CATENARY SOIL RELATIONSHIPS IN ISRAEL .1. NETANYA CATENA ON COASTAL DUNES OF SHARON

A typical catena of red mediterranean soils in the Sharon area was investigated, consisting of nazazic hamra on the upland, sandy clay loam hamra on the moderate slope, nazaz (= pseudogley) at the footslope and hydromorphic grumusol in the swampy toeslope positions. The pedomorphic surface originated on sandy parent material which became enriched with fine aeolian sediments. Redeposition of this material which accumulated on leaves and other plant residues took place on the footslope and marshy basins. The relative accumulation of the air-borne deposits determined the texture of the soil and in turn also illuviation and turbation processes, clay mineral weathering and leaching intensity. Textural differentiation in well drained profiles on the upper and crest slope is pronounced, indicating a high intensity of leaching and clay mobility. The degree of leaching is also evident in the pH values, clay mineral composition and the population of the exchange complex. Soils of the bottomland and its fringes are poorly drained and show the effect of gleying processes. Clay pans have developed on the footslope. The soils may be considered mature the whole catena is in a dynamic equilibrium with the present environment. The big differences in properties of the various soils in this catena are thus mainly due to processes governed by the relief factor. © 1969.