Abstract

The morphogenetic and physico-chemical properties of four soil units occupying different slope facets on a rolling landscape were studied to understand distribution of soils on a typical landscape. The soil colours range from dark brown to reddish brown (10YR3/3-5YR3/3) in the surface and strong brown (7YR4/6) to yellowish red (5YR5/8) in the sub soil. The texture varies from loam/sandy clay loam in the surface to clay/clay loam in the sub soil. The solum was moderately acidic to neutral (5.5 - 8.0) at the surface and strongly acidic to moderately acidic (4.65 - 5.80) in the sub soils. The soils are characterized by low exchangeable bases and cation exchange capacity. Pedon 1 on the crest was classified as Typic Hapludult (Haplic Acrisols). Pedon 2 at the mid slope was classified as Dystric Hapludult (Dystric Luvisol) while pedons 3 and 4 were classified as Albic plinthudult (Albic plinthosols) and Dystric Haplaquent (Dystric Gleysols) respectively. Pedogenesis was influenced by physiographic positions resulting in different soil types on the landscape. Where similar parent material exists, different soil types were formed due to different exposure to morphogenesis processes such as eluviation, illuviation, deposition, cementation of pedi-sediments and multiple stratification as determined by the position of the pedon on the landscape.

Key words: Morphogenesis, pedoturbation, quartz vein, plinthite, argillic horizon, base saturation.