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Slick Spots in Southeastern Nebraska—Patterns and Genesis
Author(s) -
Lewis David T.,
Drew James V.
Publication year - 1973
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/sssaj1973.03615995003700040036x
Subject(s) - geology , loess , soil water , water table , spots , hydrology (agriculture) , weathering , ephemeral key , geomorphology , groundwater , soil science , chemistry , geotechnical engineering , algorithm , computer science
Slick spots formed in Peoria loess near the crests of interfluves in southeastern Nebraska were studied in relation to their distribution and genesis. Peoria loess forms a discontinuous mantel over a maturely dissected plain of Kansan till. Soils within the slick spots are low in chroma, contain some soluble salts, and have more extractable sodium than associated soils formed in Peoria loess. Calculations indicate that clay formed per unit of nonclay lost was greater in a slick spot soil profile than in an adjacent soil profile. Subsurface data indicate that the configuration of an erosion surface cut into Kansan till underlying the slick spot and the differential permeability of Illinoian sediments above the till contribute to the occurrence of a perched ephemeral water table in the loess beneath the slick spot. The evidence suggests that soluble products of weathering, including Na and Ca, are added to the slick spot by capillary rise from a perched water table following periods of above average precipitation and accumulate in the slick spot during subsequent periods of intense evapotranspiration.