstone, marl, limestone and conglomera parent material were selected and in each physiographical unit some soil profiles were studied. Soil samples were taken from different horizons and leyers...

This review covers aspects of soil science and soil biology of Antarctica with special focus on King George Island, South Shetlands, the martitime Antarctic. New approaches in soil descriptions and soil taxonomy show a great variety of soil types, related to different parent material, mainly volcanic origin, as well as on influences by soil biological processes. The spread of higher rooting pla...

Clay-size minerals play important roles in terrestrial biogeochemistry and atmospheric physics, but their data have been only partially compiled at global scale. We present a global dataset of clay-size minerals in the topsoil and subsoil at different spatial resolutions. The data of soil clay and its mineralogical composition were gathered through a literature survey and aggregated by soil ord...

BACKGROUND Living soil invertebrates provide a universal currency for quality that integrates physical and chemical variables with biogeography as the invertebrates reflect their habitat and most ecological changes occurring therein. The specific goal was the identification of "reference" states for soil sustainability and ecosystem functioning in grazed vs. ungrazed sites. METHODOLOGY/PRINCI...

Gypsic and petrogypsic horizons occur in large areas of arid and semi-arid regions of the world. The occurrence of gypsum in soils is considered a key feature by most soil classification and mapping systems, that have coined specific names for these soils and horizons. However, the current methodology for description and definition of gypsic and petrogypsic horizons in the two most popular soil...

The present work aimed to contribute for a better knowledge regarding soil features as cork quality indicators for stoppers. Cork sampling was made in eight Cork oak stands (montados de sobreiro) located in the Plio-Plistocene sedimentary formations of Península de Setúbal in southern Tagus River region. The samples used to classify the cork as stopper for wine bottles were obtained in eight co...

Although people have always classified soils, it is only since themid 19th century that soil classification emerged as an important topic within soil science. It forced soil scientists to think systematically about soils and its genesis and developed to facilitate communication between soil scientists. It has also been the cause for much debate and confusion but two internationally accepted sys...

Pythium is a fungus-like genus with worldwide distribution that is found in most terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. It is a species-rich genus contains important plant pathogenic species. Little is known on the systematics of Pythium in West Azarbaijan province (N.W. Iran). Thus, the aim of this study was to identify 200 isolates collected from different cultivated soils of West Azarbaijan pro...