Profile Studies of the Solonetz Soils of California

Studies made through soil surveys and other field work during the past three or four years have disclosed a number of soils in California having the morphology of the solonetz. The process of solonetz formation is set forth in the works of Glinka (6), Gedroiz (5), Afanasiev (1), and other Russian soil scientists. Glinka (6) defines solonetz as alkali soils with characteristic structure, in contrast with the solonchak soils which are alkali soils without any definite structure. He explains that the upper horizons of the solonchak may contain soluble salts, while the same horizon of the solonetz does not, although salts may be present in the deeper horizons of the solonetz. Quoting from Glinka (6) : "where NaHCO3 is present and chlorides absent the following transformation takes place; NaHCO3 in the surface horizons changes to Na2COs which dissolves humic acid and prevents the flocculation of the fine grained suspended soil material. In this state the material passes downward with a part of the alkaline humates. At some depth a change of the Na2CO3 takes place and the alkaline humate is precipitated along with the suspended soil material from above, the latter being precipitated through flocculation. In this way a leached upper horizon of coarse texture is formed and a lower horizon which on drying breaks up into columnar, prismatic or irregular shaped pieces."