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Genetic Soil Relationships in a Saline Glacio-Lacustrine Area¹

ABSTRACT

A genetic approach supported by laboratory studies was used as a technique in diagnosing a saline soil problem in North Dakota. Depths to 12 feet were studied. Soils of most of the area (saline phases of Bearden and Glyndon series) have silt loam or silty clay loam surfaces, and are derived from thick lacustrine sediments. Magnesium usually was the dominant cation, followed by sodium. Most common horizon sequence in lacustrine areas was: A₁, A_ca, C_ca, C, C_g, and G. A lesser acreage of shallow lake-washed or reworked materials over firm calcareous clay loam glacial till assumed importance because of higher elevation physiography and a closer chemical relationship to saline waters under artesian pressure from the underlying Dakota Sandstone geologic formation. Where till was closer to the surface the horizon sequence was: A₁, A_ca, C_ca, C, C_g, D or D_g, and G, with frequent absence of C layers depending upon depth to till.

Chemical differences between lacustrine and till areas are attributed to genetic differences, i.e., the fine-textured lacustrine sediments themselves appear high in Mgbearing materials. These saline, hydromorphic, imperfectly drained soils were classed as calcareous solonchaks.

¹ Joint contribution from Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, ARS and Soil Conservation Service, USDA. Presented at Western Society of Soil Science meeting, June 16, 1960, Eugene, Oreg.

² Soil Scientist, SWCRD, ARS, Mandan, N. Dak., and State Soil Scientist, SCS, Bismarck, N. Dak., respectively. The authors express appreciation to the U.S. Salinity Laboratory, Riverside, Calif., for some of the chemical determinations.

Received for publication September 18, 1960. Accepted for publication January 5, 1961.