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Geochemistry in the Modern Soil Survey Program University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska February 2008 Geochemistry in the modern soil survey program M. A. Wilson USDA-NRCS R. Burt USDA-NRCS J. M. Scheyer USDA-NRCS A. B. Jenkins USDA-NRCS J. V. Chiaretti USDA-NRCS See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaarsfacpub Part of the Agricultural Science Commons Wilson, M. A.; Burt, R.; Scheyer, J. M.; Jenkins, A. B.; Chiaretti, J. V.; and Ulmer, M. G., "Geochemistry in the modern soil survey program" (2008). Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty. 223. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaarsfacpub/223 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Authors M. A. Wilson, R. Burt, J. M. Scheyer, A. B. Jenkins, J. V. Chiaretti, and M. G. Ulmer This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ usdaarsfacpub/223 Environ Monit Assess (2008) 139:151–171 DOI 10.1007/s10661-007-9822-z Geochemistry in the modern soil survey program M. A. Wilson & R. Burt & S. J. Indorante & A. B. Jenkins & J. V. Chiaretti & M. G. Ulmer & J. M. Scheyer Received: 6 November 2006 /Accepted: 11 May 2007 / Published online: 11 July 2007 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2007 Abstract Elemental analysis has played an important and interpretations. Examples are provided based on role in the characterization of soils since inception data gathered as part of the US soil survey program. of the soil survey in the US. Recent efforts in analysis The second part addresses the organization of sample of trace and major elements (geochemistry) have collection in soil survey and how soil surveys are provided necessary data to soil survey users in a ideally suited as a sampling strategy for soil geo- variety of areas. The first part of this paper provides a chemical studies. Geochemistry is functional in brief overview of elemental sources, forms, mobility, characterization of soil types, determining soil pro- and bioavailability; critical aspects important to users cesses, ecological evaluation, or issues related to soil of soil survey geochemical data for appropriate use quality and health, such as evaluating suitability of soils for urban or agricultural land use. Applications of geochemistry are on-going across the US and are * : : M. A. Wilson ( ) R. Burt J. M. Scheyer documented herein. This analytical direction of soil National Soil Survey Center, USDA-NRCS, 100 Centennial Mall N., Rm. 152, MS 41, survey complements historic efforts of the National Lincoln, NE 68508, USA Cooperative Soil Survey Program and addresses the e-mail: [email protected] increasing need of soil survey users for data that assists in understanding the influence of human S. J. Indorante USDA-NRCS, activities on soil properties. 148 E. Pleasant Hill Road, Suite 105, Carbondale, IL 62903, USA Keywords Trace elements . Soil survey. Pedology. Parent material . Anthropogenic A. B. Jenkins USDA-NRCS, 42 Pine Crest Drive, Dover Foxcroft, ME 04426, USA Introduction J. V. Chiaretti USDA-NRCS, Geochemistry is an evaluation of the distribution 1365 Corporate Blvd., (species and concentration) of chemical elements in Reno, NV 89502, USA the biosphere (rock, soil, water, plants, and air) and includes the study of chemical processes and reac- M. G. Ulmer USDA-NRCS, tions that govern the composition of and chemical P.O. Box 1458, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA flux between various states (Kabata-Pendias and 152 Environ Monit Assess (2008) 139:151–171 Pendias 2001; Neuendorf et al. 2005). Much of the the publication of more detailed and more sophisti- current emphasis on geochemistry in soil science is cated soil surveys that were prepared on a photo- related to the chemistry of trace elements controlling graphic base. Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff 1975, the movement, distribution, and fate in plants and 1999) was developed as the system for soil classifi- soils of native pools and anthropogenic additions of cation, and soil surveys and soil survey information elements (Roberts et al. 2005). Trace element is a were produced for multiple uses. The common general term for those elements that are regarded as disciplinary thread of soil survey, regardless of the having low concentration in soils or rocks. These era, is the study of soils or soil-landscapes in their elements exist as both cations (e.g., Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, natural settings. The fundamental purposes of a soil Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and anions (e.g., As, Se, Mo, B). survey are to show geographic distribution of soils, Focus in the past was typically on essentiality of these provide data on properties of component soils, and to elements and many were regarded as micronutrients. make predictions regarding landuse and management There are 17 trace elements regarded as essential for (Soil Survey Division Staff 1993). To this end, a soil plants based on their specific biochemical role survey includes soil maps, soil series descriptions, (Kabata-Pendias and Pendias 2001). Today, under- map unit descriptions, soil data, taxonomic classifi- standing of the essentiality of elements is still cations, and interpretations. The detail of the soil important, but “trace” is somewhat a misnomer given maps (scales commonly between 1:12,000 and that these elements may have relatively high natural 1:24,000), and the detail of the supporting informa- concentrations in certain soils and with increased tion provides an excellent foundation for trace recognition of anthropogenic contamination (human- element survey whether studying natural trace ele- induced additions of elements) to soils worldwide ment variation or anthropogenic effects. Soil surveys (Roberts et al. 2005). Patterns of natural soil also supply researchers with a high degree of sample variability provide the starting point for understanding stratification, which provides for a higher degree of and measuring differences between natural concen- accuracy and precision when compared to more trations of elements and anthropogenic effects. A soil general resource maps (e.g. landscape classification survey separates this natural variability into soil maps or surficial geology maps). mapping units by application of the soil forming A common component of the US Soil Survey factor model (Jenny 1941) to the landscape. These Program that has spanned the years has been the use factors are active in and responsible for the formation of elemental analysis to provide information about of soil at any given point on the landscape (SSSA soils and land use. Early studies (Brown and Byers 1997). Depending on the impact of landuse, human 1935; Holmes et al. 1938) used geochemistry to study induced processes are also considered a factor of soil soil uniformity with depth and pedogenic processes formation (Yaalon and Yaron 1966; Tugel et al. 2005). such as mineral weathering, podzolization, and other A soil survey is defined as the systematic exami- eluviation/illuviation processes. Those publications, nation, description, classification, and mapping of as well as Denison (1930), Byers et al. (1935), and soils in a designated geographic area (SSSA 1997). Holmes (1928), used the composition and silica/ State and federal soil survey activities in the United sesquioxide (Si/Al+Fe) ratio of the colloidal fractions States began in 1896 and have evolved into what is (<1.0 μm) to define the property range for the series now called the “modern soil survey” (Indorante et al. boundary of soils. Marbut (1935) defined Category V 1996). Original small scale-colored maps were gen- (Inorganic Colloid Composition Group) of the 1935 eral in nature or were single purpose surveys like US Soil Classification System based on these types of those made for conservation planning. With the data, and published elemental data from both the formation of the National Cooperative Soil Survey colloidal and <2-mm fractions to illustrate differences (NCSS) in 1952, the “modern soil survey” era was in soils from across the US. born. This cooperative effort includes federal agencies Later emphasis on trace elements by USDA-Soil such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Conservation Service scientists within the Soil Survey Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Investigations Division was related to landuse. Joe Land Management, universities, and state and local Kubota (Alban and Kubota 1960; Kubota 1964; agencies. The beginning of this era was marked by Kubota et al. 1961, 1967) studied elements such as Environ Monit Assess (2008) 139:151–171 153 Co and Mo in relation to soil and plant deficiencies or Alaska (Fig. 1). Pedons were described and samples toxicities for animal production. George Holmgren collected by standard soil survey procedures (Soil led a study that analyzed the concentration of Pb, Cd, Survey Division Staff 1993; Burt 2004). Samples Zn, Cu, and Ni in agricultural soils across the U.S. were sieved (stainless steel) to <2-mm and finely (Holmgren et al. 1993). This final study is regarded as ground (<150-μm) in a silicon nitride ball mill. The a primary source of elemental data on soils of the US. soil digestion for trace elements seals 0.50 g soil with Today, elemental data are being produced on sam- 9 ml concentrated HNO3 and 3 ml concentrated HCl ples collected as part of soil survey documentation in a covered polypropylene vessel with microwave across the US. These analyses were necessitated by digestion at 175°C for 4.5 min. The digested material the increasing demand for these data by soil survey was quantitatively transferred with reverse-osmosis, clientele and soil scientists of the NCSS requiring deionized water to a 50-ml final volume.
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