XEROMESOMORPHIC SOILS IN THE NORTHEAST OF ASIA

The relationships between eight groups of mull-like soils In northeast ern Asia are considered in terms of factor-genetic soil properties (in cluding those induced by the lithogenic factor), soil regimes, and sub stantive soil characteristics. It is demonstrated that the main factor s responsible for soil distinctions are the degree of soil moistening and the content of quartz and weatherable minerals in the soils. Clima tic and lithogenic conditions that are required for the development of such soil processes as Al-Fe-humus migration, humus accumulation, iro n accumulation, and structure formation are determined for the mull-li ke soils of a cold semiarid-semihumid climate. The place of these soil s among the other groups of pebbly and stony soils of cold and moderat ely cold environments is discussed.