Soil morphogenesis diversity at the southern flank of Merapi Volcano, Indonesia five years post-eruption

Abstract

This study aims to find out the soil morphology diversity at the southern flank of Mt.Merapi Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The field research was conducted using purposive sampling method where each site of geomorphological unit as representing of the cone, upper, middle and lower slopes of Mt.Merapi. Poligenesis of the soil morphology was observed at pedon P1 with composition of the upper and buried soil was Typic Hapludands-Typic Hapludands, P3 (Andic Eutrudepts-Vitrandic Udorthents), P4 (Vitrandic Udorthents -Typic Hapludands), and P5 (Andic Eutrudepts-Andic Eutrudepts). Whereas the monogenesis of the soil morphology was observed at pedon P2, P6, P7 and P8 with subgroups of Typic hapludands, Andic Eutrudepts, Andic Dystrodepts and Typic Udorthents, respectively. Soil morphogenesis diversity (polygenesis) shown by the presence of a pedon having more than one soil profile was not a limiting factor for crop roots growth, so the agroecosystem recovery process was relatively fast.