Soil Evolution Trend of In-situ Soil Developed in a Mountainous Landscape (Case Study: Bandar Village)

Magnetic susceptibility (MS) is one of the indices used in soil development evaluation. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of soil magnetic susceptibility in study of soil evolution in the Bandar mountainous landscape of Mazandaran province. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, soil taxonomic classes and morphological index were determined after field studies and physicochemical analysis of 56 soil profiles. Some chemical and geochemical indices were determined and magnetic susceptibility in low (χlf) and high (χhf) frequency were measured by Bartington MS2 dual-frequency sensor on topsoil samples. The correlations between soil magnetic susceptibility and soil taxonomic classes, physicochemical properties, and development indices indicated more efficiency of magnetic susceptibility and morphological index in the representation of soil development in this region. The slope of the study area, as well as the presence of a high amount of carbonates, has caused an inverse relationship between geochemical indices and soil taxonomic classes.