THE CLIMATIC AND THE RELIEF CHARACTERISTICS SPECIFIC TO THE MARONIC SOIL SUBTYPE FROM DOBROGEA

Abstract

The maronic subtype was introduced in Romanian Soil Taxonomy System (RSTS) in 2003. Previously named „brown soils of xerophile woods”, it was described by N. Florea and Ana Conea in 1962. The soils with maronic subtype are formed under specific conditions, with the climatic and relief specificity which favored the manifestation of two main pedogenetic processes: a process characteristic for the soils formed under xerophile woods; and a process characteristic to the soils formed in the steppe zone (under grasses). In what concern the influence of the relief on the soil formation, it was observed that soils with maronic subtype are spread mainly on the north-facing or west-facing slopes and usually occupies the lower part of the slopes. In these relief and climatic conditions and under the forest vegetation, an Amf (A mollic forestalic) horizon was formed. Although formed under forest vegetation, the soils with maronic subtype showed a horizon succession similar to that of the steppe soils.