Similarity Analysis of Soils Formed on Limestone/Marl-Alluvial Parent Material and Different Topography Using Some Physical and Chemical Properties via Cluster and Multidimensional Scaling Methods

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the similarity of soils formed on limestone/marl alluvial parent material and different topography using some physical and chemical properties via cluster analysis (CA) and multidimensional scaling analysis (MDSA). Physical and chemical soil properties included in this study are texture, CaCO<inf>3</inf>, organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, and available water content. The study was carried out in Çetinkaya region located on Bafra Deltaic Plain. The study area has two main physiographic units. The first one is the flat or gently slope alluvial lands (0–2 %), and the other one involves hills with slopes ranging from middle to steep (3–20 %). The soil in the study area is mainly classified as entisol, inceptisol and vertisol. According to the CA results, while C horizons of the soils formed on alluvial deposits (typic ustifluvent and typic ustipsamment) bear similarity, Ap horizons of the soils formed on lime/marl parent material (vertic ustorhent, vertic calciustept, and calci haplustert) appear in the same group. Additionally, in order to support CA, MDSA was performed. Significant correlations were observed between the results of both analyses. © 2015, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.