Scholarly record

CALCRETE IN SOUTHEAST BULGARIA – A STUDY IN PROGRESS

I. Dimitrov, M. Panayotova, D. Sachkov

Abstract

A horizon of carbonate minerals underlies the organic soils of the Thracian plane. This horizon has irregular thickness, density and mineral composition. In the world scientific literature, such horizons are usually described as pedogenic calcretes. The growth of the carbonate layer depends on many factors; among them are the global climate change, the acidity of the atmospheric precipitates and the agricultural practices. The carbonate layer is very significant to the biological productivity of the soil. It tends to grow in displacive or replacive manner, thus destroying the fertile organic layer. Soils developed on the top of a thick calcrete are usually deprived of nutrients. In the arable lands of the Thrace plane the calcrete is outcropping on many places, thus rendering the land unsuitable for intensive agriculture. In Bulgaria, the calcrete is not studied in the context of the world experience. In order to increase the awareness among the public, to improve scientific understanding of the problem and to evaluate the magnitude of calcretization, as well as to propose tools to confront this problem, a multidisciplinary project commenced at the University of Mining and Geology in Sofia.

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