A micromorphological analysis of regrouping phenomena in some turkish soils

Both macromorphology and micromorphology of four profiles from the Turkish part of the Balkan Peninsula have been studied. The primary aim was to test applicabilities of the concept of “regrouping phenomena”. To do this, profiles were examined in the field and thin sections of individual horizons were subsequently studied in the laboratory. Part of the examination was done with Quantimet equipment. Emphasis was given to characteristics of horizons that could indicate one or more of pedotranslocations, pedoturbations, pedocompactions and pedotransformations. Evidence for past operations of all four kinds of processes were found in the profiles, with differences from one to another.Orthic, mainly plane ferriargillans, papules, calcitans, matrans and neomatrans form a strong indication of pedotranslocations only in the Noncalcic Brown soils. The occurrence of papules in the clayey B horizons and argillans in well-preserved condition in the lighter-textured C horizons show that there has been a shift in the balance among pedogenetic processes in these soils.The decrease of visible porosity around zoogenic tubes, presence of skew and craze planes, and aggregation patterns show that pedocompactions are intensive processes in all the soils. Because of the clay content of the soil and climate of the area, pedoturbations were especially evident in the Vertisol profile.Occurrence of ferriargillans formed in situ (weathering cutans) and a strong expression of sepic fabrics are features of pedotransformations in all the soils.