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Mineral Characteristics of Some Soils of Puerto Rico¹

ABSTRACT

Preliminary data are presented of some of the mineralogical characteristics of 41 soil series of Puerto Rico, which includes soils of three orders, 22 great soil groups occurring in seven physiographic provinces. Study of the constituent minerals of these soils show that there are present quartz, feldspars of the plagioclase series, and the clay minerals kaolin, illite, montmorillonite, and one called provisionally beidellite. The soils can be divided into two general groups, those with abundant feldspar and those where feldspar is absent or occurs only in traces. On the average, those soils which contain feldspar have a lower clay content, a higher total exchange capacity, and a higher productivity rating, where lack of rainfall or extreme slope are not factors, than those soils where feldspars are absent or occur only in traces. This appears to be independent of the great soil group, or province in which the soil series occur. It may be that the presence or abscence of feldspar in a soil is one of the indications of its potential fertility status.

¹ Authorized for publication on May 29, 1951, as paper No. 1675 in the Journal Series of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, State College, Pa. Presented before Section II, Soil Science Society of America, State College, Pa., August 30, 1951.

² Professor Soil Technology, Pennsylvania State College and Visiting Soil Scientist University of Puerto Rico; Head, Soils Dept., Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Puerto Rico; and Soil Scientist, B.P.I.-S.C.S. Research Coop. Project, U.S.D.A. with Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Puerto Rico, respectively.