MORPHOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL-PROPERTIES OF SELECTED SOILS IN THE ARID AND SEMIARID REGION IN NORTH-WESTERN JORDAN

The morphological features and physico-chemical properties of four ped ons representing the major soil types in the arid and semi-arid region in northwestern Jordan were studied. Soils of this area show a wide v ariation in their morphological, physical and chemical properties as a result of differences in mean annual precipitation, soil parent mater ial, vegetation and topography. The studied soils developed in a wette r climate than the prevailing one and were subjected to different pale oclimates ranging from humid to the prevailing arid conditions. The ma jor pedogenic processes are calcification and illuviation. Soils in th e area belong to the orders Aridisols and Vertisols. (C) 1998 Academic Press.