Comparison of Areal and Profile Distribution of Magnetic Susceptibility in Steppe Soils of the Russian Plain

Abstract

Abstract A comparative analysis of areal and profile measurements of magnetic susceptibility was carried out on the plots pf 100 m2 in order to improve methods of surface soil sounding for mapping purposes and for identification of anomalies associated with anthropogenic pollution or disturbance of the surface soil layer. Two sites with Haplic Chernozems and one site with Haplic Kastanozem (Endosalic, Cambic) were studied. Additionally, a catena on the Yergeni Upland with different landscape positions (eluvial, transeluvial, transeluvial–accumulative) was studied. A comparison of the areal and profile magnetic susceptibility measured to a depth of 30 cm showed a direct correlation (R2 = 0.7). The areal survey was found to correctly determine the volumetric magnetic susceptibility ($${{\varkappa }_{{\text{s}}}}$$) to a depth of 30 cm. The $${{\varkappa }_{{\text{s}}}}$$ variation at sites with different types of soils reflects soil–climatic zonality and spatial lithological heterogeneity expressed in different textures and mineralogical compositions of the upper (0–30 cm) soil layer within the test area of 10 × 10 m. The areal magnetic susceptibility of soils can be an important additional indicator capable of reflecting the features of soil-forming, lithological, and geochemical processes occurring in the upper soil layer. The $${{\varkappa }_{{\text{s}}}}$$ variation at sites in different landscape positions is due to the development of sheet erosion and changes in the direction of iron oxidogenesis depending on the position of the soil profile in the relief. The set of areal and profile magnetic susceptibility measurements can be used to study soil inhomogeneities caused by anthropogenic, paleocryogenic, geomorphological, and lithogenic factors. In particular, this approach can be applied to the study of polluted soils and monitoring of agricultural lands.