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Soils of the Mall in Washington, DC: II. Genesis, Classification, and Mapping
Author(s) -
Short J. R.,
Fanning D. S.,
Foss J. E.,
Patterson J. C.
Publication year - 1986
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/sssaj1986.03615995005000030031x
Subject(s) - soil water , usda soil taxonomy , pedogenesis , alluvium , soil science , soil map , environmental science , deposition (geology) , soil survey , soil classification , geology , hydrology (agriculture) , geotechnical engineering , geomorphology , sediment
The soils on the Mall in Washington, DC have formed in about 6 m of miscellaneous fill deposited in repeated applications to the site during filling operations. Some limited pedogenesis has occurred; cambic, or cambic‐like B horizons were recognized in 26% of the profiles examined. Buried A horizons were found in 42% of the profiles. Classification of these soils using Soil Taxonomy alone was not satisfactory, as variations in organic matter with depth caused many of the soils to be placed in Fluv‐classes that connoted deposition of the parent material as alluvium and did not show unique accessory characteristics such as high bulk density. Proposed Urbic and Spolic subgroups of Udorthents and Ochrepts, with criteria to exclude them from Fluv‐classes, were utilized to classify these soils in a manner more consistent with their genesis and characteristics. A detailed soil map was prepared for the Mall using the proposed classification, and recommendations are made for mapping such highly manipulated areas.