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Soil Surface Patterns of some Semiarid Soils in Northern Utah, Southern Idaho, and Northeastern Nevada
Author(s) -
Hugie V. K.,
Passey H. B.
Publication year - 1964
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/sssaj1964.03615995002800060030x
Subject(s) - loam , soil water , geology , vegetation (pathology) , silt , soil science , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , geomorphology , medicine , geotechnical engineering , pathology
Surface soil patterns were classified and studied on 70 semiarid to subhumid areas with relict native vegetation in Utah, Idaho, and Nevada. Three general classes of soil surface conditions were recognized — prominently patterned, weakly patterned, and unpatterned. Prominent and weak patterns were further classified into polygonal surface soil patterns with and without segregation of coarse particles. Surface patterns were found to occur only on bare surface soil between clumps of plants on well‐drained and moderately well‐drained silt loam, silty clay loam, and very fine sandy loam textured soils. Polygonal patterns with segregated coarse particles were observed only on moderately well‐drained planosolic, lithosolic, and solonetzic soils containing basalt pebbles. Surface soil patterns did not occur under vegetation, mulch, stones, or gravel. Cycles of alternate freezing and thawing of the surface soil followed by desiccation result in the formation of polygonal surface soil patterns with and without segregation of coarse particles.