The study of a toposequence on the northern slope of Tenerife, has shwn a relation between the distribution of soils and the various climatic belts. This paper deals with the most recent soils derived from basaltic materials, the pedogenesis of which can be related more surely with present climatic conditions. This sequence is restricted to three segments: Andosols in a perhumid belt, andic Brown Soils in a transitional belt, eutrophic Brown Soils in a two seasons subtropical. The first part states the morphological physical and chemical characteristics of soils, It shows their variations according to the evolution of climate: shortening of A horizon, change of texture from loamy to clayey, development of fragmental structure, decrease of reaction with Fieldes and Perrott test (NaF).

Peer reviewed