Kurdistan Journal of Applied Research (KJAR) | Print-ISSN: 2411-7684 – Electronic-ISSN: 2411-7706 | kjar.spu.edu.iq Volume 1 | Issue 2 | December 2016 | DOI: 10.24017/science.2016.1.2.1 Abstract: Five sites were selected in Kalar city on different topographic position. The mean annual rainfall of the study area about 280 mm with about 24.5 C° mean annual temperature. The study area used for rain feed crop production. Morphological properties of the studied pedons indicated that all pedons were developed with Ochric epipedons and Cambic and Argillic endopedons . The results of particle size distribution show a wide differences between sand and clay in surface horizons except pedon (2) because of low elevation compared with other pedons. Moreover, the results of exchangeable sodium and potassium indicate that pedons (4) and (5) had the lowest value of soil leaching factor which is an indication of the high activity of weathering and leaching processes. In another hand, the results of total element analysis has observed that the silicate ratio were high to indicate the high leaching processes which is the proof of the existence of fine materials movement particularly clay colloids, this is not merely due to the rare rainy weather conditions that are prevalent recently but is a result of wet paleoclimatic conditions, and this movement eventually occurred due to in situ factors. All soils are belonged to Aridisols order with suborders Argids and Cambidsas these soils are in aridic moisture regime include Ochric diagnostic surface horizon with Argillic and Cambic diagnostic subsurface horizons. Keywords: Soil leaching factor, Aridisols, Epipedon, Endopedon. 1. Introduction Kalar city is located in Garmian area and distinguished by low rainfall and high temperature in comparison with other parts of Kurdistan-Iraq. Therefore the vegetation covers naturally poor and the land appears more barren. On the other side, the region is rich in fresh ground water with seasonal and permanent surface water resources particularly in the study areas such as Serwan River which is located beside Kalar city. The lands of the study region are used for economic cultivation especially planting field crops such as wheat and barley, which solely depend on rainfall for irrigation [1]. Studying soil science is very crucial in general and particularly in the current circumstances, as the huge majority of the people are encountering food problems. Precisely, people in Kurdistan region of Iraq are going through difficult economic situations, because the region is solely depending on the oil as an economic source. Despite the existence of multitudinous sources of economy, especially in the field of agriculture where the water supply and the fertile soil are quite suitable for cultivation in most area of the region. It is, thus strongly required to intensify scientific efforts to raise agricultural level, therefore, I have suggested in this research to study the soil leaching factor and its impacts on the soil development, soil maturity and soil classification, and then realizing its degree of fertility through the soil studied families. There are very few studies carried out about Garmian area soils particularly in the last years except some whole studies [2] in spite of the fact that such area are passed through moist climate, we can observe the impact of those conditions. Leaching factor is very important because it is the index for activity of weathering and leaching processes, however, decreasing the value of leaching factor increases the activity of weathering and leaching processes. The study precisely focuses on the following aims: 1- Studying the effects of in situ factors on leaching factor. 2-Determining the most pedogenic processes in the studied soils. 3- Classifying the studied soils on the bases of family level. Effects of Some local Conditions on Leaching Factor of Aridisols in Kalar/Garmian, Kurdistan- Iraq Salim Neimat Azeez Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Darbandikhan Technical Institute Darbandikhan, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq salim.azeez@spu.edu.iq Kurdistan Journal of Applied Research (KJAR) | Print-ISSN: 2411-7684 – Electronic-ISSN: 2411-7706 | kjar.spu.edu.iq Volume 1 | Issue 2 | December 2016 | DOI: 10.24017/science.2016.1.2.1 2. Materials and Methods: The study area is located in Garmian district, Kurdistan - Iraq. It lies between latitude 34º 34′ 41.0″ to 34º 37′ 24.0″ N and longitude 45º 19′ 10.0″ to 45º 21′ 29.2″ E with average elevation of 230 m above sea level. The topographic nature of the study area was obtained from the topographic map of Iraqi Kurdistan region prepared by [3] and from the soil map units of Iraqi soils by [4] and [5] as well. The data of latitudes, longitudes and elevations of soil pedon locations were collected using a (GPS) receiver model GARMIN 72. The area lies within foot hill physiographic unit [2], in a tectonic side and is located in folds zone [6].The study area climate is within continental semiarid by PE (Potential Evaportranspiration) which described by [7]. According to the [8] the species of native vegetations Cynodon dactylon, Ammi majus, Triflolium resupinatum,, Euphorbia Peplus, Lagonychium farctum, Alhagi graeccorum, Lolium rigidum, Hordeum glaucum, Phalaris minor, centaurea iberica, Brassica tournefortii, Silybum marianum, Carthamus oxyacanthus and Avena fatua were present in this area. Soils were classified to the family level using (Keys to Soil Taxonomy) by [9]. Five study sites were selected represent differential topography and natural land use for cultivation in Kalar district in Garmian area to study the leaching factor of these soils and the effect of some soil properties on it. Profiles are dig and described morphologically according to National Survey Handbook [10]. Soil samples were taken from each soil horizon , air dried and mixed to be homogenous, grinded using wood mortar, then passed through (2 mm) sieve and kept in plastic containers for further analyses. The soil samples were taken from each horizon, to determine some soil properties, including physical properties such as particle size distribution using (International Pipette Method) described by [11]. The silt and clay were separated from sand by washing the dispersed samples through 50 μ sieve, as described by [12]. The diverse silt and clay particles were thus obtained using Pipette Method as cited in [13]. Particle density was measured by Pycnometer Method described by [14], bulk density was determined by Clods Method covering with paraffin wax described by [14] and porosity which obtained from the following equation explained by [15], which indicated in [14]. ⁄ Chemical properties including organic matter, were estimated Oxidation Method using chromic acid according to (Walkley- Black), depending on [16]. Total calcium carbonate (total lime) was estimated by equilibrium with (1N) of hydrochloric acid, as described by [17] and [16]. To determine exchangeable sodium and potassium, the soil had been saturated with ammonium acetate (1N), as described by [18], then exchangeable sodium and potassium determined by Flame Photometer Device, model – CORNING – 400. The (SiO2) was determined directly from the soil powder using X – Ray – Fluorescence Analyzer, model – Ridaku – Japan, as a percentage. While (Na2O, K2O) was determined by Fusion – Alkali Method described by [16] which put (1gm) of fusion powder (1.5 gm of Na2CO3 + 1.5 gm of K2CO3) in the crucible and added (1gm) of powdered soil then covered with (2gm) of fusion powder after that put in the oven at (400 C°) for (40 minutes), then put in the oven at (800 C°), and filtrated with hot distillated water, completed to (200 ml) with distillated water, diluted (100 time) by distillated water and reading the amount of (K and Na) by Flame Photometer Device, model – CORNING – 400. After preparing the standard solution, finally converted to (Na2O and K2O) using of molecular weight. The value of leaching factor was obtained by using the below equation by [19]. Soils were classified to the family level using (Keys to Soil Taxonomy) indicated by [9]. 3. Results and Discussions The studied pedons exhibited differences in their degree of developments depending as reflected by the differences of the horizons nature wherefrom theirs type, thickness and sequential which are reflected on the nature of surface diagnostic horizon (epipedon) and subsurface horizon (endopedon) [20]. It is obvious from the table (1) that the studied soils appear differences whether in the leaching factor of the same pedon or among the pedons. These differences going with some physical properties of the pedons which represented by soil particles distribution and bulk density ( Table 2). The results refer to the low value of leaching factor for surface horizons compared with subsurface horizon (B) except pedon (2) because of high accumulation of clay in surface horizon (212.8gm/kgm) than other pedons when compared with the amount of sand. In addition to the high accumulation of silt in surface horizon of this pedon (539.7 gm/kgm), as the lowest location of this pedon caused the fine particles to be accumulated and as a result decrease each of the movement of these particles and the leaching of the high content of calcium carbonate in (Ap) than in (Bt1) as a reverse with other pedons and as a result to prevent the movement of soil particles ,table (3); so the leaching factor was high in pedon (2) compared with other pedons. Table (1): Total element analysis and leaching factor for the studied pedons in Kalar area. Kurdistan Journal of Applied Research (KJAR) | Print-ISSN: 2411-7684 – Electronic-ISSN: 2411-7706 | kjar.spu.edu.iq Volume 1 | Issue 2 | December 2016 | DOI: 10.24017/science.2016.1.2.1 Pedons Horizon Depth (cm) Na2O % K2O % SiO2 % Leaching factor 1 Ap 0-25 0.80 0.34 40.68 1.05 B1 25-85 0.74 0.89 40.33 1.52 Bk2 85-115 0.90 0.61 39.75 1.43 C 115-185 0.99 0.13 42.12 1.00 2 Ap 0-25 1.23 0.64 40.24 1.64 Bt1 25-80 1.20 0.36 39.77 1.38 Bt2 80-130 1.23 0.61 40.10 1.62 C 130-175 0.68 0.44 39.46 1.00 3 Ap 0-25 0.90 0.51 41.48 0.89 Btk1 25-100 0.93 0.64 39.24 1.05 Btk2 100-135 1.35 0.36 40.99 1.10 C 135-155 1.05 0.49 40.40 1.00 4 Ap 0-25 0.87 0.59 41.18 0.87 Bt 25-85 1.45 0.23 41.46 0.99 C 85-145 1.20 0.61 44.27 1.00 5 Ap 0-30 1.02 0.51 40.37 0.89 Btk 30-100 0.74 0.79 40.08 0.90 C1 100-130 1.29 0.29 38.65 0.96 C2 130-170 0.80 0.91 38.66 1.04 Average of C 1.05 0.60 38.66 Table (2): Some physical properties for the studied pedons in Kalar area. Pedons Horizon Depth (cm) Total Content (g/kg) Density (Mg/m3) Porosity ( % ) Sand Silt Clay Bulk Particle 1 Ap 0-25 324.3 465.2 210.5 1.31 2.53 48.22 B1 25-85 310.4 453.2 236.4 1.36 2.66 48.87 Bk2 85-115 326.0 439.9 234.1 1.42 2.63 46.01 C 115-185 770.8 124.5 104.7 1.45 2.56 43.36 2 Ap 0-25 247.5 539.7 212.8 1.40 2.54 44.88 Bt1 25-80 144.4 478.0 377.6 1.43 2.61 45.21 Bt2 80-130 173.7 495.4 330.9 1.52 2.55 40.39 C 130-175 260.3 421.2 318.5 1.54 2.68 42.54 3 Ap 0-25 298.4 479.3 222.3 1.36 2.53 46.25 Btk1 25-100 174.2 502.0 323.8 1.44 2.54 43.31 Btk2 100-135 288.0 435.4 276.6 1.47 2.56 42.58 C 135-155 470.1 334.1 195.8 1.51 2.65 43.02 4 Ap 0-25 336.8 452.9 210.3 1.33 2.63 49.43 Bt 25-85 420.5 327.4 252.1 1.43 2.52 43.25 C 85-145 768.1 98.0 133.9 1.41 2.61 45.98 5 Ap 0-30 288.4 503.7 207.9 1.42 2.47 42.51 Btk 30-100 258.1 465.8 276.1 1.45 2.57 43.58 C1 100-130 327.2 449.6 223.2 1.48 2.81 47.33 C2 130-170 366.9 405.0 228.1 1.51 2.72 44.49 Table (3): Some chemical properties for the studied pedons in Kalar area Kurdistan Journal of Applied Research (KJAR) | Print-ISSN: 2411-7684 – Electronic-ISSN: 2411-7706 | kjar.spu.edu.iq Volume 1 | Issue 2 | December 2016 | DOI: 10.24017/science.2016.1.2.1 Pedons Horizon Depth (cm) Total Lime (g/kg) Organic Matter (g/kg) Exchangeable Cations (cmolc/kg soil) Na+ K+ 1 Ap 0-25 254 15.0 1.20 0.17 B1 25-85 295 8.0 1.14 0.09 Bk2 85-115 295 5.1 1.01 0.08 C 115-185 240 2.0 0.70 0.04 2 Ap 0-25 295 12.9 1.14 0.19 Bt1 25-80 285 10.0 1.01 0.09 Bt2 80-130 280 7.0 0.89 0.06 C 130-175 280 1.0 0.95 0.09 3 Ap 0-25 235 13.7 1.15 0.09 Btk1 25-100 310 9.0 1.03 0.05 Btk2 100-135 300 1.0 0.89 0.07 C 135-155 250 0.5 0.95 0.04 4 Ap 0-25 265 13.6 1.33 0.23 Bt 25-85 175 8.3 1.01 0.11 C 85-145 170 1.5 0.76 0.10 5 Ap 0-30 300 13.0 1.26 0.21 Btk 30-100 310 5.4 1.14 0.09 C1 100-130 240 0.7 1.33 0.08 C2 130-170 280 0.5 1.26 0.08 These results show the partial improvement of the hydrous properties for the surface horizons of all pedons except pedon (2) represented by increasing porosity, low content of clay ,and high content of silt and sand in addition to the improvement of soil structure in these horizons especially granular type as a result of biological activity which partially increases the content of organic matter, these all factors belonged to low value of leaching factor for surface horizons, which ranges from (0.87) in (Ap) horizon of pedon (4) to (1.64) in (Ap) horizon of pedon (2). Moreover, the results indicate an increase in the leaching factor value in subsurface horizon (B) due to the effect of high content of fine materials assists in increasing the bulk density, which affected negatively to the movement of soil contents. Therefore the leaching factor value was about (0.90) in (Btk) in pedon (5) with clay content (276.1gm/kgm), and (1.62) in (Bt2) of pedon (2) with clay content (330.9gm/kg). These results do not refer to the present dry condition, but it refer to paleoclimatic condition [21]. Generally, pedon (4) and (5) have the lowest values of leaching factor compared with other pedons. The differences in leaching factor value for individual pedon or among the studied pedons mainly reflect the differences in the activity of weathering processes which releases the easy releasable elements especially sodium and potassium (Table 3), in addition to the difference in activity of leaching processes which partially removes the released elements from weathering processes. However increasing weathering and leaching activity processes decrease the leaching factor value as a result of partial increasing of difficult release and movement elements especially silicate. Therefore, surface horizons generally show the lowest leaching factor value which accepted with increasing activity of weathering and leaching in these horizons because they are in contact with external environmental factors especially climate, vegetation and land use nature. While the partial increase of leaching factor value in subsurface horizons was due to the translocation and accumulation of easy releasing and movement elements from surface horizon to these horizons compared with weak effect of difficult releasing and elements movement represent by silicate. The differences in leaching factor value among the studied pedon may be due to the effect of land use pattern and local conditions of each pedon which have great effect on the intensity of weathering and leaching processes among pedons. As well as the differences in some soil properties especially texture and structure, have a great role in limitation of leaching factor value. Table (4): Classification of the studied pedons in Kalar area. Pedon Soil Family 1 Loamy, mixed, hyperthermic, superactive, calcareouseTypicHaplocambids Kurdistan Journal of Applied Research (KJAR) | Print-ISSN: 2411-7684 – Electronic-ISSN: 2411-7706 | kjar.spu.edu.iq Volume 1 | Issue 2 | December 2016 | DOI: 10.24017/science.2016.1.2.1 2 Fine loamy, mixed, hyperthermic, superactive, calcareouseTypicHaploargids 3 Fine loamy, mixed, hyperthermic, superactive, calcareouseTypiccalciargids 4 Loamy, mixed, hyperthermic, superactive, calcareouseTypicHaploargids 5 Fine loamy, mixed, hyperthermic, superactive, calcareouseTypiccalciargids All the studied soils were classified to Aridisols order depending on (Keys to Soil Taxonomy) by [9]. The entity of Argilic and Cambic subsurface horizons (endopedons) and presents of calcareouse through the pedogenic processes which are eluviations, illuviation, calcification and decalcification at the studied soils ,table (4); which indicate the occurrence of translocation of clay materials from surface horizon and hence accumulating in subsurface horizon does not reflect the effect of immediate dry climatic conditions nature which Aridisols is existed, were the soil temperature regime of studied area is hyperthermic [22], while such horizons which were formed under paleoclimatic conditions assisted during the ancient centuries in formation of these horizons or the accumulation of clay in these horizons may be due to in situ formation. This type of clay distribution could be due to the paleoeffect of pedogenic processes responsible for the formation of these soils [21]. It may invariably be the pedogenic processes including calcification, decalcification, eluviation and illuviation which are responsible for formation and development of the soil in dry areas is similar to those in wet areas, but the average of soil formation in dry areas is low due to the low water content, thus because of low water content in such areas, parent materials are mostly affected rather than other soil formation components, where the effect of water on leaching the soluble salts and translocation of colloidal materials from surface horizons to subsurface horizon are very limited 4. Conclusions The results indicate the presence of some differences in values of leaching factor with the same pedon and among the studied pedons . In general , the value of the leaching factor increase with depth in B horizon then decrease in the lower part of the all pedons. This may reflects the down movement of fine soil particles particularly clay . The clay movement cannot be related to the dominant dry climatic condition , but may related to more wet paleoclimatic conditions, and this movement eventually occurred because of local conditions. REFERENCES [1] S. N. Azeez. Identification of soil map units and vegetation indices using geoinformatics techniques for Garmyan, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, Ph.D. dissertation. University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, 2013. [2] P. Buringh. Soil and soil condition in Iraq, Ministry of Agriculture. Baghdad, Iraq, 1960. [3] S. M. Ahmad. Natural map of Iraqi Kurdistan region, Accepted by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research/ Kurdistan region copywriters 7/16/2917 on 22th June 2005. [4] F. H. Al-Taie. The soils of Iraq, Ph.D. dissertation. State University of Ghant, Belgium, 1968. [5] A. S. Muhaimeed; A. J. Saloom; K. A. Saleim and K. A. Alaane. Classification and Distribution of Iraqi Soils, IJAIR. Vol. 2, No. 6, PP. 997-1002. 2014. [6] H.V. Dunnington. 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College of Kurdistan Journal of Applied Research (KJAR) | Print-ISSN: 2411-7684 – Electronic-ISSN: 2411-7706 | kjar.spu.edu.iq Volume 1 | Issue 2 | December 2016 | DOI: 10.24017/science.2016.1.2.1 Agriculture. Sulaimani University, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, 2006. [21] S. N. Aziz.; A. S. muhaimeed and I. M. Amin, Climatic conditions effects on formation and development status of some soils in northern part of Iraq/Kurdistan region, Journal of Kirkuk University, Scientific Studies, Vol. 4, No.1, 2009. [22] J. K. Kassim; K. Z. Al-Janabi and M. I. Karim. Soil temperature regimes in Iraq: II-Relationships between soil temperature and latitude, longitude and elevation, Journal of Agriculture and Water resources Research Vol. 8, No. 1, PP. 111-121, 1989. .