CALCAREOUS SOILS MORPHOLOGY AND

DISTRIBUTION
INTRODUCTION
In a countries with mediterranean ,arid and desert climates soils containing calcium carbonate in one
or several of their horizons are frequent.
There are two main reasons
• The first is the rock s: in these regions they are frequently calcareous, or simply rich in calcium ( for
example the basalts ).
• The second is the climate : the frequent alternation of wet and dry periods and the existence of a
long dry season are not favourable to deep leaching of the solution in the soils.
The denomination and classifications of these soils are very varied.Researcher does not want to discuss
the question but only to remind you of the names of these soils in three main classification system:
• In the french system,the mediterranean and desert calcareous soils are classified as: “(poorly
developed) soils,calcimagnesic soils,isuhumic soil or as miditerranean fersiallitic red or brown soils;
• According to the U.S A.classification,these soils are xerochrepts(inceptisols)argids or
orthids(aridisols),rendolls or xerolls(mollisols),xeralfs(afisols);
• According to the key of the FAO/Unesco soil map of the world,the calcareous soil of the
miditerranean and desert countries can be fluvisols,renzinas yermosols castanozems or cambisols.
MORPHOLOGY OF THE CALCAREOUS PROFILE
• Three main horizons can be distinguished from observation and study of the distribution of
the carbonate in these soil soils:
CALCAREOUS SOIL
• In the middle part of the soils there is an horizon where the content of the calcium carbonate
is higher than in those situated above and below it is an
• horizon of calcium carbonate accumulation,i.e.a Bca:and in it the carbonate is generally
partially concentrated.
• Below is the C horizon, that is the parent material,which can be calcareous or not.
The distribution of the carbonate these three horizons difine what can be called the calcareous
profile.This calcareous profile is the most important characteristic of these soils which are,in
fact,soils with a differentiated calcareous profile.this is the name given to this soils in this paper in
the aim is to given and to recall some data about the characteristics and the distribution of these
soils howeever,without going into discussion of the names and of the classificaton of these soils.
The horizon of these soils is the most important one and a study of the morphological
organisation of these soils must be started with the study of the Bca horizons.according to
morphology of this horizon,Three main types of profile are distinguishable.
First there are soils with a weak differentiated calcareous profile.In these soil the
thickness of the Bca horizon is slight,only 20 to about 50 centemeters;the
development is weak,i.e the content of carbonate in this horizon is not very much
higher than in the A and C horizon(only some 10%).Furthermore,the distribution of
carbonate in the Bca horizon is diffuse or occasionally concentrated in some pseudo-
mycelium.
The accumulation of the calcium carbonate in these type of a Bca is in the form of fine
particles.The upper and lower limits of this type of Bca horizon are diffuse and it is
frequently difficult to recognize the presence of the horizon in the profile.In general it
has a clearer colour than than horizon situated above above and below,but sometimes
it is necessary to wait the result of the analysis to know the presence of the
accumulation.
Secondly there are soils with a Bca horizon in which the calcium carbonate
accumulated,is partially concentrated.Calcium carbonate concentration are present
and they can be soft or hard.When they are hard they are called nodules.These soils
have a moderately differentiated calcareous profile.The upper and the lower limits of
this Bca horizon are generally diffuse.The carbonate content of carbonate does not
exceed 50 to 60 percent and the thickness of the horizon can vary from 20 to almost
100cm.
• The third type of soil has a Bca horizon in
which the carbonate form in a part of the
horizon is a continuous layer known in French
as a “encroutement calcaire” It is almost
equivalent, though not exactly, to the
American petrocalcic horizon. The term
“encroutement” can be translated lime
crusting or calcarecous encrustation. The soil
with this type of Bca have a very well
differentiated calcareous profile.
•
 There are several types of crusting (encrustation)

• 1. Non platy lime crusting with two sub types:

(a.) characterized by a massive, fairly continuous structure or also by a fine polyhedric structure.
(b.) marked by a nodular and polyhedric structure; the nodular structure is due to the presence of
calcium carbonate nodules. The content of calcium carbonate is generally high, between 50 and
80 per cent.

2. Platy structure lime crusting,also with two sub type:

(a.) “croute calcaire” known in English as calcareous crust. This crust is usually situated above a
non platy lime crusting. This type of Bca horizon has the characteristic of being clear, very distinct
platy, laminar structure. The content of calcium carbonate is generally high:60 to 90 per cent.
However, if the parent material is quarts sand ( sand dune, sand stone) the calcareous crust may
contain only about 40 per cent carbonate.
• (b) “dalle compacte” which is translated in English as compact slab. This transformation of
the calcareous crust into very hard stone like platy elements. The slab is generally situated on
top of the calcareous crust The slab is usually very rich in carbonate : between 70 to 90 per
cent. The colour is salmon pink.

3.Very fine laminated pellicule which frequently covers the top of the lime crusting and
particularly the top of the platy lime crusting .The French name of “pellicule rubanne” may be
translated as ribboned pellicule (thin lime pan). It is always a thin formation of some millimetres
to one or two centimetres, is frequently very hard and always rich in carbonate- more than 70 per
cent. The colour is white or salmon, sometimes with darker lamellae.

To summarize , the Bca horizon of calcareous soil can be:

1.Diffuse accumulation with or without pseudo-mycelium; in this case calcareous profile is weakly
differentiated.
2.The Bca horizon contains soft concentration or nodules (hard concentration) throughout the
thickness of the horizon or only in part of it; the calcareous profile is moderately differentiated.
3.Part of Bca horizon is a lime crusting, the thickness of which varies from 10 cm to more than 2
metres. This calcareous profile is very well differentiated.
• The lime crusting can be:

• A. non platy;
• B. platy;ia.a crust usually surmounting a non platylime crusting.
In the three oases a ribboned pellicule can cover the top of the Bca horizon.
Two points should be noted. Some calcareous soil have no Bca, no
accumulation of carbonate and this occurs in two oases. In the first there is no
differentiation in the calcareous profil; the content of the carbonate is the
same from the top to the base of the soil. This is found in young soils. In the
second case the calcareous profile is weakly differentiated and there is
progressive increase in the carbonate content from the top soil to the parent
material.
The second point is that in the semi-arid and humid zones of the
Mediterranean regions, soils with no carbonate occurs frequently on
carbonate rocks; “terra rossa” or certain red Mediterranean soils on hard
carbonate rocks, are well known examples of this.
VERTICAL AND LATERAL VARIATIONS OF THE CALCAREOUS PROFILE

• To understand the distribution and genesis of these

calcareous soils, it is important to study the vertical and
lateral variations of the Bca horizon and the correlations that
exist etween the different types of accumulations and those
that exist between the Bca horizon and the A and C horizzons.
• In a complete Bca horizon the vertical transition between the
different layers of accumulations is gradual. From base of the
soil, there is gradual transition from a layer with soft
concentrations and nodules to the nodular lime crusting, then
to the crust and to the slab. Only the ribboned pellicule has
distinct limit.
• In a catena of soils, in lateral modification of
the Bca horizon,lateral and progressive
transition between the different types of Bca
can frequently noted.There are progressive
changes in a Bca with soft concentration and
nodules to non platy