Kastanozems

The Kastanosem (from Russian: Каштан = chestnut and Zemlya: bottom ) is a soil type of the international soil classification WRB, belongs to the group of humus accumulation floors. He is the zonal soil of semi-arid short -grass plains.

Occurrence

Kastanozeme are found mainly in the areas of short grass steppes

• Northern Hemisphere: Eurasian steppe (southern Ukraine, southern Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia), Great Plains (Canada, central United States, northern Mexico )
• Southern Hemisphere: Pampas and Gran Chaco (Paraguay, northern Argentina and southern Bolivia ).

Key Features

The name derives from the chestnut color resulting from high organic matter content. The humus-rich topsoil is deep incorporated by soil burrowers ( bioturbation ). In addition, the soil contains very high lime content, since no leaching takes place. Typical are even secondary Kalkan empires changes in the topsoil by the rise of groundwater. The ground floor has a rich life, favorable pH values ​​and high nutrient levels

Use

Kastanozeme are very fertile sites basically. Because of the low and irregular rainfall are non-irrigated land but steadily under drought risk. In many areas, therefore dominates the pastoral industry.

Utilized locations are prone to soil erosion and overgrazing. When irrigation is a great risk of salinization.

Similar soil types

Closely related is the Chernozem, the zonal soil of wetter and cooler long grass steppe. The improved water supply Chernozeme are but humus and dark ( deep black). Due to the severe winter weather, they are also more intense than the Kastanozem ransacked and so profound humos.

Also similar is the WRB soil type Phaeozem, which occurs in relatively humid transitional area between forest and steppe.

After the German soil classification Kastanozeme are often addressed as Kalktschernosem.