Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1951 Properties and classification of the paha loess- derived soils in northeastern Iowa Wayne Henry Scholtes Iowa State College Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Agriculture Commons, and the Soil Science Commons Recommended Citation Scholtes, Wayne Henry, "Properties and classification of the paha loess-derived soils in northeastern Iowa" (1951). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 15240. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/15240 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 NOTE TO USERS This reproduction is the best copy available. UMI' PROPERTIES Airo CLASSIFICATION OF THE. PAHA LOESS-DERIVED SOILS IN NORTHEASTERN IOWA W Wayne Henry Scholtes A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major SulDjectt Soil Genesis and Morphology Approved: Signature was redacted for privacy. In Charge of Major Work Signature was redacted for privacy. Head of Major Department Signature was redacted for privacy. bean of Graduate College Iowa State College 19?1 UMI Number: DP13461 o UMI UMI Microform DP13461 Copyright 2005 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 353DSe Sc 6 A p il TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 HISTORICAL 3 Classification of Soils on the Paha of the Northeast lowan Drift Plain 3 Tama Series ^ Clinton Series ^ Fayette Series 9 Formation of Soils on the Paha 10 Mode of Loess Deposition 1^ Climate During Loess Deposition l6 Age of Loess Deposits 17 Lodgement Factors Affecting Loess Depth ...• 20 The Problem of the Paha Loess * *. 22 Composition of the Paha 23 Origin of the Paha Loess .............. 23 Orientation of the Paha 27 Distribution of the Paha 28 METHODS OF INVESTIGATION 3^ Description of the Area in VJhich the Paha Occur 3^ Field Studies 37 Location of Paha on Northeast lowan Drift Plain 37 Cross Section of Paha ^8 Morphological Studies and Collection of Soil Profile Samples 6l Morphological Study of Buried Fossil Soils 72 Elevations of Paha and lowan Drift •... 75 Soil Map of a Paha oO 7 ill Laboratory Studies 83 Physical Studies 83 Mechanical analysis 83 Volume I'felght d •..• 0 •.«• • 89 Porosity * •• • 9p Permeability 10^ Chemical Studies 112 Soil reaction or pH •« 112 Available phosphorus and potassium 117 TiiKchangeable cations 12^ DISCUSSION 129 SUMMARY 1^9 CONCLUSIONS 152 LITERATURE CITED 155 ACI^NOWLEDGMENT 162 APPENDIX 163 Iv LIST OF TABIES Mechanical Analyses of Seven Soil Profiles on Paha VolTJune Weights of Seven Soil Pro­ files on Paha, Tama Profile, Fayette Profile, and Several Loess and Till Samples from Marshall County, and Several Loess Samples from Monona County Aeration and Capillary Porosity Data of Seven Soil Profiles on Paha, Tama Profile, Fayette Profile, and Several Loess and Till Samples from Marshall County Permeabilities of Seven Soil Profiles on Paha, Tama Profile, Fayette Pro­ file, and Several Loess and Till Samples from Marshall County, and Several Loess Samples from Monona County pH of Seven Soil Profiles on Paha Available Phosphorus and Potassium of Seven Soil Profiles on Paha Exchangeable H, Ca, Mg, Ca/Mg Ratio and Base Saturation of Selected Layers of Two Paha Loess Derived Soils and a Profile Each of Tama and Fayette Series Percent Base Saturation and Per­ cent Clay Content of the Ai and B2 Horissons of Several Loess fJerived Soils V TABLE 9 Physical and Chemical Properties of Different Horizons of Tama Silt Loam (Tama County, Iowa) l66 TABLE 10 Physical and Chemical Properties of Different Horizons of Fayette Silt Loam (Jackson County, Iowa) 171 vi LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1 Location of soil profiles sampled on paha in northeastern Iowa and prin­ cipal soil association areas of Iowa FIGURE 2 Location of paha on the lowan drift plain FIGURE 3 Confirmed paha indicated "by elongate areas of forest derived soils sur­ rounded by prairie derived soils FIGURE h Confirmed paha indicated "by elongate areas of loess derived soils sur­ rounded "by till derived soils FIGURE 5 Route of roads traversed in search of paha FIGURE 6 Location of paha on the lowan drift plain in Benton County FIGURE 7 Topographical prominences which indicate the location of paha FIGURE 8 Severely eroded area which indi­ cates location of a paha FIGURE 9 Elongate forested area which indi­ cates location of a paha FIGURE 10 Cross section of paha and adjacent area in Grundy County, showing ele­ vation. thickness of loess and characxer of pre-loess topography FIGURE 11 Traverse 1 showing differences in elevation "between paha and lowan drift plain FIGURE 12 Traverse 2 showing differences in elevation between paha and lowan drift plain vli FIGURE 13 Traverse 3 showing differences in elevation between paha and Imran drift plain 79 PIGtJBE 1^ Detailed soil map of a paha and traverse h showing differences in elevation between paha and lowan drift plain 8l FIGURE 1? Distribution of less than 2 micron clay in paha soil profiles 88 FIGURE 16 Capillary porosity, aeration (A.P.) porosity, and soil solids by depths in profiles 102 FIGURE 17 Permeability in inches per hour and aeration porosity in percent by depths in profiles 108 -1- IKTRODUCTIOW It has long been recognized "by geologists that local deep accumilations of loess oriented in a northwest-southeast direction occur on the northeast Imaxi drift plain. Earlier investigators reported that these accumulations of loess, called paha (27)*, are present in many counties in northeast Iowa, The soils derived from loess on the paha were originally mapped as members of the Clinton, Payette and Tama series. Preliminary observations in the field indicated that the soils on the paha should perhaps not be classified with the soils of the Clinton, Fayette or Tama series. Studies by Hutton (20) and Ulrich (66) in southwest Iowa, Hunter (19) in southeast Iowa, and Smith (^-7) in Illinois show that soils derived from one source of loess tend to have characteristics peculiar to that particular loess, its thick­ ness and distribution pattern, Ulrich (66) concluded for Vj'^senboden and Planosols in southwestern Iowa that as the loess thinned the volume weight increased, porosity and permeability decreased, and the ^Numbers in parenthesis refer to Literature Cited. degree of horizon differentiation increased, Hutton (20) studying the relationship of loess distribution and soil for­ mation in southwestern Iowa, found that thickness of loess was related to the morphology of the soil profile and to physical and chemical properties of certain Brunlgra** soils. Changes in Brunigra soils in southeastern Iowa developed from thinning loess were attributed by Hunter (19) to time of weathering and variations in parent material. From the studies of these investigators certain morphological, physi­ cal and chemical characteristics were found for established soil series and a clearer understanding was obtained of the genesis of the soils. The soils on the paha may be evaluated and compared to soils which have already been studied through the use of similar techniques of investigation. The studies reported herein were undertaken to clarify the classification of the soils on the paha. It is hoped that this study will reveal whether new series should be established for these soils on the paha, or whether they should be Included with soil series already established in Iowa or elsewhere. It is also hoped that a better under­ standing will be obtained of the paha in general and of the morphology, genesis and characteristics of the soils which occur upon them. Formerly called Prairie soils. -3- HISTORICAL Classification of Soils on the Paha of the Northeast lovan Drift Plain Field and laboratory investigations in recent years have provided information concerning the physical and chemi­ cal properties of soils. On the "basis of additional physi­ cal and chemical information now available many revisions have been made of soil series established in earlier surveys. The soils on paha were occasionally designated as being dif­ ferent than the Tama, Clinton or Fayette series. Before the Tama series was established some of the soils on the paha developed under grass vegetation were designated as Musca­ tine silt loam (51). In some Instances the soils on the paha were mapped as Carrington silt loam or Shelby silt loam. Perhaps the presence of coarse sand grains which occasionally occur within the soil led some of the earlier surveyors to classify these soils with soils derived from glacial drift.