Hale 1
Traci Hale
Dr. Feagley
SCSC 301
20 June 2016
The previous week a group of students, including myself, were given the task of collecting data and observations of a particular soil sample. To follow up with our date and observations we were asked to include such information in a soil report. This report will include soil factors, our interpretations derived said soil factors and a description of how this land may be used.
This soil had a slope between three to four percent, which is a fairly moderate slope. This slope allows for a moderate to severe amount of wind and water erosion. This is due to the medium surface runoff speed and slow permeability of the soil. Thankfully, this soil is deep with good drainage, which helps lessen the chance of erosion; although, erosion still effects the usage of the land in addition to the slow permeability. The A horizon was about seven inches deep and has a color of 10YR3/3; the B horizon started seven inches deep into the soil and ended about twenty-four inches deep into the soil. This B horizon has a color of 5 YR4/6. The C horizon which is everything below twenty-four inches deep into the soil has a color of 7.5YR4/6. Although, each horizon has a different color, they all have the same pH of 6.5. This is an excellent pH for plant growth because it is not too basic, but not too acid either.
During observation, we found this soil has a moderate infiltration rate,which is due to the soil texture; the surface soil had a sandy loam texture, the subsoil had a sandy clay texture, and the parent material had a sandy clay loam texture. The structure of this soil was different for each horizon. The surface horizon had a granular structure with a friable consistency. The subsoil horizon had an angular blocky structure with a firm consistency. Finally, the parent material had a massive structure with a friable consistency. Together, each of these characteristics would allow for cultivation of the land.
In the end, we were finally able to classify this particular soil. The A horizon is a deep mineral soil known as an ochric epipedon. The B horizon is a Bt or clay soil known as an argillic endopedon. Finally, the soil is overall an Alphasol.
With all of the data and observations together, we determined this land is quite suitable for most anything. If I could purchase this land I would not only myself do so, but recommend others to do so as well. You could easily build a home on it without worrying about shrink or swelling of the soil. Additionally, this land would be excellent for grazing livestock and gardening. The only problems this soil would cause is your septic system; you would have to pay for a highly engineered septic system to decrease the leach field. Also, to reduce wind and water erosion you would have to contour plow your farm land, and always maintain some type of plant or rock material on the soil surface. Finally, to maintain soil productivity, by always ensuring plant materials on the soil surface, you could till that material into the soil. This would add organic matter and nutrients back into the soil.