Physical properties of natural soils and anthropogenic grounds of King-George Island, Western Antarctic

Abstract

Soil physical characteristics are studied for 3 Antarctic soils (Leptosol, Lithosol and anthropogenic ground) which are situated close to the Russian Polar station Bellingshausen, King-George Island, Western Antarctic. It was revealed that in particle size distribution of soils studied the coarse part prevails, while the fine earth content is about 25 % of bulk soil. In field conditions the following indices: absorbed water content, maximal water absorbance, field water holding capacity and infiltration rate are determined. Data on soil density collected in field conditions as well as data of soil mineral phase density and area of soil surface (on the base of water absorbance) are obtained. Essential differences are revealed for soil water indices of natural soil and antropic ground, which is connected with different soil internal surface and clay particle content.

Keywords:

soils of Antarctic, physical characteristics of soils, hydrological constants