Mesomorphology of the solid soil phase: research methodology, results, prospects

Abstract

Morphological studies of soil solid phase within a narrow range of magnifications (approximately 10–20×) using optical devices and known as mesomorphology, are not widely used by soil scientists in their research activities. However, it is not expensive and provides useful pedogenetic information. The mesomorphological level is a part of a hierarchical investigation of the arrangement of the soil mass, which was most completely performed by soils scientists of the Institute of geography, RAS in 1974 headed by Victor Targulian. It is hardly possible to repeat such pedogenetic investigation now, although its ingredients are applied, whereas the mesomorphological one received much less attention. In order to extend the sphere of mesomorphology application, some proposals to improve the method concerning sampling, photographic technique, computer processing of photographs are proposed, as well as indicating objects and purposes for most efficient application of mesomorphology. It is concentrating on the solid phase, namely, shape and fabric of aggregates in three-dimensional image, pedofeatures like iron-manganic and carbonate segregations and nodules, traces of soil fauna activities, organic residues transformations, coprolites, and diverse coatings – their location in the soil mass and abundance.