Relationships pedology-geomorphology-sedimentology in the Pantanal North

Author(s)

Alexandre Ferreira do Nascimento

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2012-05-30

Examining board members

Pablo Vidal Torrado; Mario Luis Assine; Miguel Cooper; Francisco Sergio Bernardes Ladeira; Virlei Álvaro de Oliveira

• Advisor: Pablo Vidal Torrado

Abstract

Relationships between soils, parent material and geomorphic features are important to understand the distribution of soils in the landscape. This approach gains more importance when the landscape in study is too complex, e.g., wetlands constructed by depositional systems. Hence, the goal of this work was describe and characterize depositional environments of an unit of fauna and flora preservation (RPPN SESC Pantanal - nonprofits), searching for sedimentary and geomorphology evidences to know which depositional and/or erosional systems have shaped the landscape and then, to set up its relationship with weathering and changes in the system due to pedogenesis. Preliminary geomorphologic studies were developed using remote sensorial tools, fieldworks and flights over the studied area. In each Geomorphic features identified were done drilling procedures to assess the architecture and distribution of their sediments. Three representative soil sequences were described, sampled and analyzed to determine the lateral and vertical boundaries of horizons and layers, as well to find evidences of pedologic and sedimentological processes. Since late Pleistocene the landscape of the RPPN SESC Pantanal has been shaped by distributaries fluvial systems in which rivers were actives. The alluvial fan of the São Lourenço River was responsible by the most shapes and sediments observed in the studied area, while floodplain of the Cuiabá River had minor contribution and it is restricted to western part. Overall, the soils in the paleochannels are Arenosols; in paleofloodplains are Gleysols, Plinthosols or Fluvisols; in paleolevee and Murundus are Planosols. The mottles are common in the low portion of the relief (paleo-foodplain) and become progressively less apparent in the higher portions (paleo-levees). The textural horizons and vertical textural contrasts are observed in the soils of all geomorphic features that have loamy or finer textures, formed by pedogenic and geological processes. The clay illuviation is present in all those soils with textural horizons but in different intensities. The high levels of exchangeable sodium are observed in the soils located in the relief nonflooded (paleo-levee and murundus features). However, it can be also found in places with low flood. Therefore, the approach soil-landscape allows understanding the geological processes controlling the soil genesis and its distribution, as Arenosols in the paleochannels and the formation of textural contrasts. Moreover, it is possible to assess factors of soil formation (relief and whether) controlling the sodium accumulation. Thus the integration of geormorphology, sedimentology and pedology is needful to understand the distribution, spatial variability and genesis of soils in the Pantanal. Without this approach it seems hard to understand and establish the role of pedogenic and geological processes in this environment. (AU)