Tuesday, November 6, 2007
199-3

Relationships between Seasonal High Water Tables and Hydromorphology of Some Alabama Coastal Plain Soils.

Richard Smith1, Joey Shaw1, Paul Martin2, and Charles Love2. (1) Auburn University, 201 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849, (2) Natural Resources and Conservation Service, 641 Apache Street, Auburn, AL 36830

Estimating seasonal high water tables (SHWTs) within soils by the evaluation of redoximorphic features is critical for soil interpretations.  Certain redoximorphic features indicate contemporary moisture regimes, while others indicate past moisture regimes (relict).  This study, jointly conducted between Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES), monitored the depth and duration of SHWTs (December 2003 through May 2007) of some Alabama Coastal Plain (CP) soils to develop relationships between SHWT periodicity, duration and hydromorphic features.  Twenty piezometers were installed in eleven CP pedons (Paleudults, Kandiudults and Hapludults, most with plinthite and sandy epipedons of varying thickness) at varying depths.  Water table data was recorded every six hours and daily rainfall was obtained from proximate weather stations.  Soils were described, sampled, characterized and classified according to standard techniques.  Plinthite was quantified using a slaking technique.  Perched water tables were not found associated with horizons containing nodular plinthite (≤ 19% by volume).  Grossarenic and Arenic Subgroups were saturated 23% of the monitoring period (MP) in horizons where plinthite, iron (Fe) accumulations and chroma 3 depletions were found together.  Plinthic and Oxyaquic Subgroups were saturated 18% of the MP in horizons where plinthite, Fe accumulations and chroma ≤ 2 Fe depletions were found together, and 65% of the MP in horizons with gleyed matrices.  Aquic and Plinthaquic Subgroups were saturated more than 48% of the MP in horizons where gleyed matrices or chroma ≤ 2 Fe depletions occurred.  Hydromorphic features were associated with duration and periodicity of seasonal saturation.