Week 03 Assignment tttv
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University of Nebraska, Lincoln *
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153
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Geography
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Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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PLAS/SOIL 153 Soil
Resources
Week 3 Assignment
Supporting References:
Canvas materials under Week 3 module
The overarching goal of this assignment is for students to consider how soil forming factors and processes came together to create the thousands of different soils in the world. Upon interpretation of the soil forming factors and processes students should be able to analyze the soil environment and its management needs. Through this assignment, students will be able to:
1.
Identify the horizons, depths, color, and structure.
2.
Link the soil profile (horizons) to their relevant soil forming processes.
3.
Evaluate the extent of soil profile development and estimate soil ‘age’.
Please bold your responses and color them either dark red or dark blue
.
Part 1: Describing the Soil Profile (9 pts)
Over the course of Unit 1, we will be building on our knowledge of soil formation and profile development. To aid in this, we will be studying four different state soils - Holdrege (NE), Antigo (WI), Cecil (NC), and Houdek (SD). This week, we will review how soil forming process and factors have influenced the development of each of these soil profiles. Review the simplified Official Series Descriptions (OSD) of each soil and the horizons you made in your scaled diagrams file from the last two weeks. For this week’s assignment, you will be adding summarized descriptions
of the soil forming processes (additions, losses, translocations, transformations) that likely impacted the development of each of the horizons in that profile, and the evidence of those processes in the features of the horizon. The Holdrege soil has already been done as an example, here
. You can also find more information about the soil forming factors for each soil type in the Soil Science Society of America State Soil Booklet
s. Antigo OSD
Cecil OSD
Holdrege OSD
Houdek OSD
Guidelines for adding text to the diagram:
You will need to insert a text box to your diagrams for the soil forming processes summary for each horizon. Go to the “Insert” tab in the top menu, then “Text Box”. Click somewhere on your page, then start to type out our text. Change the font size to about 48. Align your text box in the Influencing Forming Factors and Processes column with the corresponding horizon. You can copy-paste the first text box, then edit the contents and re-align for each of the remaining horizons.
The completed set of diagrams is worth 9 points, 0.5 points per summary.
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PLAS/SOIL 153 Soil
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Part 2: Connections to Soil Forming Factors (6 pts)
In the following table, briefly summarize the evidence or impact of the four soil forming factors noted for each soil profile. That is, describe the evidence from the profile (i.e. features or characteristics of horizons) that can be linked back to each
of the noted forming factors.
Soil
Soil Forming Factors
Summary/Evidence in Horizon(s)
(2 pts per box)
Houdek (SD)
Climate
: semi-humid moisture regime (ustic), with hot summers and cold winters (mesic)
Climate- moisture content and color, temp can effect biological processes, freese, thaw cycles, erosion from precipitation.
Organisms- aerated soil with living organisms and grasses in it. Nutrient cycling, aeration, aggregation, erosion control
Relief- water table and slope. Erosion, drainage,
Parent material- color, consistency, aggregation. Mineral composition, texture, nutrients
Organisms
: native vegetation is mid-
and tall-grass prairie vegetation
Relief
: summits and shoulders of gently rolling hills (0-6% slopes)
Parent Material
: very deep glacial till
Cecil (NC)
Climate
: humid moisture regime (udic), with hot summers and cool winters (thermic)
Climate-temperature, precipitation, erosion, color, texture, vegetation, freeze thaw cycles
Organisms- presence of om. Om accumulation, nutrient cycling, aeration and aggregation, fertility, biodiversity.
Relief- high erosion on steeper slopes from
water runoff. Soil depth, drainage, vegetation patterns.
Parent material- mineral composition, texture, nutrient content, vegetation. Organisms
: native vegetation is deciduous forest trees
Relief
: summits and shoulders of the gentle to steep hills of the region (2-15% slopes)
Parent Material
: weathered metamorphic rocks with high amounts of silicate minerals
Antigo (WI)
Climate
: humid moisture regime (udic), with warm summers and cold
winters (frigid)
Climate- moisture content and color, temp can effect biological processes, erosion from precipitation.
Organisms- aerated soil with living organisms and trees in it. Nutrient cycling, aeration, aggregation, erosion control
Organisms
: native vegetation is a mix of deciduous and coniferous forest trees
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PLAS/SOIL 153 Soil
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Relief- water table and slope. Erosion, drainage,
Parent material- color, consistency, aggregation. Mineral composition, texture,
Relief
: summits and shoulders of flat to gently rolling hills (0-6% slopes)
Parent Material
: loamy alluvium over sandy and gravelly glacial outwash
3
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PLAS/SOIL 153 Soil
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Part 3: Estimating Soil Age (9 pts)
Based on your review of each soil profile, the OSDs, and the state soil booklets, estimate the relative age (young, mature, or old) of each soil, in terms of profile development. Also summarize the evidence seen in the
soil profile of the age estimate.
Soil
Age Estimate
(1 pt each)
Summary of Evidence in Profile
(2 pts each)
Houdek (SD)
old
Distinct color changes, Dark Ap horizon, blocky structures in the B’s, and accumulation of calcium and gypsum. Cecil (NC)
mature
Distinct horizons, red clay and blockyness indicate leaching and translocation over time, acidity indicates prolonged chemical weathering from minerals below. Antigo (WI)
mature
Prescence of loess and alluvial deposits, acidic ph(explained above), distinct color changes, clay accumulation
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PLAS/SOIL 153 Soil
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Part 4: Connections to a Changing Climate (6 pts)
1.
The Cecil series formed in an areas with a subtropical climate (warm and humid), under native forest vegetation. How might you expect the profile of this soil to change 1000 years from now, if the climate became more variable (temperature and precipitation) and the vegetation shifted to short-grass prairie,
like that of western Nebraska or eastern Colorado? Include notes about color, texture, and other features you might expect to change, both in the topsoil and subsoil. Relate these changes back to changes in the soil forming processes and soil forming factors. (3 points)
There would be a switch in color especially in the A layer, from a dark rich color to a little lighter color
due to the lessened amount of om. The lower levels would also lighten in color due to decreased leaching of compounds. The texture would change from a more loamy texture to a finer, silty texture.
There would be less organic matter in general. The horizons would all together be less defined and and colorful. 2.
The Antigo series formed in an area with a sub-humid, temperate climate (variable temperatures by season and humid), under native deciduous and coniferous forest vegetation. How might you expect the profile of this soil to change 1000 years from now, if the climate became wetter and warmer, and the vegetation shifted to deciduous woodland vegetation like that of South Carolina? Include notes about color, texture, and other features you might expect to change, both in the topsoil and subsoil. Relate these changes back to changes in the soil forming processes and soil forming factors. (3 points)
The color of the top layers of soil will become darker due to an increase of om. This leads to richer more nutrient dense soil. The texture should not change a whole lot, other than maybe a slight increase of aggregation due to the increase of om presence. The soil horizons should main mostly in tact, with the A horizon growing in size. Part 5: Connections to Soil Functions (5 pts)
3.
In two or three paragraphs, compare and contrast the suitability of the Antigo, Cecil, and Houdek soils to (1) support intense, long-term field corn production and (2) infiltrate and drain water downward through the profile, based on their morphological properties and active soil forming factors. (5 points)
1.
Antigo soils that are in sub humid temperate conditions can be suitable for corn production. This is due to the loamy texture in the topsoil and ability to hold large amounts of om. Cecil soils in subtropical climates are not ideal for corn production. This is due to the relatively coarse texture and minimal ability to hold nutrients and retain water. These factors can also hinder root 5
PLAS/SOIL 153 Soil
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growth. Houdek soil forming in prairie grassland have fairly good properties for corn production. This soil has a high capability to hold om, which can improve soil structure and fertility. The only drawback is its disability to hold water. 2.
Antigo soils are well suited for infiltration and drainage. The loamy texture allows for good infiltration and the large amount of om increases soil structure. This soil structure helps this soils water holding capability. The only issue is that the B layers are dense, which can hinder the movement of water to lower levels. Cecil soils have coarse texture and dense horizons which can hinder drainage and infiltration. These factors can lead to waterlogging in some cases. Houdek soils are well suited for water infiltration and drainage. Prairie grasses promote deep root growth which can help move water throughout the soil profile. The coarse texture helps with drainage. Meme Monday Extra Credit (up to 2 pts)
See Charlotte’s announcement post from Monday September 4 and the attached meme. Describe one positive
and one negative impact of high clay content to soil functions.
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