Abstract

BAUTISTA, Francisco; FRAUSTO, Oscar; IHL, Thomas  and  AGUILAR, Yameli. An update soil map of The Yucatan State, Mexico: Geomorphopedological approach and WRB. Ecosistemas y recur. agropecuarios [online]. 2015, vol.2, n.6, pp.303-315. ISSN 2007-901X.

The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between the geomorphic environments, landforms and the soils in the Yucatan State. A Digital Terrain Model (DTM) was elaborated by using 58 digital topographic maps at scale 1:50000. Then, an altimetric map with 10 meter level contours was made. The components of the relief in the landforms were identified by using satellite imagery (SPOT and LANDSAT). Information from 401 soil profiles was consulted. The geomorphic and pedological map of Yucatan was generated by mapping the geomorphology at scale 1:100000 as the cartographic base, using the soils as a legend. Then, five geomorphic environments were identified: 1) Litoral; 2) Palustral; 3) Pseudo-palustral; 4) Karstic; and 5) Tectonic-karstic. In each of the environments, there were identified the landforms (plains and low hills) and the soils. The geomorphic and pedological approach allowed the identification and description of the coastal geomorphic landscapes and the pseudo-palustral plains, which had not been described before. In the karst environment, at a higher altitude and more humidity, the limestone dissolution caused depressions in soils deeper than the Leptosols. This intensified in the zones in which the platforms emerged at different geologic periods. In the karstic plains from 10 to 100 masl, it was observed a greater soil development due to a higher altitude and more humidity. The most important formation factors in the karstic plains were: Mean sea level, climate and geologic period of emergence.

Keywords : Relief; karst; leptosol; cambisol; luvisol; vertisol; digital elevation model.

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