Houdek South Dakota State Soil Soil Science Society of America Introduction What do the Chinese ring-necked pheasant, Black Hills spruce, Pasque flower, rose quartz, triceratops, and the Houdek loam have in common? They are all state symbols for South Dakota. The Chinese ring-necked pheasant is the state bird, Black Hills spruce is the state tree, Pasque is the state flower (Figure 1), rose quartz is the state mineral, triceratops is the state fossil, and the Houdek loam is the state soil. Let’s explore how the Houdek is important to South Dakota. History and Commemoration South Dakota has a large acreage of productive, prairie derived soils on glacial till (material deposited by glaciers). Most of these soils are medium textured and have high natural fertility. Houdek is a native soil of South Dakota and does not occur in any other state. The Houdek soil was chosen because of its large extent and its im- portance to agriculture. The Professional Soil Scientists Association of South Dakota and the South Dakota chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society worked together to commemo- rate the importance of soil to South Dakota. It is fitting that Houdek loam, a typical prairie derived glacial till soil, was adopted as the state soil to acknowledge the im- portance soil has played in our State’s most important industry, agriculture. The Houdek series was established in 1955 in Spink County, South Dakota. The se- ries was separated from the Barnes series which was established in 1914. In 1990, the late Governor George Mickelson signed a House Bill into law, making the Houdek loam South Dakota’s Official State Soil. What is Houdek Soil? Soil material is separated into three different size fractions called sand, silt, and clay, which make up the soil texture. They are present in all soils in different propor- tions and say a lot about the character of the soil. In addition, soils may be thick to thin, stony to not stony; saline to not saline; sandy, silty, loamy, or clayey; sloping, flat, or in de- pressions; and may occur where climates are moist to dry and warm to cool. Each soil series is uniquely de- fined by the different colors, organic matter levels, textures, layers or horizons, parent mate- rials, and other morphological (structure), chemical, and physi- cal properties. Fig. 1 South Dakota State flower (Pasque flower). Credit: USDA-NRCS photo gallery. 2015a Photo Soil Monolith: Chip Clark/Smithsonian Institution Fig. 2. (Left) Houdek Soil Profile. Source: http://pssasd.drivehq.com/Houdek/ index.html Fig. 3. (Above) Location of Houdek soils in South Dakota, Credit: Smithsonian Institution’s Forces of Change exhibit. The Houdek profile (Figure 2) is composed of topsoil formed “Out of all the long list of nature’s from the weathering of glacial till and the decomposition of grass residues causing the deep dark color (Ap) with 2-4 % organic gifts to humans, none is perhaps matter (Figure 3). This 6-8 inch layer is friable (easily crumbles) and has a neutral soil pH (6-7.3). so utterly essential to human life The subsoil of the Houdek soil is divided into two parts: 1) a layer as soil.” —H.H. Bennett of clay accumulation (Bt); and 2) a layer of lime accumulation (Bk). As the Houdek soils weathered and formed, water from the soil surface carried lime and clay downward. These materials were deposited deeper, forming the two subsoil layers. The Bt layer is Where to dig a Houdek 10-15 inches deep, is friable, and has a neutral pH. The Bk layer is Yes you can dig a soil. It is called a soil pit and it shows you the 15-30 inches deep, friable, and moderately alkaline. The C layer is soil profile. The different horizontal layers of the soil are called 20+ inches deep, is friable, and moderately alkaline. soil horizons. There are more than 2 million acres of Houdek and closely related soils in the central part of the state (Figure 3). It is The last layer in the Houdek soil is the parent material (C). This one of the most extensive soils in the state. In South Dakota there layer represents the materials from which the Houdek soil has are more than 550 different kinds of soils called “soil series.” developed with time. It represents what the glacier originally left at the soil surface. Importance of Soils The Bk and C layers are also calcareous, meaning they contain Soils are not an unlimited natural resource. Soils take thousands enough calcium carbonate (CaCO3) to effervesce (fizz) when treated with hydrochloric acid (HCl)! of years to form and it only takes a few years to destroy their productivity as a result of erosion and other types of improper Climate factors and vegetation/soil organisms have weathered management. Soils are used to produce crops, range, timber, and the glacial parent materials to form the present day Houdek soil. for recreation. They are used for engineering purposes and are Because soils are complex, variable, and occur as a mosaic on an integral part of the water cycle. Soils are nature’s waste dis- the land, it is difficult for one to learn them all. However, if one posal medium and they serve as habitats for many varied kinds learns the properties of the state soil, Houdek, then other soils of plants, birds, animals, and microorganisms. Soils are basic to can be compared to it. our survival. We cannot live without them. Socially, economi- cally, and environmentally soils are crucial to society’s growth and development. 2 Fig. 4. (Above) Houdek soil landscape. Credit: USDA-NRCS Fig. 5. (Right) No-till planting. Credit: USDA-NRCS Soil and Agriculture’s Importance to South Dakota When a soil cannot be used for one or more of the described functions, it is referred to as a limitation. Soil experts, called Soil When a state depends heavily upon agriculture for its livelihood, Scientists, studied Houdek soil and identified that it should be soil quality becomes an especially important matter. Stewardship carefully managed (conservation tillage, no-till, and cover crops) of the land depends upon one’s knowledge of soil characteristics to prevent wind and water erosion (Figure 5). Houdek soils with and qualities. slopes greater than 9 % should not be cultivated and be left in South Dakota is an agricultural state with an area of 77,047 permanent grass vegetation with careful grazing practiced to pro- square miles and a population density of nine persons per square tect the soil resource from soil erosion and degradation. mile. Cash receipts from farming and ranching normally exceeds $9 billion each year with an economic impact of $21 billion (US- Houdek Soil Formation DA-NASS 2013; Decision Innovation Solutions, 2014). Before there was soil there were rocks and in between, CLORPT. On the average, South Dakota ranks nationally in the top ten for Without CLORPT, there would be no soil. So what is CLORPT? corn, soybeans, spring wheat, winter wheat, oats, alfalfa hay, They are the five major factors that are responsible for forming all hay, grain sorghum, sunflower seed, barley, rye, millet, and a soil like Houdek. The kind of soil that develops in any area flaxseed production. These crops and their products, along with is the result of the interaction of the five soil forming factors; forage, range, and pasture grown in the state, provide feed for CLimate, Organisms (vegetation and soil biota), Relief (topog- large numbers of livestock. On the average, South Dakota ranks raphy), Parent material, and Time. As a result, the properties of nationally in the top ten for beef, sheep, hog, bison, and honey the Houdek soil and all other soils are determined by CLORPT production (USDA-NASS, 2013). factors. Weathering takes place when environmental processes such as rainfall, freezing, and thawing act on rocks and parent This production is possible because South Dakota has large areas materials causing them to dissolve, fracture, and break into piec- of productive soils. One of these productive soils is the Houdek es. CLORPT then acts on the rock pieces, glacial sediments, and loam, our state soil. Soils are the foundation of life and the eco- vegetative materials to form soils. nomic base for South Dakota. They have properties and charac- teristics which influence their suitabilities for various uses. It is Climate – Temperature and precipitation influence the rate at critical for society to understand how soils form and develop. which parent materials weather and dead plants and animals Houdek loam is a symbol which one can use to help increase decompose. They affect the chemical, physical, and biological public awareness of South Dakota’s soil resources. relationships in the soil. The Houdek soils developed in a sub- humid climate with a mean annual precipitation of 20 to 22 inches and an average annual temperature of 45 to 47 OF. The Management and Limitations for Use influence of the two have resulted in the downward movement Houdek soils are used extensively for cropland, hayland, and of lime and clay form the Bk and Bt horizons, respectively, in rangeland (Figure 4). Small grains, corn, sunflowers, and soy- the Houdek soils. beans are commonly grown crops. Alfalfa and alfalfa-grass mix- tures provide hay and pasture for grazing livestock. Large areas Organisms – This refers to plants and animal life. In the soil, of Houdek soils are in native range. Crops and grasses grown on plant roots spread through, animals burrow in, and bacteria the Houdek soil provide habitat to wildlife. Soil erosion (wind eat plant and animal tissue. These and other soil organisms and water) control, soil productivity, soil organic carbon levels, (e.g., fungi and bacteria) speed up the breakdown of large soil and soil moisture conservation are major concerns of land man- particles into smaller ones.