Vertisols: Extreme features and extreme environment

• Published in: Geoderma Regional Vol. 22; p. e00312
• Main Author: Kovda, Irina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2020
• Subjects: Atypical; climate; cold; Extra-areal; Factors; geography; Image of Vertisol; Relict and modern; soil formation; Typical; vegetation; Vertic features; Vertisols; Typical; Relict and modern; Factors; Atypical; Image of Vertisol; Vertic features; Extra-areal
• ISSN: 2352-0094; 2352-0094
• DOI: 10.1016/j.geodrs.2020.e00312

•Typical and extreme (atypical) vertic features and environments.•Variability of Vertisols morphologies and environments.•Vertisols are the bright example of the chorogical or extra-areal extremeness. Vertisols were examined from the standpoint of extreme pedology. The aim of this paper is to: 1) estimate the variability of features, factors and geography of Vertisols and to better identify what is typical and how extreme (unusual for normal Vertisol) could be the factors of their formation (i.e. climate, parent material, vegetation, relief, and age), 2) evaluate the extreme environments they occur, to recognize how could be Vertisols and their attributes, and 3) how the extreme factors and features could support the understanding of Vertisol pedogenesis. The review of available literature data and personal observations revealed large variability of the environments. We discuss the Vertisol pedogenesis, the role of soil forming factors in their genesis and systemize the variability and diversity of Vertisols attributes. The broad range of factors indicate that Vertisols are universal soils which can occur in any environments from equator to cold boreal zone without strong limitations in temperatures, precipitations, vegetation, and genesis of parent materials. The formation of vertic features occur under various combinations of soil forming factors. The interaction of factors provides the required shrinking and swelling when the insufficiency of one factor is compensated for by another if they form not in typical environment. In terms of the extreme pedology, Vertisols are the bright example of the chorogical or extra-areal extremeness. The reasons for this phenomenon can be found in the modern functioning as well as in the history of Vertisols formation.