Study of an abnormal occurrence of Oxisols in strongly undulated relief in the south of Minas Gerais, Brazil, with support of pXRF and geomorphology

Abstract

Oxisols are the main soils in Brazil and they classically occur in stable and gentle geomorphic surfaces. However, in the south of Minas Gerais State, Oxisols have been observed under strongly undulated relief, a very rare condition for these soils in this physiographic region. Therefore, this work aimed to assess the elemental dynamics and relief enhanced with portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry, associated to geomorphology, to understand such occurrence. The studied soils are located in Muzambinho municipality, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Oxisol profiles were characterized in the upper third (P1), middle third (P2) and lower third (P3) of the hillslope. After morphological description, soil samples were collected in the A, AB and Bo horizons of the profiles. Physical, chemical and pXRF analyses of the soils were carried out in the laboratory. Ti and Fe content (pXRF) had a high correlation with the soil textural fractions. High weathering-leaching degrees were determined, although they occur on a steep slope where younger soils (Inceptisols) would be expected in this region. The altitudinal concordance of summits observed in the more elevated surrounding areas indicates a flat paleorelief, helping to explain this unusual occurrence. The soils’ weathering degree values decreased down the hillslope, indicating silica enrichment through runoff and subsuperficial water flux in the lower landscape positions. The pXRF analyses assisted the characterization of these old soils occurring in steep relief. It provided bases for confirming their high weathering degree indexes and detected evidences of the pre-weathering of the regolith of this very old landscape.