HORIZONTAL DEFORMATIONS OF CHERNOZEM-LIKE VERTISOLS IN THE STAVROPOL DISTRICT

The dynamics of horizontal deformations (displacements) in the natural long-term wetting-drying cycle of chernozem-like Vertisols of the Sta vropol district was studied using the rod method. The random character of the rod movement in the horizontal plane, which reflected nonunidi rectional displacements of different soil blocks relative to each othe r, was shown. A trend toward the increase in displacement range was ob served when the development of vertic properties increased. Repeated l ateral displacements of soil blocks were observed in microslopes of ch ernozem-like Vertisols along the Line joining the microlow center and the microridge summit. The displacement range was 1.5-2.5 cm. The resu lts obtained suggest modem processes (possibly irreversible) of spatia l redistribution of soil matter in the horizontal plane between consti tuents of the gilgai chernozem-like Vertisol complex.