Project Number: WVA00008
CRIS Number: 0032574
SOIL SURVEY WORK IN WEST VIRGINIA
Investigators: Sencindiver, J. C.
Performing Department: Plant & Soil Sciences -- 1825
Start Date: 07/17/1930
Termination Date: 01/01/2004
Reporting period: 01/01/2001 to 12/31/2001
Report has not yet been submitted to CRIS.
Progress Report:
One project in cooperation with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and two additional projects in cooperation with NRCS are continuing. For the USFS project, thirteen pedons have been described and sampled in the Otter Creek Wildnerness. These pedons represent various established soil series and other soils that have not been classified. The purpose of the study is to characterize and classify each pedon to assist in updating the soil survey of the wilderness area. Characterization of all described soil horizons is continuing. These soils are generally acid with pH values ranging from 3.0 to 5.0. Diagnostic horizons include ochric epipedons with cambic, argillic and fragipan subsurface horizons. Base saturation is low, so most of the soils will be classified as Inceptisols or Ultisols. In another study, clayey soils forming on limestone in the Valley and Ridge Province of West Virginia are being evlauated for shrink-swell capacity. Laboratory analyses of these soils are continuing. The third study involves the evlauation of the P retention capacity of major soils of West Virginia. Soils have been sampled and analyzed from various locations in the state. Results indicate that there is a wide variation among soil series in their capacity to retain P. Subsoil horizons in upland soils appear to have a higher P fixation capacity than similar horizons of soils on floodplains. This difference is being evaluated, but it may simply be related to differences in pH. The alluvial soils have higher pH values than the residual soils. For a given soil series, there is a positive relationship between iron oxide content and P fixation capacity. However, this relationship does not exist when the data from all soils (three or four repititions of seven series) are combined. Published data indicate that 50% of the P that could be theoretically held by iron is actually fixed. Data for our soils indicate that only 20% to 30% of the theoretical P is being held.
Publications:
Bhumbla, D.K., J.C. Sencindiver, B.S. Sekhon, and S. G. Carpenter. 2001. Phosphorus retention capacity of some West Virginia benchmark soils. Abstract. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 56(4): available in 2002.
Impact:
Information generated in the Otter Creek Wildnerness and the clayey soil studies will assist the NRCS in updating soil surveys in those areas. Laboratory data will be used to more accurately classify the soils, so that better evaluations of land use potentials can be made. Data from the P retention study will assist in making more accurate decisions on land applications of high P wastes, such as poultry litter, thus reducing environmental hazards.