Characterisation of soils with mollic horizon formed over limestone in a humid temperate climate (Galicia, NW Spain)

[Abstract] Soils with a mollic horizon lying directly over limestone were characterized physicochemically, mineralogically and micromorphologically. The development of these soils involves dissolution of limestone and leaching of the released calcium carbonate under favourable climatic and topographic conditions, the incorporation of insoluble residues (chiefly by inheritance rather than transformation), and the action of efficient humification mechanism. They are classified as Lithic Haprendolls by Soil Taxonomy (1998) and as Rendzic Leptosols by the FAO classification (1998)..