ABSTRACT The aim of the study is to determine the most representative cumulative particle-size distribution curves for some typical mafic soils in Albania, and by them, replacing the soil textural triangles for a more realistic texture assessment and practical usage. That is the reason why it was a number of three various textural soils picked up of Albania for being considered in the study. The pipette method was applied to measure the relative participation of clay silt and sand particles and all of this was described in a manual book given under references. The particle sizes range comprised the three well-known classifications of soil particles in the most part of them: USDA, ISSS, and Katschinski, considering the three ones as the most widespread and prevailing classifications. The mafic soils under investigation, spread in Albania, were grouped in three sections, each of them representing respectively the heavy, medium, and light soils from the textural viewpoint. The regression analysis was applied to determine the best mathematical function fitting the distribution of relative participation in percentages of particles of various sizes. The results were that the best fit for the three groups is a semi logarithmic function, because it provided the highest coefficient of regression (determination). The very high regression coefficients, close to 1, and also, the precondition described as the soil under investigation should be well graded, created the possibility to replace the soil textural triangles by the indicated cumulative particle-size distribution curves, avoiding the arbitrary characteristics the textural triangles show.

agroecosystem component, soil, texture, ultramafic soils, cumulative particle-size distribution curve, textural triangle classification.

sciences soil

Presentation: poster