HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Anderson, J. U. Articles by White, J. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Anderson, J. U. Articles by White, J. L. Agricola Articles by Anderson, J. U. Articles by White, J. L.

A Study of Fragipans in Some Southern Indiana Soils¹

ABSTRACT

Fragipans or "X" horizons have been recognized in highly weathered soils of southern Indiana for more than 30 years. They occur at depths of 2 to 4 feet, and are most common in imperfectly and moderately well-drained soils.

Profiles of three highly weathered soils of the residual area of southern Indiana were selected for study. A fourth profile which did not have a fragipan, but was formed from similar parent material was sampled for comparison. Detailed chemical and mineralogical studies were made on the nonfragipan profile and one of the fragipan profiles.

Each of the soils with fragipans had a pH of 4.5 or less in the B horizon. The profile without a fragipan had a minimum pH of 5.6. Horizons of one fragipan profile were shown to contain iron oxide as a cementing agent. The clay of the fragipan was found to be lower in montmorillonite than the clay from comparable horizons of the profile without a fragipan. Only a small portion of this montmorillonite from the fragipan was capable of expansion without sample pretreatment.

¹ Journal Paper No. 1182; Purdue University, Agr. Exp. Sta., Lafayette, Ind. This paper is based on a thesis submitted by the senior author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree. The X-ray diffraction investigations were made with the equipment provided by a National Science Foundation grant. Grateful acknowledgment is made to the National Science Foundation for this support. Appreciation is expressed for helpful advice and assistance from Professor H. P. Ulrich and from Dr. P. F. Low and Dr. J. B. Peterson. Presented before Div. V, Soil Science Society of America, Nov. 21, 1957, at Atlanta, Ga.

² Assistant Professor in Agronomy, New Mexico A. and M. College and Professor of Agronomy, Purdue University, respectively.

Received for publication January 10, 1958. Accepted for publication April 1, 1958.