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The Influence of Forest and Pasture on the Genesis of a Humid Temperate‐Region Ultisol
Author(s) -
Daniels W. Lee,
Amos D. F.,
Baker J. C.
Publication year - 1983
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/sssaj1983.03615995004700030033x
Subject(s) - pasture , ultisol , soil water , environmental science , temperate climate , vegetation (pathology) , temperate forest , horizon , soil horizon , agronomy , hydrology (agriculture) , soil science , geology , ecology , biology , mathematics , medicine , geometry , pathology , geotechnical engineering
The influence of pasture vs. forest vegetation on the properties of a Typic Hapludult from the Blue Ridge Province of Virginia was examined. Three study sites containing both forest and pasture cover were chosen from a group of 20 randomly selected initial sites by a typical pedon computer program which used A horizon thickness, Bt horizon clay content, Ca + Mg content at a depth of 145 cm, and slope as selection parameters. Detailed soil analyses were conducted under pasture and forest vegetation at each of the three final study sites. Pasture B horizons were deeper, higher in clay content, and weaker in structure grade than forest B horizons. The influence of liming was pronounced in the pasture soils and resulted in significant downward movement of Ca and Mg over time. Residual liming and P fertilization effects were apparent after 25 years of forest occupancy on a formerly cropped site. These data indicate that morphological and chemical changes occur in these soils following forest to pasture conversion. These changes, particularly in B horizon morphology, may occur much more rapidly than commonly assumed.