LEACHED SOILS IN SLOVENIA: PEDOLOGICAL PROPERTIES, SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND CLASSIFICATION

Eluvial-illuvial processes plays key role in pedogenesis, especially in the development of leached soils. As reported in Slovenian soil map 1 : 25.000 leached soils cover 2,3 % of Slovenian territory. They occur on different parent materials, mostly on flat relief preserved from erosion and colluvial processes. The aim of our study is the evaluation of their morpohological, physical and chemical properties, spatial distribution and dependency on soil forming factors, especially on parent material. Pedological properties are demonstrated according to analytical and descriptive data of 49 leached soils from the pedological base of Soil Information System of Slovenia. Obvious leaching processes are clearly recognized in almost all profiles of leached soils. Eluvial horizon in comparison to illuvial horizon has lower pH value, which is in average 4,4 and 4,6 for E and Bt horizon respectively, brighter color, lower base saturation (in average for 16,6 %) and lower CEC (in average for 5,5 mmol c 100 g -1 soil). On average ratio of clay content between illuvial and eluvial horizon is 1,63. In the 75 % of all studied leached soils this ratio is above 1,38. After evaluation, according to WRB classification, an argic horizon is identified only in 40 soil profiles, while other 9 profiles do not match criteria of sufficient textural differentiation or there is not enough data to classify them. Detailed overview of the WRB criteria for argic horizons (cation exchange capacity of clay fraction and base saturation in argic horizons) reveals that Luvisols and Alisols are the most widespread groups in Slovenia among leached soil. Against expectations based on different references, we do not determined Acrisols within Soil Map Database.