Morphological and pedologic characterization of a depression (Serra-ES-Brazil)

ABSTRACT

This study aims to characterize the morphology of the soil cover and a depression and hypotheses of its origin. The methodological basis was a Structural Coverage Analysis Pedologic integrating the recognition of soil cover from four (4) steps: i) topographic survey; ii) auger; iii) elaboration of toposequency; iv) opening trench. Based on the recognition of realized and pedological cover the preparation of a map of landforms in the area, from photointerpretation techniques in aerial photography, it was possible to identify the existence of small depressed areas aligned in the bottom of the depression. The elaborate toposequency showed that soil cover features eight (8) soil horizons and a vertical drop of approximately 9 m from the top of the slope to the onset of depression. The advancement of gley horizon and merge depressed areas with higher elevations, from depression, following upstream in shed may be a sign of a remontant evolution (from downstream to upstream) of depression. The origin of depression may be related to loss of material due to geochemical dissolution. It was possible to establish six (6) stages of evolution of depression.

Keywords:
Soil; Depression; Structural Analysis Coverage Pedologic; Geochemical Dissolution