Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1993

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences

Major Professor

John T. Ammons

Committee Members

Russell J. Lewis, Darwin L. Newton

Abstract

Spatial variability, parent material relationships, and geomorphic position are important factors in interpreting soil behavior.

This research project was conducted to evaluate soil properties, stratigraphy, and site properties of two experimental water quality areas on the Ames Plantation.

During the installation of two water quality experimental areas, twelve deep wells were established on each of the Hancock Tract area and the West Pasture Tractarea in order to monitor water in the first permanent aquifer. Six of those wells (ranging from about 10.5 to 18.25 m) were sampled using either a CME or split-spoon sampler, in order to access parent material stratigraphy. Additionally, a total of 47 shallow wells (vadose zone wells ranging from about 1.85 to 2.40 meters) were installed and soil morphology was described and recorded. Topographic maps at a scale of 1:24,000 with approximately 6 meter contour interval were used to examine the overall geomorphic positions of the sites. Standard soil survey laboratory procedures were employed on the deep well samples for particle size, cation exchange capacity and base saturation, pH, total carbon, free iron oxides, and KCl exchangeable aluminum. A modified hydrofluoric acid/aqua-regia microwave procedure and inductively coupled argon plasma emission spectrometry was used to determine total concentrations of iron, titanium, and zirconium.

An order 1 soil map was made of each site using the soil descriptions taken during shallow well installation. Map units were defined by taxonomic classification and further subdivisions were made at the phased level based on slope, erosion class, and depth to the lithologic discontinuity. Laboratory data and descriptions from the deep wells were used to confirm classification. Characterized profiles were used as typical pedons for map units when possible.

Evaluation of the 1:24,000 scale revealed that the two areas were located on two separate terrace levels. The West Pasture site was located on the Henderson terrace, and the Hancock Tract site was located on the Humbolt terrace as described by Saucier (1987). A sequence of loess/alluvium/tertiary sands was found in each of the six well cores. Thickness of the loess ranged from 1.43 to 3.05 meters; the mixing zone ranged from 1.37 to 1.89 meters thick; and thickness of the alluvium ranged from 2.75 to 6.76 meters. A paleosol was present in the mixing zone of the loess and alluvium in five of the cores sampled. Differences in the Peoria and Roxana loess depositions could not be determined. Stratigraphic position and morphological and chemical data suggested that the loessial material of the mixing zone paleosols was of the Loveland deposition. The paleosol had formed in the unmixed Loveland loess layer in the remaining sample core. A total of seven map units were defined which incorporated six different taxons at the subgroup level. Five of the taxons were in the fine-silty, mixed, thermic family of Alfisols; one of the map units was One of the map units was typified by fine-loamy, mixed, thermic family of Ultisols; and the other was typically in the fine-silty, mixed, thermic family of Inceptisols. Taxons at the subgroup level were Fragic Hapludalfs, Ultic Hapludalfs, Typic Fragiudalfs, Glossaquic Fragiudalfs, Typic Paleudults, and Dystric Eutrochrepts.

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