a.a. jafarzadeh

Soil texture is variable through space and controls most of the soil’s Physico-chemical, biological and hydrological characteristics and governs agricultural production and yield. Therefore, determining its variability and generating accurate soil texture maps have a key role in soil management and sustainable agriculture. The purpose of this study is to introduce a numerical algorithm named Least Square Support Vector Machine for Regression (LS-SVR) as a predictive model in Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) of soil texture fractions and evaluating its performances based on modeling evaluation criteria. In this study, the soil texture data of 49 soil profiles in Tabriz plain, Iran, was used. The important covariates were selected using Genetic Algorithm (GA). The model evaluation results based on ME, MAE, RMSE, and R2 indicate the high performance of LS-SVR in predicting soil texture components. The prediction RMSE for sand, silt, and clay was 6.82, 5.08 and 6.06, respectively. Silt prediction had the highest ME and the lowest MAE and RSME values. The algorithm simulated the complex spatial patterns of soil texture fractions and provided high accuracy predictions and maps. Therefore, the LS-SVR algorithm has the capability to be used as predictive models in soil texture digital mapping. This study highlighted the potential of the LS-SVR algorithm in high precision soil mapping. The generated maps can be used as basic information for environmental management and modeling.

In this research work taxonomic distance and clustering performance for understanding of relation and correlation between calcareous, gypsiferous and saline soils of East Azerbaijan semi-arid and arid regions were studied based on soil taxonomy (ST) and world reference base (WRB) systems. The taxonomic distance by R software and Numerical Taxonomy in Excel and clustering using R and SPSS softwares were calculated and their relationship in two systems was investigated. Then using the average amount of physicochemical quantitative data, the results of calculation and clustering compared with each other and so with opinion of the experts, that there was a good quantitative correlation between salids and salonchaks, salonetz, gypsids and gypsisols, argids and luvisols, xerepts and calcisols and gypsisols. The obtained results of four methods were almost similar and identical with each other, but use of each one had its own limits and skills. The conceptual method was based on the dominant qualitative identifiers (soil-forming factors or processes, diagnostic horizons and in general dominant morphological properties of calcareous, gypsiferous and saline soils) and coding of them, that sufficient information or knowledge and skills are necessary to achieve a good accuracy in this method. The quantitative physicochemical data were used in the centroid-based approaches numerical taxonomy and clustering and results of these methods are more reliable. The easiest method was Numerical Taxonomy, which with simple options and without any programing, forms matrix and by normalizing data, the Mahalanubis equation makes the taxonomic distance easily available. In general, these tools and calculations are useful for finding the relationship between soils in different classification systems, and quantitatively numerical findings for their correlation and association in classification systems, especially ST and WRB, which are widely used in Iran are recommended.

This research work carried out to investigate the effects of land use type on soil porosity by image analysis of soil thin sections in Karkaj Agriculture Research Station. Experiments were conducted by studying five soil profiles with different covers of apple and coniferous trees, alfalfa, rapeseed and bare land (no cultivation) and 450 TIFF format images from soil thin sections, were prepared by connected camera to microscope and pores were separated from minerals with the compensator Lambda plate. As a factorial trial with completely randomized design (CRD), undisturbed soil blocks were prepared with three replications from horizons of A or Ap, Bw and C and then soil thin sections were prepared and studied with a polarizing microscope. Obtained results indicated that total area of soil pores in apple and coniferous lands were greater than those in the utilized lands for alfalfa, rapeseed and bare one, that it can be related to root system and organic matter. Also maximum frequency of shape characteristics such as pores roundness and solidity observed in coniferous covered land were greater than those in alfalfa, rapeseed and bare lands. In alfalfa, rapeseed and bare lands the fractal dimension of the pore component (Dmp) and solid component (Dms) were significantly decreased and increased respectively. Therefore, the quantitative and statistical results revealed significant effects of the land use types on soil porosity and microstructure.

Determination of land suitability to achive sustainable agriculture and environmental protection is very important and essential, because of arable land decrease in the last decade. In this research, parametric approaches including Storie and Square Root and ELECTRE TRI multiple criteria method have been used for suitability evaluation of the maize cultivation under sprinkler irrigation in 12000 ha area of Dasht-e-Moghan via consideration of 167 soil profiles. After soil sampling, analysis, classification and extraction of soil properties values by weighted coefficients, finally eight properties including soil depth, lime, gypsum, pH, EC, ESP, slope and climate were selected using principal component analysis and Euclidean distance methods for calculations of the land suitability evaluation. Criteria weights via pair-wise comparison matrix method and ELECTRE TRI profiles and thresholds limits were determined using requirements table, soil and land properties data. Statistical comparison of the allocated grades, mean values to the suitability classes in the region and soil great groups showed that the results of the three methods were significantly different and ELECTRE TRI method had the best grade. Hotelling and Wilks tests of multivariate variance analysis distinguished a suitable separation accuracy of suitability classes by their P-values in ELECTRE TRI method. Also comparing the mean values of the soil and land properties via LSD test showed a significant difference among the ELECTRE TRI suitability classes that implie the high accuracy of this method due to determination of the transition suitable limits (classes between limit), appropriate values of thresholds and criteria weights as well as usage of the fuzzy logic relations and principles for performance of the calculation processes.

The soil management and optimum usage require a correct soil classification and detection of their main characteristics. So in this research work, the Soil Taxonomy and World Reference Base systems proficiency to qualify saline and gypsiferous soils properties and estimate of the relative amount of clay minerals with effect on soil characteristics are discussed. For this purpose, saline and gypsiferoussoils of two regions from east Azerbaijan (Dasht-e-Tabriz and Khaje) were selected and after soil profiles description, sampling of all horizons and layers were carried out. Then samples were prepaired and different experiments were conducted for the study of ST and WRB proficiency. In the majority of soil profiles, the presence of heavy textured lower horizons has caused excessive accumulation of salts in the surface and middle horizons and salic and gypsic horizons formations. In general, according to WRB and ST, soils of these regions are classified in three reference soil groups of solonchaks, solonetz and gypsisols and two suborders of salids and gypsids, respectively. Based on mineralogical results, the most common and abundant clay mineral in this soils were illite which could be used as a mineralogy class in family level of ST system. As a result, in this kind of soils, the WRB system by high explanation of soil properties and adding dominant clay minerals name in qualifiers can be superior to ST.

Nowadays, due to the population growing and agriculture lands degradation, optimum land use and management become essential. Consequently land suitability evaluation and prediction of the production potential are important processes. The goal of the present research is the comparison of AEZ and Wageningen models in estimation of the Thermal-Radiation production that it is one of parameters in calculation of the Production Potential in FAO method for irrigated wheat. Soil morphological, physical and chemical characteristics of 10 land units of Khajeh region with 1100 ha extension located in East Azarbaijan province were selected. The soils of the study region have Aridic border to xeric moisture and mesic temperature regimes, and were classified in Aridisols orders according to keys to soil taxonomy 2014. Coefficient of correlation values between land production potential and observed yield were 0.74 and 0.72 for AEZ and Wageningen models respectively. Geometric mean error ratio (GMER) index was used for studying the model accuracy. The values of this index have been calculated for the AEZ and wageningen models 1.02 and 2.28 respectively. According to the coincidence of agreement maps of the AEZ or wageningen models and observed yield the agreement in AEZ method 52.8 % is more than of the Wageningen method 12.8%. Finally, the AEZ model is more efficient than the other because it has high precision, accuracy, overall map agreement with observed yield and low calculating process.

Assessing of soil genetically evolution is very important because the large number of management decisions depend on soil classification and its evolution rate. In this regards, evaluation of soils clay is one of the best indices for soil evolution. This study was carried out in four regions of Maraghe, Tabriz, Arasbaran and Amol by study of Alfisols, Mollisols and Aridisols with argillic horizon. The main aim of study was evaluation of soil evolution using quantitative and semi quantitative methods of CAI, MISODI and MISECA indices besides previous assessment of their evolution according to soil classification and micromorphological observations. Results revealed general description of soils evolution by CAI, while micromorphological indices especially MISODI describe accurate and rational studied soils evolution arrangement. The reason for accurate and rational description by MISODI index was the high number and precise parameters that according to this index evoluation rate increase in the studied soils of Mollisols, Alfisols and Aridisols orders respectively. Generally it can be concluded that regardless of achievable physical and chemical indices of soil evolution which may have errors and are private for each soils, quantification of soil microscopic studies can be the best way for soil evolution evaluating and determining their taxonomic distance.

Land suitability studies, explore the physical, social and economic aspects of land and make the sustainable and stable use of these lands possible. The purpose of this study was to determine the qualitative, quantitative, and economic appropriateness of a part of Khoy plain in West Azarbaijan for major crops including wheat, barley, maize and sunflower. The base of Qualitative assessment was adaptation of climate, topography and soil specifications of the land with plant growth requirements for each crop using Sys table with the square root of the parametric method and the base of quantitative assessment was unit yield and potential production and economic analysis of gross profit per unit area. Qualitative evaluation results showed that most of the land units were in the classes of very suitable (S1) and moderately suitable (S2) for wheat and barley but for maize and sunflower the most of land units were in moderately (S2) and critical (S3) suitable classes. The main limiting factors in the region were salinity, alkalinity, lime and pH. Based on the results of quantitative assessment the most of land units for wheat and barley were in very suitable (S1) class and for maize and sunflower were in relatively suitable (S2) class. Comparing qualitative and quantitative classes showed that quantitative classes of the all products were in equal or higher level than qualitative classes of them referring to high level Management and suitable climatic conditions in the study region. Also Economic suitability results showed that in all land units sunflower was more profitable than other products.

For maintenance of soil fertility and increasing of soil utilization in sustainable agriculture, the information from soil characteristics is necessary. In this research work, effects of landforms on soil morphological and physico-chemical characteristics in Dasht-E-Tabriz were studied and soils were classified. Five profiles in landforms of hill, piedmont, river alluvial plain, playa and lowland were dug and soil moisture and temperature regimes were determined. From hill to lowland, increasing trend of clay, OC, CEC content and depth of soil solum with decreasing of gravel percentage with changing of textural classes showed more development of downstream soils than upstream ones by soil forming processes. This confirmed morphological results, that hill with colorful marn and sandstone parent material and thin solum took place in Entisol order and other landforms with alluvial parent material and thick solum were classified in Aridisol order. Finally, Soils according to Keys to Soil Taxonomy (2014) were classified in Aridisol and Entisol orders, suborder of Calcids, Argids, Salids and Orthent, with great groups of Haplocalcids, Natrargids, Haplosalids and Torriorthentand subgroups of Xeric Haplocalcids, Xeric Natrargids, Typic Haplosalids and Xeric Torriorthent.

In recent decades, increasing of population and limitation of arable lands have led to consider production level increasing and land suitability assessment. Several methods such as limitation (Maximum, Number and intensity), parametric (Story, square root) and a new fuzzy logic based methods have been developed to assess the suitability of lands. Classical methods of land suitability assessment are not able to express the continuous nature of soil properties and define the land suitability classes as non-collectible. Therefore, using of the fuzzy sets in studies of land suitability assessment can lead to a better understanding of them. Also fuzzy clustering and kohonen artificial neural network can be used for homogenous soils determination and requirements data completion. In this study, for comparison of the fuzzy set theory and FAO method, calculated correlation coefficients values between the land index and yield of the sunflower and canola by fuzzy method were (0.709 and 0.617, respectively), more than those with the Parametric method 0.709 and 0.617, respectively).These results demonstrate the high accuracy and potential of the fuzzy logic method in relation to the classical methods of land suitability assessment, and can be described by the capability of the fuzzy logic in expressing the continuous nature of the processes. Obtained results showed that representative profiles of 1 and 4 were homogenous based on landform clustering methods and these results could be used for information completion.

At the present time because of fast growing population and land degradation، the need to proper use of agricultural lands becomes essential. Therefore، an important process in sustainable management is the land suitability evaluation and land production potential prediction. This research work was for comparison of the FAO and Albero models in prediction of irrigated wheat production potentials around Khajeh region in Northeast of Tabriz. For this، firstly based on the AEZ model radiation-thermal production potential for irrigated wheat was estimated and then the soil index، which indicates the extent of soil limitations effectiveness on production reduction، was calculated by the square root formulas. Finally، land production potential was calculated by multiplication of the soil index and radiation thermal production potential. Also the production potential was estimated with Albero model by using input data. The obtained results revealed that the FAO model had significant correlation and accuracy in estimation of land production potential and the coefficient of correlation values between land production potential and observed yield were 0. 791 and 0. 163 for FAO and Albero models، respectively. The production potential’s predicted amounts were different in the two models which were related to differences in the forms of the models.

In this research work qualitative land suitability evaluation was carried out for Sugar beet، Onion and Maize in Ahar Yakhfarvazan rejoin of East Azerbijan، according to data of 18 mapping units (4 representative profiles) and climatic data that were collected from Ahar climatological station. Based on Sys et al tables all landscape، soil، and climate requirements for sugar beet، onion and maize and qualitative suitability class of the above-named crops were determined by simple limitation and parametric square root methods. According to the obtained results in simple limitation method 16. 66%، 72. 22% and 11% of the studied area were moderately and marginally suitable، and permanently unsuitable for sugar beet، respectively. Also 12%، 44% and 44. 44% of the studied area for onion and 27. 77%، 33. 33% and 38. 88% of it for maize were moderately and marginally suitable and permanently unsuitable، respectively. In parametric square root method، 44. 44% of the studied area was marginally suitable and 55. 55% was unsuitable for sugar beet. Also 33. 33% of the studied area was marginally suitable، 66. 66% was unsuitable for onion. Furthermore، 27. 77% of the studied area was moderately suitable، 16. 66% was marginally suitable and 55. 55% was unsuitable for maize. Therefore، the obtained results confirm the fact of higher efficiency of parametric square root method than simple limitation one and in addition to climatic limitations، OC and particles percentage˃2mm are very important limitation factors

One of the best agricultural policies in developing countries for food security is the evaluation of arable lands and agricultural potential to support the current and future agricultural uses. FAO framework for lands suitability evaluation uses a Boolean mapping approach which has been criticized by a number of authors, because the Boolean representations ignore the continuous nature of soil, landscape variation and uncertainties in measurement. In this research, the parametric Square Root Method via a Fuzzy Set Theory was used to evaluate the suitability of alfalfa for 7335 ha lands in Khajeh region located in East Azerbaijan province. The analysis was done with MATLAB analytical software. The results revealed that, calculated correlation coefficients values between the land index and yield with fuzzy method was (r= 0.917) more than that with the Parametric method (r= 0.685) and relatively large difference in calculated correlation coefficients revealed that, there was a need for calibration of the Sys proposed tables about requirements of the climate, landscape and soil in this region. Based on the suitably selected transition zone, MATLAB Software was able to accurately estimate the weights. Although the fuzzy approach provided better results than the parametric square root method, but its results surely depended on the type and determination of the transition zone and membership functions.

The soil evolution of a region is function of type and intensity of soil forming factors and processes and can be studied using some soil properties such as pedogenic Iron (Fed) content in A and B horizons and its transformation with time and accumulation index of Iron oxides. In this research work different forms of Iron oxides were studied in nine soil families from eleven soil profiles of Marand region. The dominant geomorphologic units in the study area were rock pediment، mantled pediment، piedmont plain and alluvial plain and according to soil-geomorphology relationships، eight geomorphologic surfaces were diagnosed inside the units. Based on soil morphological and physico-chemical properties and different forms of Iron oxides significant correlation were observed between total Iron (Fet)، pedogenic Iron (Fed) and noncystalline Iron (Feo) as well as Iron forms with each other. The variations of different Iron forms followed the geomorphologic units and increased from mountain to alluvial plain units. But Fet، Fed and Feo changes in each unit depended on stability of geomorphologic surfaces. The highest (11. 24 g/kg) and lowest (1. 53 g/kg) Fed were observed at buried argillic horizon in alluvial plain and mountain، respectively، which showed instability of mountain unit. The soils of stable surface of mantled pediment (Smp) surface were more developed by continuity of soil forming processes and the soils of mountain showed less development due to high slope and limited soil forming processes progressing.

Vegetation is one of the soil forming factors that its influences on soil micromorphological properties have been less attentioned. In this research to assess the effects of vegetation and its associated processes, five profiles with different covers including rapeseed, corn, alfalfa, apple and pine with a control profile were dug, described and sampled from all horizons in the countryside of Tabriz. Soil samples were physicochemically and micromorphologically analyzed after preparation. The results revealed the good pedality and structure improvement of surface horizons were in comparison with underlying ones. The order of soil pedality rate and degree of structure improvement for different covers were observed under apple, pine, corn, alfalfa, rapeseed and control profile (bare). Soil voids of surface horizons were found to be in packing void forms because of environmental effects. This is more obvious in farming vegetation than trees and bare because of application of several tillage instruments. Observation of excrement pedofeatures in the surface horizons and high abundance of them in the garden covers rather than forest and farming covers and bare land show the high biological activity in this vegetation. Presence of lime coatings refers to the role of plants and organisms through the production of CO2 and dissolution and sedimentary of carbonate in these soils. Presence of iron coating, nodules and iron-manganese oxides in some of the horizons is the evidence of oxidation and reduction processes in some horizons that according to the low water table and climatic condition, the reason can be found in the irrigation management.

It has been shown that accumulative form of gypsum is influenced by evolution and from micromorphological point of view، gypsic horizons have different trend of evolution and various geomorphologic surface. The purpose of this research work is to study gypsum formation on two landforms of pediment and flood plain in south of Ahar. Undisturbed samples from soils of both landforms were Processed at thin section preparations for gypsum pedofeature identification with a polarize microscope. The results showed more evidence of soil development on pediment as compared with flood plain. Continuous gypsum infillings، consisting of large gypsum crystals، high degree of weathering of primary minerals and plant residues، and evidences for polygenesis were among important indication for long soil pedological processes. Gypsum in both land forms is pedogenic، with large euhedral crystals in pediment and fine euhedral and subhedral crystals in flood plain.

In this research work qualitative land suitability evaluation was carried out for sugarbeet، onion and sufflower at Karkaj Research Station which is located at 12 kilometers distance from the East of Tabriz. Soil and climate data were collected from11 soil profiles at research farms and Khalat Poushan climatological Station، respectively. Sugar beet، onion and sufflower growth of landscape، soil and climate requirements were determined using Sys et al tables and qualitative suitability classification of this crops were done by simple limitation and parametric square root methods. The results showed that the study area climate was highly suitable for onion and sufflower and moderately suitable for sugarbeet. Therefore determination of final suitability classes depend on soil، land properties، cultivation and management. Based on simple limitation method moderately (S2) and marginally (S3) suitable areas are 9 and 91 % for sugarbeet respectively. In the area 18، 45. 45، 18. 2 and 18. 35% are moderately (S2)، marginally (S3)، conditionally (N1) and permanently (N2) unsuitable for onion respectively. Also 82 and 18% of the study area are marginally suitable (S3) and permanently unsuitable (N2) for sufflower respectively. In square root parametric method، 45. 45% of the area S3 and the remain area (54. 55%) are unsuitable (N) for sugarbeet and 18. 2% of area S2، 45. 45% S3 and 36. 35% are N for onion، but 45. 45% of area S3 and 54. 54% are N for sufflower. According to the obtained results climate is highly suitable for onion and sufflower and moderately suitable for sugarbeet. In addition، pH and %OC are also important limiting factors in the area.

Micromorphological observations on aggregates size, pores and their distribution can provide precise expression of soil structure and simplify the interpretation of soil behavior. This research aim was to study the effect of two natural organic conditioners (vermicompost and manure) on soil micromorphological characteristics such as pore and aggregates size distributions, total porosity and microstructure in a sandy loam soil. In this study it was assumed that the aggregation and porosity increase due to reduction in macro and micropores portion with respect to mesopores in soil, and the structure of the soil improves comparing with the control treatment. Soil sampling has been done by Kubina boxes (3×4×6 cm) in 0-30 centimeters of topsoil of soil columns treated by two conditioners and incubated during 30 or 180 days at 0.75Fc. All samples were impregnated with resin and hardener after drying and then thin sections were prepared and finally studied with polarizing microscope. Based on the obtained results, structure development by both conditioners especially at the second application rate (5 & 25 g/kg dry soil for vermicompost and manure, respectively) and 180 days of incubation was observed that had remarkable effect on aggregation and caused large and highly developed aggregates. Both organic conditioners increased meso and macropores conspicuously at the second application rate and 180 days of incubation.

Iron is one of the most essential and effective elements in soil forming processes. The amount and distribution of extractable Fe forms in profile indicate the stage and degree of soil development. Because of the physiographic unit importance in pedogenic processes, the effect of physiographic unit in soil forming and development can be investigated based on the amount and distribution of iron forms. This research has been is done in two different physiographic units of piedmont (slope of %2-5%) and hill (slope of %8-15%) as low and highland, which are located in southern Ahar, East Azerbaijan province. For this purpose, various forms of iron in three profiles of each unit (totally six profiles) were measured by pyrophosphate, oxalate and dithionate extractants. The average amount of crystallized iron was obtained 2.876 g kg-1 for downstream physiographic unit and 4.76 g kg-1 for upstream physiographic unit which statistically means comparison is significant. The mentioned results confirm increment of crystalline iron oxides and decrease of amorphous forms and bounded with organic matter in highland in comparison with lowland. Also in this research, some of soil physical and chemical characteristics were measured using standard methods and correlation between different forms of iron was evaluated. According to the relationship between soil age and different forms of iron, it can be said that the highland soils are more developed than the lowland soils, and these results are accommodated with geomorphologically unit type, clay percentage, solum depth, and relative amount of kaolinite mineral.

Acquiring knowledge about land use effect on soil properties is essential for maintenance and increase of soil fertility and productiveity in sustainable agriculture. In the present study, soil physical, chemical and mineralogical properties in southern Ahar area as affected by crop (wheat) and orchard (apple) land use were studied. Two profiles on the crop land use and two profiles on the orchard land use were selected to classify according to keys to soil taxonomy 2010. Profiles located on the orchard land use showed higher rate of leaching. It can be related to the irrigation water on the orchard and dry farming of crop land use, and also deeper root of orchard in comparison with crop. Changes of cation exchange capacity in orchard were higher than crop, while electrical conductivity and total calcium carbonate percentage increased in crop land use. The maximum changes in soil carbonates were shown in orchard land use. With increase of soil depth, in spite of increase of pH in soils on the both land use, organic carbon decreased in these soils. Mineralogical analysis using XRD spectrums showed that chlorite, montmorillonite, illite, kaolinite and quartz were dominant clay minerals in soils of the study area, and detected clay minerals were not affected by different land use.

Land evaluation is an important step in soil surveying and developing the sustainable agriculture. In this research three Storie, Square root and Almagra model were used to evaluate the qualitative suitability of wheat, maize, potato and soybean for 9000 ha in Ahar area located in the East Azerbaijan province. The study was conducted using a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design to assess the efficiency of each of the mentioned procedures for the studied land-use types. The results showed that the area was more suitable for wheat, maize, potato and soybean, respectively. Also, suitability classes suggested by the Almagra model were higher as compared with parametric methods. Assessing the interaction effect between land-use type and different approaches revealed that Almagra model had the best suitability in comparison with square root and that than storie. Furthermore, the cause can be due to both the nature of Almagra model that acts based on simple limitation and number and no impact of climate on classification. Therefore, it is clear that Almagra model application is only possible for soil suitability evaluation while for land suitability evaluation must be used after Terraza and Cervatana models usage. However, in the case of no climatic limitation soil evaluation results will be equal with land suitability evaluation. Interaction of land-use and soil type also indicated that above mentioned methods may have different different efficiencies in various soils. The cause of higher range for the land suitability by Almagra can be attributed to the effect of soil matrix properties on limitation types. Integrating the Almagra model and the output from parametric methods with using GIS can produce geo-referenced thematic maps with high accuracy which will increase understanding and interpretation of land suitability for different crops.

Carbonate accumulation is an important criterion for soil evaluation and classification in arid and semi-arid regions. In this study, characteristics of carbonate pedofeatures at two different landforms of floodplain and pediment were studied using micromorphological techniques. Inherited carbonate features in both landforms are affected by soil forming processes with obvious role of bio-organisms due to either CO2 evolution or drying and wetting of soil fabric. Carbonate microcrystallines in soil profiles of the floodplain indicated that these soils are apparently younger than the soils forming on the pediment. Pediment soils show yellowish carbonate concretions with crystallitic b-fabric which indicate soil forming processes impacts. On the other hand, brownish carbonate concretions, which increase form upper to lower parts, in pediment soils indicate that they are probably inherited from parent material. But these features show an irregular pattern in soil profiles of floodplain.

Appropriate knowledge about soil properties is essential for sustainable land management. In the present research، soil physical، chemical and mineralogical properties in southern Ahar، the area affected by different landforms، were studied. Six soil profiles on the pediment (high land) and on the floodplain landform (low land) were dug and classified according to the keys of soil taxonomy 2010. Profiles located on the pediment showed higher degree of development based on higher clay content (especially kaolinite) and greater solum depth in comparison with flood plain or low land. Carbonates in the soils of both landforms are predominantly pedogenic، but inherited carbonates were observed more frequently in the pediment soil، which increased with depth. Electrical conductivity decreased downward in soil profiles located on the pediment landform while it increased in floodplain profiles. In spite of pH increase in the soils of both landforms، organic carbon decreased in these soils. Cation exchange capacity and organic carbon content in the soils of floodplain were higher than those on the pediment. Mineralogical analysis using XRD spectrums showed that chlorite، montmorillonite، illite، kaolinite and quartz are dominant clay minerals in the soils of the study area.