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Movement of Soluble Salts in Development of Chernozems and Associated Soils¹

ABSTRACT

In the formation of Chernozem, Chestnut, and associated soils in northwestern North Dakota, translocation of carbonates and other soluble salts takes place. Salts are removed completely from the uppermost 15 to 36 in. of the Chernozem and Chestnut profiles formed from medium-textured till with initial contents of 0.13 to 0.41%. Maximum accumulations of soluble salts may be at depths between 48 and 108 in., but may also occur at greater depths such as between 78 and 132 in. Accumulations of calcium carbonate are nearer the surface than are the accumulations of other soluble salts.

Important local factors affecting the amount and distribution of soluble salts and carbonates in soils are topography, permeability of the soils and parent materials, salinity of the parent materials, and the presence of a relatively high water table.

The influence of topography is evident in that soluble salts are removed to greater depths in the nearly level Hamlet loam than the somewhat more strongly sloping Renville loam.

The effects of both permeability and salinity are apparent in the lack of accumulation of soluble salts in well-drained and moderately well-drained soils formed from rapidly permeable, sandy, water-laid drift originally containing less than 0.15% soluble salt.

Upward capillarity results in the accumulation of soluble salts in the surface layers of soils with a high water table whether the underlying sediments are saline or not. The large quantities of soluble salts in the upper part of the profile of solodized-Solonetz soils are considered to be a result of upward capillary movement from a high water table which may no longer be present.

¹ Joint contribution from the Soil Survey, Soil Conservation Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture and the North Dakota Agr. Exp. Sta.

² Soil Scientist, Soil Survey. The author wishes to express appreciation to Dr. R. W. Simonson for his assistance in preparation of this paper and to Paul Nickle and Murray Klages who did much of the analytical work.

Received for publication March 3, 1954.