Premium
Some Physical, Chemical, and Mineralogical Properties of Compacted and Adjacent Soil Layers in Coarse‐Textured Soils
Author(s) -
Milford M. H.,
Kunze G. W.,
Bloodworth M. E.
Publication year - 1961
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1961.03615995002500060028x
Subject(s) - loam , illite , silt , cation exchange capacity , quartz , soil water , geology , mineralogy , granulometry , feldspar , clay minerals , organic matter , soil science , chemistry , paleontology , organic chemistry , sediment
Some physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties of compacted and adjacent soil layers, which were selected from cultivated and virgin Willacy fine sandy loam soils in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, were studied to attain a better understanding of the compacted zone and its development. Hydraulic conductivity measurements and field studies substantiated the presence of a hardpan layer, which was first encountered at a depth of 3½ to 7 inches and ranged to a depth of 7½ to 12 inches, at each of the five sites sampled. Clay content increased with depth, while sand content decreased. The fine (0.25 to 0.1 mm.) and very fine sand (0.1 to 0.05 mm.) fractions, for all samples, comprised at least 95% of the total sand and more than 60% of the total soil. Soil reaction (pH), organic matter content, cation‐exchange capacity, exchangeable cations, and extractable silica, aluminum, and iron were determined. Extractable cementing materials were not found in important quantities in any of the layers. Mineralogical analyses of the samples showed that quartz and lesser amounts of feldspar composed the sand and silt fractions, while illite and poorly ordered, weathered micaceous materials dominated the clay fraction. No pronounced differences in the chemical and mineralogical properties of the hardpan layers as compared to the layers above and below the hardpan were found.