Genesis and Morphology of Vertisols Developed on Different Parent Materials

Six Vertisols developed on different parent materials in semi-arid climate and moderate rainfall were studied for their genesis. Parent materials rich in CaCO₃ gave rise to shallow profiles. Soil profiles derived from granite were not calcareous. The size and abundance of CaCO₃ concretions increased with depth. Pedons developed on shales and charnockite had shown granular and crumb structure while pedons developed on granitegneiss, granite and limestone had shown sub-angular blocky structure in surface horizons. The exchangeable Ca²⁺ decreased with depth while exchangeable Mg²⁺ nd Na⁺ increased. The SiO₂ content was more in pedons developed on charnockite and granite while MgO content was more in pedons developed on shales.