Mineralogical and micromorphological characteristics of red pine and oak root zone soils in southern Turkey

Authors: SOMAYYEH RAZZAGHI, NADIA VIGNOZZI, SELIM KAPUR

Abstract: Plant species exert differential effects on soil mineralogical and micromorphological characteristics. The effect of red pine and oak tree roots on the mineralogical and micromorphological characteristics of rhizosphere soils in two sampling sites in the Göksu catchment was studied. The climate, topography, and bedrock conditions were kept consistent, whereas the plant factor was kept as the only variable in each site. Rhizosphere soils under the canopies of 100 years old and naturally occurring trees were compared via macromorphology, submicroscopy, mineralogy, and physical and chemical properties. The soils of red pine (RP₁ and RP₂ profiles) were determined to have higher porosity when compared to the soils of the oak tree profiles (Ok₁, Ok₂). However, the higher amounts of welded/cemented aggregates in the Ok₁ and Ok₂ profiles were probable indicators of maturity and probable stability of the aggregates/MSUs. The dominant clay mineral in sampling site 1 was kaolinite, whereas it was smectite in sampling site 2.

Keywords: Göksu catchment, soil, rhizosphere, red pine, oak

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