Soil formation on a calcic chronosequence of Ancient Lake Konya in Central Anatolia, Turkey

With the passage of time, different soils show a wide range of variation in their formation. The passage of time in soil formation affects both soil features and the rates of weathering. The aim of this research is to study and compare the pedogenic evolution of soils developed on the terraces of Ancient Lake Konya using weathering indices such as Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA), Chemical Index of Weathering (CIW), and Eu and Ce anomalies. The study will also take into account other features, such as the physical and chemical properties, the analytical characteristics and how soil formation is determined according to the passage of time. For this purpose, four representative profiles were dug at different levels. After the macro-morphological identifications were completed in all the profiles, the samples were then collected from the horizons and were analysed for their physical, chemical, mineralogical and geochemical properties.Although the soils in the study field were formed in different terrace levels, no significant relationship between the age of the soil and the soil properties was found. The lone exception was the clay movement in profile 1, which resulted from the limitation in profile development caused by erosion. Moreover, this erosion was the result of an increasing slope from the low terrace to the high coastal terraces. Similar physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics were determined in the profiles. Using geochemical characteristics, the determined weathering indexes and their anomalies showed a very limited variation between the profiles, which suggests that though they differ in terms of age, the profiles have similar weathering levels. The climatological factors continuing along the Holocene were not efficient enough to change the effect of the other soil formation factors in the last period of the Quaternary. Therefore, it was concluded that the main factors determining soil formation are climate and topography, both of which determine the leaching regime and the weathering rates.

► We evaluated of weathering rates of soil developed on a calcic chronosequence.
► We investigated geochemical, and analytical characteristics of three soil profiles.
► We have found similar geochemical, characteristics in the profiles.
► Weathering indexes and anomalies showed a very limited variation between profiles.
► The profiles have similar weathering levels although they differ in terms of age.