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Topographic and Geologic Controls on Soil Variability in California's Sierra Nevada Foothill Region
Author(s) -
Beaudette D.E.,
O'Geen A.T.
Publication year - 2016
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/sssaj2015.07.0251
Subject(s) - lithology , geology , terrain , digital elevation model , elevation (ballistics) , spatial variability , landform , soil science , physical geography , soil water , soil test , hydrology (agriculture) , geomorphology , geochemistry , cartography , geography , remote sensing , geotechnical engineering , statistics , geometry , mathematics
Core Ideas Lithologic variability is often greater than expected. Variance partitioning methods can untangle superposed soil‐forming processes. RDA is a convenient framework for interpreting complex soil‐landscape relationships. We evaluated the feasibility of quantitative soil mapping in two catenas established on different lithologies (metavolcanic and granitic) in the Sierra Foothill Region of California. Indices of landform and microclimate were extracted from a 1‐m elevation model. Variation in soil “character” (clay content, pH, color, cation‐exchange capacity [CEC], and Fe o /Fe d ) was partitioned across variables associated with terrain shape and microclimate, lithologic variability, and sampling depth. The potential for using digital elevation models (DEM)‐derived indices of terrain shape to predict spatial patterns in soil properties varied greatly between our two experimental catenas. Terrain shape accounted for 4% (metavolcanic site) to 30% (granitic site) of variance in soil properties, while lithology accounted for 14% (metavolcanic site) to 22% (granitic site) of variance in soil properties. Sample depth accounted for 3% (metavolcanic site) to 12% (granitic site) of variance in soil properties. At the metavolcanic site, variability in lithology contributed more to soil variation than terrain shape, which makes digital soil modeling efforts a challenge in these regions. Up to 66% of the variance in soil properties was explained at the granitic site when considering terrain, lithology, sample depth, and associated interactions of these variables. Variance proportions can provide insight into the relative importance of soil‐forming factors and is a useful tool when evaluating the efficacy of digital soil mapping projects.