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Calciustolls in Central Texas: I. Parent Material Uniformity and Hillslope Effects on Carbonate‐Enriched Horizons
Author(s) -
West L. T.,
Wilding L. P.,
Stahnke C. R.,
Hallmark C. T.
Publication year - 1988
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/sssaj1988.03615995005200060039x
Subject(s) - carbonate , geology , pedogenesis , soil water , calcareous , silt , landform , mineralogy , geochemistry , soil science , geomorphology , chemistry , paleontology , organic chemistry
Most soils associated with soft, Cretaceous limestones in Texas occupy moderately to strongly sloping erosional landforms and are underlain by interbedded weakly to strongly indurated limestone. Fourteen pedons from four hillslopes in these landscapes were sampled to evaluate soil parent materials and the effect of hillslope position on genesis of the soils and carbonate‐enriched horizons. Clay‐free, carbonate‐free particle size distribution and elemental analysis of the residue silt fraction indicate that the soils had developed from stratified parent materials. Calcareous microfossils observed in thin section and siliceous microfossils observed with scanning electron microscopy indicate the soil parent materials to be primarily limestone of composition similar to that underlying the soils. Dust is being added to the soil surface at a rate of 1 to 2 mm/100 yr but has not been an important parent material amendment. The primary effect of hillslope position on genesis of soils and carbonate‐enriched horizons is through site stability. No consistent relationships were observed between soils on backslope and summit positions, and expression of carbonate‐enriched horizons.