Morphological, physical and chemical properties of selected soils in the arid and semi-arid region in north-western Jordan

The morphological features and physico-chemical properties of four pedons representing the major soil types in the arid and semi-arid region in northwestern Jordan were studied. Soils of this area show a wide variation in their morphological, physical and chemical properties as a result of differences in mean annual precipitation, soil parent material, vegetation and topography. The studied soils developed in a wetter climate than the prevailing one and were subjected to different paleoclimates ranging from humid to the prevailing arid conditions. The major pedogenic processes are calcification and illuviation. Soils in the area belong to the orders Aridisols and Vertisols. (C) 1998 Academic Press.