Abstract

GUEVARA OLIVAR, Brenda Karina et al. Morphology and geochemistry of Xochimilco soils. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2015, vol.33, n.4, pp.263-273. ISSN 2395-8030.

The chinampa area of Xochimilco is part of the protected area shared by the ejidos Xochimilco and San Gregorio Atlapulco by decree of UNESCO. Agriculture is carried out in this area. However, high levels of salinity reduce chinampa productivity and encourage neglect and ecological deterioration. To contribute to recovery and maintenance of the area, the physical-chemical characteristics of the soil were assessed, relative to the nature and magnitude of accumulation of the parent material. A soil profile to the depth of 300 cm was obtained, and characteristics were evaluated every 10 cm. Results indicated the presence of wedging at 110 cm, corresponding to a layer of semi-compact and hydrophobic ash. This ash is a semi-insulating phase during leaching and salt eluviation. The dynamism of the physical-chemical properties is altered by wedging since it interferes in salt leaching and leads to increased salt concentrations in the upper horizons because of capillary rise and drying. Moreover, the combination of physical properties of the soil and the parent material causes a decrease in hydraulic conductivity and increases salt concentration in the profile.

Keywords : salt leaching; sodicity; pleistocene; sierra Chichinautzin; glacial period.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )