Monday, 7 November 2005
8

Differences in Soil Properties of Two Volcanic Areas with Similar Lamproitic Rocks from Murcia (Se Spain).

Angel Faz, Silvia Martinez Martinez, and Jose A. Acosta. Technical University of Cartagena, Area of Edafology and Agricultural Chemistry. Department of Agrarian Science and Technology, Paseo Alfonso XIII, nº 52, 30230, Cartagena. Murcia. Spain., Cartagena, Spain

Soils developed on volcanic parent material have been extensively studied through the world despite only comprising 0.84% of the earth's surface. Studied soils were taken in two volcanic hills located in Calasparra and Moratalla, North of Province Murcia, evolved from lamproitic type rocks. Based on their chemistry, lamproite is either basic or ultrabasic (MgO, 16-23%), with high K2O/Na2O (>3), nickel (560-1080 ppm) and chromium (880-1340 ppm) with high concentrations of Rb, Sr, Ba, Ti, Pb, Th. The name of the first hill studied is "Cerro Salmerón" (613712.21 X and 4243530.01 Y), and it constitutes the largest rock outcrop of lamproitic rocks in Murcia Province. The second studied hill, "Cerro Negro" (612364.82 X and 4233722.70 Y), with an intense black colour due to its composition, occupies an area of 400 m of longitude N-S and about 225 m W-E. In the part more superficial of these volcanic emergences deposits of miocene loams are observed, mixed with the igneous rocks. The objective of this study was compare the physical and physico-chemical properties of soil developed on lamproitic rocks and to study the differences among both areas. One soil profile and surface samples to a depth of 15 cm following a sampling grid were taken in each area. The following analyses were used for the determination of the soil properties: pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, total nitrogen, equivalent calcium carbonate, cation exchange capacity, and clay, lime and sand contents. The obtained results show that in the soils taken in the "Cerro Negro" the pHwater values are more alkaline, sand content is higher while the amount of clay is lower than "Cerro Salmerón". In the soils located in this last hill, the values of E.C. and C.E.C. are more heterogeneous, carbonates are higher and O.C. varies in function of the vegetable covering both areas.

Handout (.pdf format, 404.0 kb)

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