Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1949 Some physical and chemical properties of Planosol and Wiesenboden soil series as related to loess thickness and distribution Rudolph Ulrich 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 Ulrich, Rudolph, "Some physical and chemical properties of Planosol and Wiesenboden soil series as related to loess thickness and distribution " (1949). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 14026. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/14026 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. 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Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overiaps. ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0000 NOTE TO USERS This reproduction is the best copy avaiiabie. UMI' SOtlE PHYSICAL AMD Cffi^MICAL PROEERTIiiS OP PLANOSOL AKD WIE3EHB0DEN SOIL SERIES AS RELATED TO LOESS THICKNESS AND DISTRIBUTION by Rudolph Ulrich A Disaer.rafion Submitted, to the Graduatje PacuiL^'•iii-Pa'rt ial Pulfillment of Kie Re<iuJre]}iea.t4= for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major Subject; Soil Morphology and Genesis 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. 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Ml 48106-1346 S591 -11- OLTi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 HISTORICAL 3 Classification of the Loess-Derived Prairie, Wlesenhoden, and Planosol Soils of South- urestern Iowa 3 Grundy series ............. 5 Edlna series ..... 7 Halg series ..... 8 Winterset series ............ 9 Mlnden series ..... 10 Distribution of Peorian Loess in Southwestern Iowa 10 The Mode of Loess Deposition 13 The Time of Loess Deposition 16 Relationship af Loess Thickness and Soil Profile Development to Distance from Loess Source 18 METHODS OP INVESTIGATION 26 Depth and Distribution of Peorian Loess in Southwestern Iowa ...... 26 Description of the area 26 Measurements of loess thickness .... 28 Morphological Studies and Collection of Soil Profile Samples - 33 Laboratory Studies . 59 Physical studies 59 Kechanical analysis 59 Fractionation of the less than 2 micron clay 68 Volume weight ..... 72 Porosity BO Permeability ....... 83 Chemical studies 92 Soil reaction or pH • 92 Exchangeable cations ........ 96 Total nitrogen, organic carbon, organic matter, and carbon-nitrogen ratio • 103 Effect of forest versus grass vegeta­ tion on the soil profile 10?^ TfOA.O ill Page DISCUSSION 115 SUMMAfOT 128 CONCLUSIONS 131 LITERATURE CITED ISft ACKNOWLEDGMENT ..... 137 APPENDIX *. .. 138 Iv LIST OP TABLES Pag« TABIE 1 Distribution cf Loess along Traverse No* 5 In Southwestern Iowa 51 TAFIJE 2 Secbanical Analyses of Profiles along Traverse Bo. S 60 TABIE 5 Amlyses of Less Then 2 Micron Cley In Profllas along Traverse No. 3 70 TABLE 4 Volume Weights of the Profiles along Traverse TTo. S 75 TABLE 5 Aeration and Capillary Porosity of S0I5. Profiles along Traverse No. 3 84 TABLE 6 Pormeabllltlos of Profiles of Traverse Ho. 5 89 TAEIE 7 pH of Profiles of Traverse No. 5 95 TAPI£ 8 Cation Exchange Data for Profiles of Traverse So. 3 100 TABLE 9 Excliangeable Cations along Traverse No. 3 103# TABLE 10 Totial Nitrogen, Organic Carbon, Organic Matter, and C-H Ratio of Profiles along Traverse Ho. 5 110 V LIST OF FIGURES Page FIGUrJE 1 Location of Traversoa No. 3 and No. 4 in southwestern Iowa and principal soil asaocifitticn areas of Iowa 6 FIGURE 2 Loess thlt knesa and distribution along Traversas Nc» 1 and No. 5, and aaxlraum percent less than 2 micron clay in pro­ file along Traverse No, 5 32 FIGURE 3 Distritution of leas than 2 micron clay with depth In profiles along Traverse No. 3 73 FIGUBE 4 Distribution of leas than .06 micron clay with depth in profiles along Traverse Mo. 3 73A PI3TJRE h Capillary porosity, aeration porosity, (A.?.), and soil solids by depths in piroflles of Traverses Ko, 3 and Ho. 4 86 FIGUnE 6 Percent total nitrogen and percent organic carbon in virgin-like surface horizons of profiles along Traverse No. 5 10® INTRODUCTION As described by Brown (9 ),' three general regions of Peorian, or Wisconsin, loess were recognized as important soil formation in Iowa. These were: (1) the deep, cal­ careous Missouri loess extending into the third tier of counties in western lowaj (2) the moderately deep, non- calcareous Mississippi loess of eastern Iowa; and (5) the shallow, non-calcareous loess of the southern three tiers of counties in Iowa. The dominant upland grass-influenced soil series associated with each of these loess areas was the Marshall, Tama, and Grundy, respectively. No function­ al relationships between loess areas and the soil series developed from them were Indicated on the basis of the classification proposed by Brown. Studies In Illinois s}iowed that functional relation­ ships exist between the loess distribution pattern and certain properties of the soil series derived from it pro­ ceeding in a southeasternly direction away from the Illinois River, the major source of loess supply. As the Missouri River is a major source of loess supply (18), functional relationships between the soil series and the loess dis­ tribution pattern were Indicated for southwestern Iowa. •'figures in parentheses refer to literature cited -2- Acting on these premises, and pursuing a line of Inves­ tigation similar to that used by Bray and others in Illinois, Button (14), conducted a study in south-vfestern Iowa. He showed certain morphological, physical, and chemical properties of the gently sloping Prairie soils developed from Peorlan loess In southwestern Iowa were related to the depth and distribution of the loess. As a result of the studies by Button, similar func­ tional relationships were Indicated for the associated catenary, nearly level Prairie, Wiesenboden, and Plan- osol soils developed from Peorlan loess in southwestern Iowa. The studies herein reported were undertaken to , investigate the nature of these relationships as an aid in the interpretation of the genesis, classification, and characteristics of the nearly level soils developed from Peorlan loess in southwestern Iowa. In conjunction with the findings reported by Hutton, It la hoped that a better understanding of the soils developed from Peorlan loesa will be forthcoming as an aid in the solution of the agri­ cultural problems of southwestern Iowa, the other areas of loess deposition in Iowa and surrounding states, as well as furthering the understanding of soils and soil-forming processes everywhere. •5- IIISTOHICAL Classification of Loess-Derived Prairie, Wlesenboden, and Planoaol Soils of Southwestern Iowa Improved techniques of soil investigation have provided quantitative information of soil properties and soil-forming processes giving rise to them. Many revisions of the soil series established by eErller surveys have been made on the basis of the additional inforniatlon now available. The fol­ lowing is a brief review of the older and newer concepts of the loess-derived, nearly level Prairie, Wiesenboden, and Planosol soils in southwestern Iowa and adjacent states. Grundy series The Grundy series was established in Grundy County, Missouri, in 1916, and subsequently mapped over an exten­ sive area In northern lilssourl, eastern Kansas, southern Iowa, southeastern Nebraska, nnd central Illinois* As described by Rice (27 )» the Grundy series in north­ ern Missouri and southern Iowa was developed from Peorlan loess under the Influence of an annual rainfall of 32 to 35 Inches, a mean annual temperature of 50® P, a tall grass vegetation, smooth to level topography, and somewhat re­ stricted drainage* The essential profile features included: (1) a dark to almost black, granular surface soil, (2) a -4- heavy textured subsoil, and (3) a lighter colored, non- calcareous loesslal substratum. The Grundy series In southeastern