COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MINERALOGICAL STATE OF THE CONJUGATE PAIR OF IRRIGATED AND NON-IRRIGATED CARBONATE CHERNOZEMS OF THE SOUTH OF MOLDOVA

Abstract

When irrigated for 11 years with good quality waters from the Dniester of carbonate heavy loamy chernozem, changes in the composition of primary and clay minerals were established. They were expressed in a noticeable decrease in the content of both groups of minerals and in the relative accumulation of quartz in the soil. Among the primary minerals, layered silicates were the first to be destroyed, among clay minerals - smectite and chlorite. Signs of transfer of smectite by profile and accumulation in horizon B, as noted by other researchers, have not been established. Indicators of changes in the mineralogical state indicate that the upper part of the irrigated chernozem, along with quartz, receives additional enrichment with illite.