Mp. Verba et al., IMPACT OF IRRIGATION ON MICROMORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF DESERT SOILS OF HADRAMOUT-VALLEY (YEMEN), Eurasian soil science, 27(9), 1995, pp. 108-124
The integrated micro-, macromorphological, and chemical research revea
led a considerable contribution of rock inherited properties in saline
desert soil of Hadramout Valley; these are microlamination, microhete
rogeneity, high carbonates and salts content, prominent microstructure
and porosity, loose fabric and abundance of mica minerals varying in
chemical composition and size. Extreme bioclimatic conditions account
for the high rate of organic residues mineralization, low humus concen
tration in plasma, weak biogenic reworking, strong salinization. Soil
desalinization rate is shown to depend mainly on the duration of irrig
ation. Thus an active salt removal from the upper root inhabited layer
is observed already in newly irrigated soils, while in the anciently
irrigated ones the carbonates and gypsum are partially leached. Irriga
tion does not promote clay illuviation.