Aridisols

As Aridisol is referred to according to the USDA soil classification calcareous desert soils of the tropics and temperate latitudes, which form in regions of hot, dry climate.

The Aridisolen include in particular:

• Desert soils
• Semi-desert soils
• Solontschake (white alkali soils)
• Solonetz ( black alkali soils)
• Protosoil

They are found in particular in western South America along the Andes mountain range in the Western United States inland from the Rocky Mountains, in South West Africa and the northern coastal regions of this continent, the Middle East, including Arabia and the Horn of Africa, Iran, Afghanistan, and large parts of Central Asia to into China and Australia.

The slightly alkaline to neutral soils usually do not have a well-developed soil profile, but they show that a weak horizon formation. In deeper layers contained water is drawn by capillary action along with the salts dissolved in it to the surface, where it evaporates; as a result often leaves a thin layer of salt. In addition, one often finds gypsum, clay or lime ingredients. Unlike Vertisolen, which are found in regions with pronounced dry and rainy seasons, Aridisole but do not form deep soil columns.

Although Aridisole can be through irrigation to fertile soils on which wheat can be grown about, due to the very low moisture content usually grow very few drought- adapted plants. As a result, these soils contain very little organic material and are also extremely susceptible to erosion due to the low vegetation - eroded Aridisole return to their undeveloped soils, the Entisolen.

Worldwide, about 15.7 million square kilometers or 12 percent of the ice-free land area of ​​Aridisolen are covered.

Classification

One differentiates a total of 7 submissions:

• Cryid
• Salid
• Durid
• Gypsid
• Argid
• Calcid
• Cambid