ABSTRACT Soils in alluvial plains of the lower course of the Acaraú River, Ceará State, Brazil, are weakly developed and have a complex distribution in the landscape. This study reports the pedogenic characterization of such soils in an effort to understand their formation. Soil pits were opened in four representative sites, profile morphology was described, and soil samples were collected for chemical, physical, mineralogical, and micromorphological analyses. All profiles had weak pedogenic development, as inferred from their morphological characteristics, lack of B horizon, and high silt/clay ratio. Organic carbon and particle size distributions were heterogeneous in Fluvisol, Planosol, and Solonchak, in agreement with their sedimentary nature. Intrinsic characteristics of each profile indicated variations in pedogenic processes related to depositional conditions, which, in turn, were determined by the alluvial nature of sediments and water table dynamics. Consequently, Fluvisols at higher elevations showed reduced pedogenic development. In adjacent areas, Planosols showed pores filled with clay minerals and a texture gradient, indicative of past lessivage. Vertisol was identified in small depressions and exhibited intense pedoturbation and high sodium concentration in deep layers. Solonchak had a high degree of hydromorphism, high sodium concentration, and high electrical conductivity. The distinct pedogenesis of alluvial plain soils in Northeastern Brazil is evidenced by their morphological, chemical, and physical properties.

ABSTRACT Information is scarce on the genesis and classification of soils derived from calcareous rocks in the Northeastern region of Brazil. This study describes the morphological, physical, chemical, mineralogical, and micromorphological properties of four soil profiles (P1-P4) located in the Apodi Plateau. A pedogenesis hypothesis and soil classification, according to the Brazilian System of Soil Classification (SiBCS), are proposed for these profiles. The interactions between parent material, surface topography and climate affected the pedogenesis processes and soil properties, although the calcareous nature of the parent material most affected the soil morphology and chemical properties. The sand fraction contained mainly quartz and calcite, and a smaller amount of mica. Smectite and interstratified illite-smectite occurred in the clay fraction of profile P1 and in some horizons of P2 (Ccmќ and Ccrќ) and P3 (2Ccrќ). Kaolinite predominated in profiles P2, P3, and P4; where as illite and vermiculite were present in the Bicќ, Bcќ, Bcmќ horizons of P2, in Bt2c of P3, and in C of P4. The mineralogy showed illite, hematite, and goethite, and anatase in a number of horizons. Micromorphological analysis of P2 indicated a strong cementation of Bcmќ and Ccmќ by calcium carbonate, and other properties indicate the formation of a petrocalcic horizon, but this horizon lacked lateral continuity in the profile. Therefore, the parapetrocalcic term is proposed for classifying P2 in the fourth level of the SiBCS. The 3Biќ-P1 horizon exhibited calcite coating and iron coating or quasi-coating, indicating distinct pedogenesis processes occurring under different environmental conditions. Likewise, the occurrence of petroplinthite in P2 indicates that climatic conditions during its formation differed from present conditions, and both situations are interpreted as evidence that the soils were formed by polygenetic processes. In the SiBCS classification, the soils are classified as Cambissolo Háplico Carbonático vertissólico (P1), Cambissolo Háplico Carbonático concrecionário (P2), Luvissolo Crômico Pálico petroplíntico (P3), and Neossolo Litólico Carbonatico típico (P4); and a new class (parapetrocálcico concrecionário) is proposed for P2 in the fourth level.

Os Organossolos são geralmente associados às regiões Sudeste e Sul do Brasil, e são poucos os estudos sobre a ocorrência e os efeitos do uso e manejo agrícola desses solos na região Nordeste. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram caracterizar física, química e morfologicamente seis perfis de Organossolos de várzeas dos Estados do Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte e da Paraíba e correlacionar seus atributos ao ambiente de formação, além de quantificar seus estoques de carbono e suas capacidades de armazenamento de água. Foram utilizados os métodos recomendados no Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos (SiBCS) para caracterizar química e fisicamente o solo, bem como a umidade e o volume residual dele. O aumento dos valores da Ds nos horizontes foi em decorrência da maior decomposição das fibras esfregadas (FE) e da redução dos teores de matéria orgânica. O volume residual apresentou correlações positiva e significativa a 5 % com o valor de resíduo mínimo (r = 0,64) e Ds (r = 0,74) e negativa com a porcentagem de FE (r = -0,75), podendo ser usado para avaliar a subsidência desses solos. As propriedades químicas foram influenciadas pelo material orgânico e pelos sedimentos fluviomarinhos. A variação da drenagem influenciada pela posição no relevo e pelo uso agrícola dos solos conduziu a classes de diferentes graus de decomposição da matéria orgânica e com isto às classes dos Organossolos Fíbrico, Hêmico e Sáprico. Um dos perfis CE1, com maior influência de sedimentos marinhos, foi classificado como Organossolo Tiomórfico com caráter solódico.

The Histosols are generally associated with Southeastern and Southern regions of Brazil, and there are few studies on the occurrence and effects of the use and agricultural management of these soils in the Northeast. The aim of this paper is to physically, chemically and morphologically characterize six profiles of Histosols from flood plains in the states of Ceara, Rio Grande do Norte and Paraiba, Brazil and correlate their soil properties to the training environment, as well as quantify their carbon stores and water storage capacities. We used the methods recommended in the Brazilian System of Soil Classification (SiBCS) for chemical and physical characterization, moisture content and residual volume soil. The increase in the values of bulk density (BD) in the horizons was due to greater decomposition of rubbed fibers (RF) and decrease in soil organic matter. Residual volume was positively and significantly (5 %) correlated with the minimum residual value (r = 0.64) and BD (r = 0.74) and negatively correlated with the percentage of RF (r = -0.75), and it can be used to assess the subsidence of these soils. Chemical properties were affected by the material of organic origin and fluvial-marine sediments. Drainage variation, influenced by position in the landscape and crop use of the soils, led to classes with different degrees of decomposition of organic matter and, thus, Fibric, Hemic and Sapric classes of 'Organossolos'. One of the CE1 profiles, with greater influence from marine sediments, was classified as an 'Organossolo Tiomórfico' of a solodic nature.