Home > Science Seminar > Spring 2006 Seminar Schedule > Soil Color Patterns, Seasonal Water Tables
The Science Seminar Series: April 13, 2006
Soil Color Patterns, Seasonal Water Tables, and What They Mean
Dr. Larry T. West
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
University of Georgia
Room 1011 Biology/Chemistry BuildingTime: 4:00 -5:00pm
Depth to seasonal saturation (seasonal high water table) is one of the more critical interpretations for a range of soil uses including wastewater application, wetland identification, ecological diversity, and crop production. Though depth to the shallow water table is relatively easy to measure, seasonal and annual variation in water table depth requires long-term monitoring for accurate prediction and interpretation. Thus, low chroma colors that form by Fe loss from zones in a horizon in response reduction and dissolution of Fe oxide minerals have been used for many years to evaluate seasonal saturation of soil horizons. Limited data, however, is available to confirm the reliability of predictions of seasonal saturation from these features or the frequency and duration of saturation associated with these colors. In addition, other features in soils (redoximorphic features) that from by similar processes are generally not used to evaluate seasonal saturation. Thus, several studies have been conducted in Georgia over the past few years to evaluate the relationship between redoximorphic features and depth, frequency, and duration of seasonal saturation.