Genesis of Taiga Poorly Differentiated Soils in West Siberia
We studied acid loamy and clayey mesomorphous soils in middle taiga subdomain in West Siberia. Micromorphological study in transmitted and reflected light, and scanning electronic microscopy showed multiple ferromanganese nodules and strong soil aggregation with roe aggregate structure. X-ray diffractometric analysis revealed smectite, illite, kaolinite, and vermiculite with interplanar Al as clay compounds. We found that the main soil forming processes in these soils are clay destruction by acid hydrolysis in the upper horizons and accumulation of aluminum in middle soil horizons. Specificity of soil morphology was linked with cryogenic structural transformations, and low mobility of silt caused by aluminum enrichment. The soils were classified as Cambisols and Alisols following WRB.