The Soils of Mexico

verfasst von: Pavel Krasilnikov, Ma. del Carmen Gutiérrez-Castorena, Robert J. Ahrens, Carlos Omar Cruz-Gaistardo, Sergey Sedov, Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo

Verlag: Springer Netherlands

Buchreihe : World Soils Book Series

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik"

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Über dieses Buch

Mexico is an extensive country with an extremely complex mosaic of landscapes. The soils of Mexico have still not been completely studied, and there are few publications available on this subject. This book provides a state-of-the-art view on Mexican soils, their geographical distribution, their use and degradation. This is a first attempt to give a systematized characteristic of the soil resources of Mexico. Land resources of the second-biggest economy in Latin America are critical for its sustainable development, and a demand for adequate soil information is high. The information contained within can be used for any soil-related research done in Mexico and in neighboring countries. The book includes detailed characteristics of soils of all the physiographic regions of Mexico with maps, photos and explanatory schemes. The book is based on the experiences of the authors in research and soil survey, as well as on the existent, mainly ‘grey’ literature on Mexican soils. The book is recommended for researchers and university readers, students of all levels and decision-makers, working in the area of soil science, environmental issues, Earth sciences, land management and nature conservation.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction

Abstract

This chapter describes the main pedogeographic laws that predict the distribution of soils in Mexico. There are few distinct latitudinal gradients in climatic conditions, thus it is difficult to find evidence of zonal soil distribution in the country. In the pedogeographical terms, the majority of the soils of Mexico are characterized as intrazonal and azonal. The distribution of soils depends on the diversity of parent material, the intensity of erosion and sediment accumulation, and by the local climatic gradients that depend on vertical zonality and mountain shadows.

Pavel Krasilnikov, Ma del Carmen Gutiérrez-Castorena, Robert J Ahrens, Carlos Omar Cruz-Gaistardo, Sergey Sedov, Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo

Chapter 2. Soil Research and Soil Mapping History

Abstract

In Pre-Hispanic time, the native ethnic groups living at the Mexican territory already had significant soil knowledge that included classification of soils and a developed system of soil management. Until now, the folk knowledge may provide valuable information for soil research. The scientific research of soils started in Mexico in late nineteenth century. At the initial stage, soil studies were strongly influenced by the French School of agronomy. In the twentieth century, the soil research was aimed at soil irrigation and soil quality improvement; the development of soil science was supported by the Rockefeller Foundation and other USA institutions. The evolution of national soil research in Mexico is associated with the National School of Agriculture (ENA) founded as early as in 1953, later succeeded by the Autonomous University of Chapingo and Postgraduate College. Soil mapping in the country is actively performed by several institutions, the most important of which is the National Institute for Statistics and Geography (INEGI) that produced the maps of the scale 1:250,000 for the whole country.

Pavel Krasilnikov, Ma del Carmen Gutiérrez-Castorena, Robert J Ahrens, Carlos Omar Cruz-Gaistardo, Sergey Sedov, Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo

Chapter 3. Factors of Soil Formation

Abstract

Mexico is an extensive country with a complex mountainous relief. Geologically, it is formed by Cretaceous limestones and volcanic rocks with fragmental ancient Pre-Cambrian metamorphic rocks. In Oligocene and Miocene epochs all these rocks have been strongly folded, and in the recent time volcanic activity resulted in the formation of the Transmexican Volcanic Belt that crosses the country from the west to the east. The climate of Mexico varies from tropical to temperate and from extremely wet to very dry. The distribution of climates depends to a great extent on complex topography of the region. Complex mosaic of climates also determines a diversity of ecosystems: there are 32 types of vegetation in Mexico. The country takes the third place in the world in the number of species of plants and animals.

Pavel Krasilnikov, Ma del Carmen Gutiérrez-Castorena, Robert J Ahrens, Carlos Omar Cruz-Gaistardo, Sergey Sedov, Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo

Chapter 4. Major Soil Types and Their Classification

Abstract

This chapter deals with the most abundant soil groups in Mexico. The classification of soils is given in the World Reference Base of Soil Resources and in the USDA Soil Taxonomy. The review includes volcanic soils, soils with clay-enriched subsoil horizon, brown poorly differentiated soils, soils rich in humus, shallow soils on silicate rock and limestone, saline soils, expanding soils, soils with accumulations of lime and gypsum, hydromorphic soils, strongly weathered soils, underdeveloped soils, anthropogenic soils, and some other less abundant soil groups. For each group we present morphological description of some representative profiles and give a short outline of their genesis, properties, and use.

Pavel Krasilnikov, Ma del Carmen Gutiérrez-Castorena, Robert J. Ahrens, Carlos Omar Cruz-Gaistardo, Sergey Sedov, Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo

Chapter 5. Geographical Regionalization of the Mexican Territory

Abstract

The chapter justifies the division of the territory of Mexico into soil regions that correspond to the physiographic regions of the country. For each soil–physiographic region, we give a brief characteristic of the soil-forming conditions and the most abundant soil groups. The description of the regions is accompanied by the schematic soil maps.

Pavel Krasilnikov, Ma del Carmen Gutiérrez-Castorena, Robert J. Ahrens, Carlos Omar Cruz-Gaistardo, Sergey Sedov, Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo

Chapter 6. Soil Degradation

Abstract

Soil erosion studies carried out in Mexico have focused on assessing the impact of agricultural activities before and after the Spaniards arrived, mainly in Central Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula, where the major Mesoamerican cultures were settled. Currently, in Mexico, the methodologies most used at a regional scale are universal soil loss equation (USLE) or RUSLE; although many researchers have mentioned that there is not enough data to evaluate these models. In addition, human-induced soil degradation at a national scale was conducted using the GLASSOD model; however, it is necessary to generate large-scale maps, particularly in those areas or states where a type of degradation occurs predominantly, such as water erosion in the Sierra Madre Occidental and wind erosion in the north of Mexico. Finally, it is recommended that degradation and soil erosion studies also consider soil classification where the degradation is occurring to generate specific conservation practices and to transfer technology.

Pavel Krasilnikov, Ma del Carmen Gutiérrez-Castorena, Robert J Ahrens, Carlos Omar Cruz-Gaistardo, Sergey Sedov, Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo

Chapter 7. Soil and Humans Throughout the History

Abstract

This chapter presents briefly the history of soil management in Mexico from the point of view of a pedologist. The main three centers of agriculture in Mesoamerica were related to alluvial flood plains of the Gulf of Mexico, to the volcanic soils of Central Mexico, and to the Yucatan Peninsula. In many areas, terracing was a common practice—the terraces have been constructed for water capturing rather than for soil conservation. The most productive agricultural landscapes existed in the Valley of Mexico, on the banks of the lakes, where a system of artificial isles made of lacustrine mud provided high yield of crops. On the shallow soils of the Peninsula of Yucatan, the ancient Mayas managed to use small karst cavities in the limestone, where the fine earth accumulated. Although the system of land management in Mesoamerica was fragile and strongly affected by the climatic change, some of the techniques were effective, and more research and comprehension are needed to understand their value.

Pavel Krasilnikov, Ma del Carmen Gutiérrez-Castorena, Robert J Ahrens, Carlos Omar Cruz-Gaistardo, Sergey Sedov, Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo

Chapter 8. Paleosols of Mexico: Origin, Paleoecological Significance, Role in the Actual Soil Mantle

Abstract

Paleosols—soils formed in the landscapes of the past, different from the modern ones—constitute an interesting and important object of soil research in Mexico. Buried paleosols of different age are very frequent and could provide an insight in the climate and ecosystem history. They are supposed but yet not investigated in the Pre-Quaternary continental geological strata. Younger paleosols are studied in the Quaternary volcanic sequences, demonstrating evidences of soil evolution under persistent climatic conditions as well as signals of climatic change. In the alluvial sequences, paleosols are frequently associated with paleontological and archeological materials producing combined records. Paleosols frequently occur on the modern land surface being a relict element within the present day soil mantle. Red soils of the karstic geosystems of Yucatan and arid regions of Sonora as well as tepetate (hardened volcanic horizons) of Central Mexico are relict soil bodies.

Pavel Krasilnikov, Ma del Carmen Gutiérrez-Castorena, Robert J Ahrens, Carlos Omar Cruz-Gaistardo, Sergey Sedov, Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo

Backmatter

Titel: The Soils of Mexico
verfasst von: Pavel Krasilnikov
Ma. del Carmen Gutiérrez-Castorena
Robert J. Ahrens
Carlos Omar Cruz-Gaistardo
Sergey Sedov
Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo
Verlag: Springer Netherlands
Electronic ISBN: 978-94-007-5660-1
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-5659-5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5660-1