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 Schoeneberger, P. J. Articles by Buol, S. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Schoeneberger, P. J. Articles by Buol, S. W. Agricola Articles by Schoeneberger, P. J. Articles by Buol, S. W.

Physical Property Variation of a Soil and Saprolite Continuum at Three Geomorphic Positions

USDA-NRCS, National Soil Survey Lab., Lincoln, NE 68508

A. Amoozegar^* and S. W. Buol

Soil Science Dep., North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC 27695-7619

*Corresponding author (aziz_amoozegar{at}ncsu.edu).

ABSTRACT

Effective land use planning for waste disposal purposes requires knowledge of water movement in the vadose zone in and below the soil solum. This study was conducted to assess the changes in the saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat), water retention, particle-size distribution, and bulk density of a Typic Kanhapludult soil and its underlying gneiss-schist saprolite across a typical landscape in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Intact cores (6.6-cm diam., 8.0-cm length) were collected from Bt, B/C, and C (saprolite) horizons at the center of 15 by 30 m areas located at three adjacent geomorphic positions (ridge top, shoulder, and ridge nose). Large L-shaped observation pits were then excavated over the sample locations for profile description and other data collection. In situ K_sat of the three horizons was also determined by the constant-head well permeameter technique around each of the observation pits. Regression analysis was employed to assess the relationship between K_sat and depth at each geomorphic position, and an analysis of variance was used to compare K_sat values between horizons and geomorphic positions. At all three geomorphic positions, the laboratory-determined K_sat was consistently the highest in the clayey Bt horizon (arithmetic mean values 1.56 x 10^–6 to 2.19 x 10^–6 m s^–1), diminished with depth until reaching a minimum value in the transitional, less clayey B/C horizon (arithmetic mean values 7 x 10^–8 to 2.3 x 10^–7 m s^–1), and then increased with depth into the upper part of the massive, low clay content saprolite (arithmetic mean values 8.1 x 10^–7 to 1.57 x 10^–6 m s^–1). The patterns of K_sat with depth were consistently associated with major horizons and not strongly influenced by texture or bulk density.

Contribution from the Soil Science Dep., North Carolina State Univ.

Received for publication June 20, 1994.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. S. Frazier, C. S. Frazier, R. C. Graham, P. J. Shouse, M. V. Yates, and M. A. Anderson A Field Study of Water Flow and Virus Transport in Weathered Granitic Bedrock Vadose Zone J., August 1, 2002; 1(1): 113 - 124. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Tandarich, R. G. Darmody, L. R. Follmer, and D. L. Johnson Historical Development of Soil and Weathering Profile Concepts from Europe to the United States of America Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., March 1, 2002; 66(2): 335 - 346. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]