Wisconsin Soils Research Articles

Properties of glacial soils in Wisconsin : Roderick, GL Univ. Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA Symposium. Summaries of papers Midland Soil Mech. Found. Engng Soc. Symp. on Engng Behaviour of Glacial Materials, Birmingham, April, 1975

Properties of glacial soils in Wisconsin : Roderick, GL Univ. Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA Symposium. Summaries of papers Midland Soil Mech. Found. Engng Soc. Symp. on Engng Behaviour of Glacial Materials, Birmingham, April, 1975

AVAILABILITY OF CU, ZN, AND MN AS INFLUENCED BY APPLICATION OF CU-POLYFLAVONOID

Copper, in the form of Cu-polyflavonoid, was applied at 50 or 100 ppm to surface samples of nine Wisconsin soils varying from 0.8 to 12.5% organic matter. The effects on yield and on plant uptake of Cu, Zn and Mn were evaluated using oats (Avena sativa L. cv. Lodi). Complexed Cu additions increased extractable Cu, had little effect on extractable Zn, but also increased extractable Mn. Complexed Cu decreased plant uptake of Zn, but increased uptake of Mn. Interactive effects of organic matter, clay, available phosphorus and Zn appeared to occur with respect to plant yield and Cu, Zn, and Mn uptake.

Calculation of hydraulic conductivities of horizons in some major soils in Wisconsin

Hydraulic conductivity between saturation and a tension of 100 cm water was calculated with moisture-retention data for nine soil horizons and compared with results from in situ measurements with the crust test. Agreement was good for sandy, apedal soil horizons with simple packing voids but only if matching factors were used. Results were unreliable in clayey, pedal soil horizons in which a few relatively large planar and tubular pores determine K in the measured tension range, whereas the greatest fraction of total porosity is composed of fine pores inside peds that hardly contribute to flow. Varying the number of pore classes ( n) and the water-filled porosity at saturation made no significant difference in the calculations for the apedal soils, but drastically changed the shape of the calculated curves for the pedal soils. Matching factors based on K sat measurement had to be used for all studied soil horizons, indicating that Marshall's pore-interaction model never predicted K sat accurately.

Use of Physical Methods to Expand Soil Survey Interpretations of Soil Drainage Conditions

AbstractClassification systems of soil drainage conditions are used in the soil survey program to characterize hydrodynamics of soils in the field and these data are used for soil survey interpretations. Estimates of soil permeability and internal soil drainage, based mainly on inferences made from morphological features, and an estimate of runoff are used in the Soil Survey Manual to determine the placement of a soil in one of seven drainage classes. Different soil moisture regimes are defined in the new soil taxonomic system in terms of measurements made in situ. These methods do not provide the quantitative data needed for predicting what soil behavior will be under environmental conditions that have changed temporarily or permanently. Complex numerical procedures and simple approximate physical methods, both requiring hydraulic conductivity and moisture retention data, can be used to calculate hydrodynamic soil behavior for a variety of simplified boundary conditions. Two approximate methods were applied to four Wisconsin soils in which measurements of hydraulic conductivity had been made in situ. This work revealed that two soils that had been placed previously in different drainage classes on the basis of differences in soil mottling, actually had comparable hydrologic properties.

Evaluation of Various Extractants for Available Soil Sulfur

AbstractThe S status of 49 Wisconsin soils was evaluated in field studies using alfalfa (Medicago sativa) as the test crop. The effectiveness of six soil S extractants for predicting yield and S uptake response to applied S were evaluated by means of correlation analyses. The best extractant, considering all dependent variables and the S range, mean and standard deviation for each procedure, was 2N HOAc containing 500 ppm P as Ca(H2PO4)2 · H2O [Ca(H2PO4)2‐HOAc]. The correlation between extractable S and response to applied S was not improved by inclusion of percent organic matter, percent sand, or subsoil SO4‐S in the regression equation. However, inclusion of soil pH with extractable S did significantly improve the prediction of S response.The best equation for prediction of yield response to applied S in the field was: Yield response (metric tons/ha) = 50.81 − 7.22 pH − 8.19 S + 1.171 (pH × S) + 0.167 (S)2 − 0.00341 (pH × S)2 where S is the ppm of S extracted with Ca‐(H2PO4)2‐HOAc. Significant response to applied S would be expected on soils having a calculated yield response of 0.40 metric tons/ha or greater when extractable S is between 6 and 10 ppm S. Soils testing less than 6 ppm would be expected to respond and those testing greater than 10 ppm S would not be expected to respond to application of S, regardless of the calculated response value. Use of the regression equation and the limits of 6 and 10 ppm S resulted in correct prediction of S response at 77.6% of the field sites.

Availability of Cu, Zn and Mn in Soils: III.—Predictability of plant uptake

AbstractThe influence of various chemical soil fractions Of Cu, Zn and Mn in conjunction with plant uptake of any one or two of the elements on the variability of plant uptake of one of them was evaluated by correlation and regression analyses. Plant and soil data were obtained from divergent Wisconsin soils. Inclusion of Zn uptake and the HCl‐or EDTA‐extractable soil Cu fraction in the regression equation resulted in very high predictability of Cu uptake by oats. High predictability of Zn uptake was likewise realized by using the Mg(NO3)2 or DTP A soil Zn fraction along with plant Cu uptake as determinants. Manganese uptake was best predicted by using plant Zn uptake and Mg (NO3)2‐rextractable soil Mn as predictors. The extractant N ammonium acetate (pH 7)/0·01 M EDTA showed promise as a reliable soil test for predicting the concurrent plant availability of Cu, Zn and Mn in Wisconsin soils.

Availability of Cu, Zn and Mn in soils: II.—Chemical extractability

AbstractThe interrelationships of the amounts of Cu, Zn and Mn extracted with four chemical extractants of varying pH and buffering capacities, and as influenced by soil pH, organic matter, and available P, were evaluated. Regression equations using 0·1 N‐HCl, 0·01 M EDTA, and 0·005 M DTPA soil‐extractable fractions in conjunction with the soil properties for the estimations of total Cu, Zn and Mn in divergent Wisconsin soils are also given. The relationship of the Mg(NO3)2‐extractable fractions of the three elements to the above four fractions were better defined by quadratic than by linear equations. Exchangeable Zn had positive while exchangeable Mn had negative influence on exchangeable Cu in these soils with widely varying Cu supply. Both exchangeable Cu and Mn increased Mg(NO3)2‐extractable Zn, whereas exchangeable Cu depressed the Mg(NO3)2‐extractable soil Mn.

Field Measurement of Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity by Infiltration through Artificial Crusts

AbstractField trials were made to test the applicability of a recently proposed method for measuring the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (K) of crust‐capped soil materials in a one‐dimensional flow system, where the matric suction gradient is zero. K‐values were determined from infiltration rates into crust‐capped soil columns carved out in situ 30 cm in height. Matric suctions were measured with tensiometers. Examples are given for four Wisconsin soil horizons.

Arsenic Sorption by Soils

AbstractRetention of As against extraction by NH4OAc and Bray P‐1 reagents from Wisconsin soils equilibrated with As (0, 80, and 320 µg As/g added as Na2HAsO4) increased as the sesquioxide content increased. Similarly, the amount of As sorbed from solution increased as the free Fe2O3 content of the soils increased. Removal of amorphous Fe and Al components by treatment with oxalate eliminated or appreciably reduced the As sorption capacity of the soil. Amorphous Fe and Al components preferentially sorbed added As, as evidenced by the quantitative removal of added As from equilibrated soils by a single oxalate extraction and the essentially complete recovery of added As by NH4F and NaOH reagents during chemical fractionation. Because As released during extraction with NH4F is sorbed by soil components during the same extraction, NH4F‐As is underestimated unless a correction for resorption is made.

Soil Conditions and Distribution of Pathogens in Relation to Pea Root Rot in Wisconsin Soils

Soil Conditions and Distribution of Pathogens in Relation to Pea Root Rot in Wisconsin Soils

Soils of Wisconsin 1968

Soil Science Society of America JournalVolume 33, Issue 6 p. vi-vi Book Review Soils of Wisconsin 1968 Developed by Francis D. Hole and Marvin T. Beatty. Geological and Natural History Survey, University Extension, University of Wisconsin 1815 University Ave., Madison 53706. $1.00 First published: 01 November 1969 https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1969.03615995003300060005xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume33, Issue6November-December 1969Pages vi-vi RelatedInformation

Soil Microfungi of Dry to Mesic Conifer‐Hardwood Forests in Northern Wisconsin

The Soil microfungi in 36 northern Wisconsin conifer—hardwood forests have been surveyed by the dilution plate technique. Populations of 180 isolates from six sites in each forest examined, and frequency (sites of occurrence) was used to assess species importance. The 6,461 isolates represented 476 taxonomic entities, but only 87 (18%) of these occurred in three or more forests or had one frequency of at least 50% The principal forms in the conifer—hardwood unit were Mortierella vinacea II, Trichoderma spp., Mortierella isabellina, Penicillium nigricans, Mortierella nana, Pullularia pullulans, and Monocillium humicola var. brunneum. A few of the top—ranking conifer—hardwood microfungi are widely distributed in Wisconsin soils, others have occurred in similar types in northern and southern Wisconsin, and a third assemblage (including Mortierella vinacea II and M. nana) has been isolated only from conifer and conifer—hardwood soils in the State. An ordination, based upon compositional similarity in the microfungal communities, revealed a greatest difference between maple and hemlock soil populations. When tree importance values were superimposed on the three—dimensional microfungal ordination, spheres of occurrence were apparent for all major tree dominants. This finding confirmed the hypothesis that species composition in soil microfungal communities is correlated with vegetation, but litter calcium content, rather than the linear dry—to—mesic vegetational gradient, correlated with the first axis in the microfungal ordination. In a beech—hemlock forest soil, related densities for several dominant taxa varied with season. Both spores and hyphal fragments gave rise to colonies on the dilution plates prepared for six forest soils, and there was a direct correspondence between total colonies and numbers of germinating spores. A comparison of densities for four dominant species indicated a possible antibiotic interaction.

Effect of Fertilizer Nitrogen, Variety and Maturity on the Dry Matter Yield and Nitrogen Fractions of Corn Grown for Silage1

AbstractThe effects of nitrogen fertilizer rates, variety and maturity on the dry matter yield and the amounts of total N, ethanol insoluble N and ethanol soluble forms of N (nitrate, free ammonium, amide and α‐amino acid) in three single cross corn varieties harvested for silage at early and late dent maturity were investigated on a sandy loam soil in northwest Wisconsin. Nitrogen was applied at 100, 200, and 300 kg/ha rates. Irrigated and non‐irrigated treatments were used, with these treatments having plant populations of 64,200 and 44,600 plants/ha, respectively. Considerable difference existed among varieties with respect to dry matter yield and content of the various N fractions. Nitrate N and total ethanol soluble N increased markedly at the fertilizer N rates beyond that required for maximum dry matter production. Harvesting at late dent maturity resulted in higher dry matter and protein yields and lower nitrate N and total soluble N levels. The results of this investigation indicate that application of excess amounts of fertilizer N to corn should be avoided to minimize accumulation of delterious soluble N compounds in silage corn.

Supply of trace elements in nursery soils of Wisconsin

Abstract The reestablishment of fertility in soils of forest nurseries and plantations is now seriously handicapped by the dearth of knowledge pertinent to trace elements : boron, manganese, zinc, copper, and molybdenum. The scarcity of information in this important segment of tree nutrition often lowers the quantitative and qualitative production of forest crops. In recent years, several reports indicated incidence of foliar chlorosis of pine seedlings raised in come of Wisconsin nurseries on soils well supplied with major nutrient elements and free from parasitic organisms. To preclude the possibility of a loss or a deterioration of nursery stock, it was decided to conduct a systematic survey of the supply of trace elements in soils of State forest nurseries of Wisconsin. This task was greatly facilitated by recent improvements in the determination of available fractions of these elements by either chemical or microbiological methods.

Soil Adsorption of Linear Alkylate Sulfonate

AbstractLinear alkylate sulfonate (LAS) adsorption was studied in relation to the pH, cation‐exchange capacity, clay, organic matter, extractable Fe and Al, exchangeable Al, and Fe2O3 contents of several soils. The LAS adsorption correlated highly significantly with the organic matter content (r = 0.81) and the P fixing capacity (r = 0.75) of the soils. With the removal of sesquioxides as the final pretreatment on chloritic, kaolinitic and allophanic soils the LAS adsorption decreased from values of 19 to 48 µ g/g on the untreated soil to a value of zero. When treated with a terminal H2O2 treatment, the adsorption values on the same soils ranged from 17 to 65 µ g/g. The increase apparently occurred as a result of Fe and Al released from organic chelates. The increase in the LAS adsorption from 7 to 27 µ g/g on the untreated soil to 8 to 50 µ g/g after the removal of both the organic matter and sesquioxides in a number of montmorillonitic Wisconsin soils indicates the importance of montmorillonite in LAS adsorption.

Factors Controlling the Extractability of Soil Zinc

AbstractThe effect of total zinc, pH, and contents of clay and organic C on the extractability of soil Zn by Aspergillus niger, 0.1n HCl, dithizone, and 0.2m MgSO4 for 57 Wisconsin soils was evaluated by simple, partial, and multiple correlation.The relative amount of soil Zn extracted by the Zn tests was in the order A. niger > 0.1n HCl > dithizone > 0.2m MgSO4 extractable Zn. Simple, partial, and multiple correlation data indicated that the fungus extracts a fixed fraction of the total soil Zn. Consequently, total Zn and A. niger‐extractable Zn were of approximately equal importance in the prediction of Zn uptake by plants. Statistical interactions between clay and organic C content in relation to the amount of Zn extracted by 0.1n HCl were explained on the basis of organo‐clay complex formation. An increase in organic matter content at constant levels of clay increased the amount of Zn bound by the organo‐clay complex thereby resulting in increased extractability of soil Zn by 0.1n HCl. On the basis of correlation data and the greater extractability of Zn by 0.1n HCl than dithizone, it was concluded that much of the Zn extracted by 0.1n HCl over dithizone is not extractable by plants. It was shown that the amount of Zn extracted by 0.2m MgSO4 varied inversely with pH; clay and organic C contents had less effect on the relationship suggesting that 0.2m MgSO4 extracts only solution and readily exchangeable Zn.

Contribution of Organic Matter and Clay to Soil Cation‐Exchange Capacity as Affected by the pH of the Saturating Solution

AbstractThe effect of pH of the buffered saturating solution on the cation‐exchange capacity (CEC) of 60 Wisconsin soils was determined within the pH range 2.5 to 8.0. The relative contributions of clay and organic matter to total CEC were measured using multiple regression analyses; the independent variables were clay and organic matter contents and the dependent variables, CEC at pH 2.5, 3.5, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0. The average CEC of the organic matter at each pH value was 36, 73, 127, 131, 163, and 213 me. per 100 g., respectively; while that of the clay was 38, 46, 54, 56, 60, and 64 me. per 100 g. Within the limits of the standard errors of the regression coefficients, CEC of both clay and organic matter increased linearly with pH. The regression equations indicated that the mean relative contribution of organic matter to total soil CEC in this group of soils varied from 19% at pH 2.5 to 45% at pH 8.0; the mean organic matter and clay contents of the soils studied were 3.28% and 13.3% respectively. Coefficients of multiple correlation varied from 0.927 at pH 3.5 to 0.959 at pH 8.0.

Earthworms and the Development of Coprogenous A1 Horizons in Forest Soils of Wisconsin

AbstractChanges in weight, thickness, and distribution of litter were observed in forest stands of Wisconsin. The study included manipulations of litter over 5 years. Observations disclosed the influence of casting and midden‐building activities of earthworms on the course and the rate of development of the coprogenous A1 horizon of forested soils.

Available Zinc Status of Wisconsin Soils as Determined by Aspergillus niger1

SynopsisThe method involves buffering the test system with oxalic acid to suppress growth of contaminating microorganisms; an incubation period of 8 days at 30° C. is recommended. From statistical analyses the A. niger assay can be used to predict satisfactorily the uptake of Zn by plants particularly if the effects of pH and clay content of the soil are taken into account when making the prediction.

Clay Mineral Weathering in Southern Wisconsin Soils Developed in Loess and in Shale-Derived Till

Abstract Loess is the dominant soil parent material covering the western and central portions of southern Wisconsin. Glacial till derived mainly from Devonian shales and Silurian dolomite is the most extensive parent material in extreme southeastern Wisconsin. The soils developed in loess are coarser in texture, leached of carbonates to greater depths and more acid and contain a higher percentage of zirconium in their coarse silt than those developed in the till. The clay of the soils developed in loess contains a higher proportion of minerals of more advanced weathering indices (montmorillonite, “pedogenic” chlorite and kaolinite) formed by weathering. The clay mineralogy was fairly uniform in the four soils developed from loess, but the two Gray-Brown Podzolic soils were found to contain only about one-half as high a percentage of total clay and one-fourth as high a percentage of medium and fine clay in their A horizons (which were also 7 in. less in thickness) than the A horizons of their prairie soil analogues. The Varna soil developed in the till contains clay with a higher proportion of minerals of less-advanced weathering indices (mafic chlorite and dioctahedral mica), largely inherited from the parent material. There has been some transformation of mica and mafic chlorite to expansible layer silicates and amorphous material in the Varna solum and the ratio of ferrous to total iron decreased both with decreasing particle size (from fine silt through fine clay) and with approach to the soil surface (in the whole clay).