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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #122416
Title: INDURATION IN DEGRADED VOLCANIC SOILS FROM SEMIARID CENTRAL MEXICO

Author
item VENTURA, E - UNIV. OF QUERETARO, MEX
item Norton, Lloyd
item OROPEZA, J - UNIV OF QUERETARO, MEX

Submitted to: International Conference on Land Degradation
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/2/2001
Publication Date: 9/15/2001
Citation: Ventura, E., Norton, L.D., Oropeza, J.L. Induration in degraded volcanic soils from semiarid Central Mexico. International Conference on Land Degradation. 2001. Abstract. p. 2.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Water erosion in Central Mexico has removed the topsoil of volcanic soils over extensive areas, exposing hardened or indurated subsurface horizons. These indurated soils are locally called "tepetates", a native term meaning "rock mat". Water intake in these soils is very limited, which increases runoff and erosion and reduces considerably the availability of water for plant growth. In an attempt to understand more the process of induration in these exposed indurated soils, a micromorphological and mineralogical study was conducted in four different types of tepetate. This paper will present information on the types and forms of induration and some of the agents possibly responsible for the hardening or physical behavior of these soil to the influence of external forces.