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Salinization as the main soil-forming process in soils of natural oases in the Gobi desert

  • Genesis and Geography of Soils
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Abstract

The saline soils of the natural Ekhiin-Gol oasis located in southern deserts of the Mongolian Trans-Altai Gobi are characterized. Specific features and the genesis of hydromorphic solonchaks, dark-colored meadow, and takyr-like desert soils predominating in the territory of the oasis are considered. Within the Ekhiin-Gol oasis, hydromorphic solonchaks occupy more than 50% of its area. They are formed in the zone of discharge of weakly mineralized groundwater confined to tectonic faults. The upper saline horizon of the solonchaks contains nearly 40–60% of easily soluble salts. Their composition is mainly chloride–sulfate, and their elevated alkalinity is often related to the presence of boron in the soils and groundwater. The mineralogical composition of salts in the solonchaks of the oasis was studied; the reasons for the formation of almost nonsaline dark-colored meadow and takyr-like desert soils along with solonchaks are considered. The water–salt budget was calculated, the distribution of salts along the soil profiles was studied, and reasons for their salinization are considered. The soils of the major part of the Ekhiin-Gol oasis are shown to be subjected to progressing salinization whose intensity depends on the groundwater level and mineralization, as well as on the correlation between the annual evaporation and the amount of water coming to the soil surface with precipitation, groundwater, and water of flooding ice (naled).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, Pyzhevskii per. 7, bldg. 2, Moscow, 119017, Russia

    E. I. Pankova & I. A. Yamnova

  2. Moscow State University of Environmental Engineering, ul. Pryanishnikova 19, Moscow, 127550, Russia

    I. P. Aidarov

  3. Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119199, Russia

    D. L. Golovanov

Authors
  1. E. I. Pankova
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  2. I. P. Aidarov
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  3. D. L. Golovanov
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  4. I. A. Yamnova
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Correspondence to I. A. Yamnova.

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Original Russian Text © E.I. Pankova, I.P. Aidarov, D.L. Golovanov, I.A. Yamnova, 2015, published in Pochvovedenie, 2015, No. 10, pp. 1155–1167.

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Pankova, E.I., Aidarov, I.P., Golovanov, D.L. et al. Salinization as the main soil-forming process in soils of natural oases in the Gobi desert. Eurasian Soil Sc. 48, 1017–1028 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229315100087

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229315100087

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