Research Article

Micromorphological and Chemical Approaches to Understand Changes in Ecological Functions of Metal-Impacted Soils under Various Land Uses

Table 1

Macromorphological description of selected soil profile following FAO system (FAO-ISRIC, 2006).

SitesHorizonTextureStructureGravels/stonesPoresRoots

Industrial (Calcaric Fluvisol)A (0–20 cm)Silt loamSubangular blocky structure, fine, and medium strong Few gravels and few subrounded stonesCommon, fine, and few medium and coarse pores and medium porosityFew fine roots
C1 (20–35 cm)Silt loamSubangular blocky structure, very fine, and weakFew angular to subrounded gravelsMany very fine pores and low porosityVery few fine roots
C2 (35–66 cm)Silt loamMassive structureVery few gravels and few stonesFew very fine pores and low porosityNo roots

Agricultural (Haplic Calcisol)A (0–20 cm)Clay loamGranular structure, very fine to fine, and weakFew gravelsCommon, fine, and medium and few coarse pores and medium porosity Many fine and medium and few coarse roots
C (>20 cm)Clay loamMassive structureNo gravels and stonesCommon, fine, and medium pores and medium porosityFew fine and medium and coarse roots

Urban (Technic Regosol)A (0–20 cm)LoamSubangular blocky structure, fine, and weak No gravels and stonesVery common, fine, and medium and coarse pores and high porosityMany fine and medium and coarse roots
C (>20 cm)LoamMassive structureNo gravels and stonesFew fine, and very few medium pores and low porosityVery few fine roots

Natural (Haplic Calcisol)A (0–20 cm)Silty clay loamGranular structure, fine to medium and hard Few angular gravel and stonesCommon fine and medium and coarse pores and high porosityCommon fine and medium and few coarse roots
C (>20 cm)Silty clayMassive structureFew angular gravel and stonesFew fine and medium pores and medium to low porosityCommon fine and few medium and very few coarse roots