Factors controlling soil spatial variability in a native range landscape
Date
1984
Authors
Paroussis, E. (Elias), author
Heil, Robert D., advisor
Weitz, Joseph Leonard, 1922-, committee member
Cipra, Jan E., committee member
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Abstract
Soils were characterized along three transects of the same catenary sequence within the semi-arid shortgrass (Bouteloua gracilis) steppe of north central Colorado. The objectives of the study were to: 1. Evaluate which factor or combination of factors (i.e. parent material, topography, biota) is/are the most important controls on soil development, soil organic matter accumulation and soil textural attributes in this environment. 2. Evaluate the spatial variability of selected soil properties and relate this variability to geomorphic form and process. The results indicate a high degree of spatial variability in all soil properties studied. Parent material, erosional (both wind and water) processes, and topographic relationships appear to be the major controlling factors on the degree of soil development, accumulation of soil organic matter, and distribution of particle sizes within the surface horizon of the soils found on the catena. Evaluations of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, thickness of the surface horizon and solum, depth to lime and particle size data indicate that soil development on this landscape is highly atypical when compared to soil landscape relationships reported in the literature. Soil properties are highly variable within landscape segments as well as across the transects of the same landscape.
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Subject
Soils -- Analysis
Rangelands -- Colorado