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 HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pickering, E. W. Articles by Veneman, P. L. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Pickering, E. W. Articles by Veneman, P. L. M. Agricola Articles by Pickering, E. W. Articles by Veneman, P. L. M.

Moisture Regimes and Morphological Characteristics in a Hydrosequence in Central Massachusetts¹

ABSTRACT

Moisture regimes and associated soil mottling patterns were investigated over a 2-y period in a Paxton-Rainbow-Ridgebury-Scarboro hydrosequence in central Massachusetts. Changes in physical conditions in these coarse-loamy fragipan soils were monitored with well points, tensiometers, soil temperature probes, and redox potential electrodes. Well-drained soils appeared uniformly brown, reflective of a generally strongly oxidized environment. They also showed the greatest seasonal fluctuations in soil temperature ranging from 0 to 23°C. Matrix colors of highest chromas (6 or higher) occurred in the moderately well-drained (MWD) soils where reducing and oxidizing environments coexist within the profile at some time during the growing season. Prominent ferrans and albans in the 2Cx horizons of MWD soils were related to sustained groundwater levels, although higher water tables often occurred for periods too short or too cold for development of strongly reducing conditions. The characteristics grey streaking patterns of fragipans were best expressed in the 2Cx horizons of MWD soils and can be attributed to reducing environments during periods with soil temperature above biologic zero when conditions are wet but unsaturated. Significant translocation and leaching of iron occurred in the somewhat poorly drained soils, as evidenced by olive-grey matrix colors. Channel neoferrans and some neoalbans indicated that a reducing environment may persist within the B2 horizon long after it has become unsaturated. Lowest chroma colors in this hydrosequence was found in the very poorly drained soils where perennial conditions of saturation or near saturation exists up to the soil surface resulting in the strongest reducing environment and least fluctuations in seasonal temperatures.

¹ Contribution from the Massachusetts Agric. Exp. Stn. (Paper no. 2574), Dep. of Plant and Soil Sciences, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003.

² Graduate Research Assistant and Associate Professor of Soil Science, respectively.

Received for publication April 19, 1983. Accepted for publication August 3, 1983.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. P. Morgan and M. H. Stolt Soil Morphology-Water Table Cumulative Duration Relationships in Southern New England Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., March 29, 2006; 70(3): 816 - 824. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. C. Burdt, J. M. Galbraith, and W. L. Daniels Season Length Indicators and Land-Use Effects in Southeast Virginia Wet Flats Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., August 4, 2005; 69(5): 1551 - 1558. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Fiedler and M. Sommer Water and Redox Conditions in Wetland Soils--Their Influence on Pedogenic Oxides and Morphology Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 1, 2004; 68(1): 326 - 335. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. He, M. J. Vepraskas, D. L. Lindbo, and R. W. Skaggs A Method to Predict Soil Saturation Frequency and Duration from Soil Color Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 1, 2003; 67(3): 961 - 969. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. D. Karathanasis, Y. L. Thompson, and C. D. Barton Long-Term Evaluations of Seasonally Saturated "Wetlands" in Western Kentucky Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., March 1, 2003; 67(2): 662 - 673. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. M. Jacobs, L. T. West, and J. N. Shaw Redoximorphic Features as Indicators of Seasonal Saturation, Lowndes County, Georgia Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 1, 2002; 66(1): 315 - 323. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. E. Rosenblatt, A. J. Gold, M. H. Stolt, P. M. Groffman, and D. Q. Kellogg Identifying Riparian Sinks for Watershed Nitrate using Soil Surveys J. Environ. Qual., September 1, 2001; 30(5): 1596 - 1604. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Reuter and J. C. Bell Soils and Hydrology of a Wet-Sandy Catena in East-Central Minnesota Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., September 1, 2001; 65(5): 1559 - 1569. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W.A. Hayes Jr. and M.J. Vepraskas Morphological Changes in Soils Produced When Hydrology Is Altered by Ditching Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., September 1, 2000; 64(5): 1893 - 1904. [Abstract] [Full Text]