The objective of the present study was to make the physical and chemical characterization of soils developed on sediments of the Barreiras group, in southern Bahia, as well as soils formed from rocks of the crystalline basement, which were taken as reference. For this purpose, soil horizon samples from two representative toposequences of the Coastal Plain were selected and analyzed: (1) eutrophic argisolic Red Latosol, latosolic dystrophic Yellow Argisol, duric orthic Ferrocarbic Spodosol; (2) dystrophic abruptic Yellow Argisol, dystrophic typic Yellow Argisol and duric orthic carbic Spodosol. Physical characteristics determined were texture, water dispersed clay, flocculation degree, and bulk density. The chemical analysis carried out were the following: pH in H2O and in KCl, Mg2+, K+, Na+, Al3+, H+ + Al3+, P, organic C and sulfuric acid attack. The soils of the two different topographic sequences differed regarding morphological and physical (texture) characteristics, mainly in the manifestation of the cohesive character. The Argisols inserted where the plateau was wider and less dissected presented a higher textural gradient and more pronounced cohesion state. The bulk density values for the cohesive horizons as well as for the fragipan and duripan were high and were inversely related with the organic matter content. The main micromorphological characteristics observed in the dense horizons of the Yellow Argisols were: low porosity and biological activity, and presence of illuviation argilans, confirming the presence of a textural B horizon.
cohesive horizon; fragipan; duripan; Barreiras group
