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Characterization and Genesis of a Moody-Nora-Crofton Soil Sequence in Northeastern Nebraska¹

ABSTRACT

Soils of the Moody, Nora, and Crofton series are derived from loess in northeastern Nebraska. Morphologically, these soils exhibit a decreasing degree of horizon differentiation and depth to lime concretions in the order Moody-Nora-Crofton. Particle size and chemical data substantiate these differences in soil development. The Moody and Nora series have been classed as Chernozems and the Crofton series as a Regosol.

The distribution of these soils on the landscape, however, does not correspond entirely with an idealized soil-relief sequence in which the degree of soil development varies with erosion and land surface age. Further, irregularities in depth to lime concretions occur in these soils, particularly in the Moody soils. Petrographic studies show marked variations in amounts of hornblende, epidote, biotite, and muscovite in these soils, reflecting parent material nonuniformity. Montmorillonite and illite minerals dominate the clay fraction of these soils with some kaolinite and mixed-layer minerals, and a vermiculite-like mineral in the Moody and Nora soils. A hypothesis presented to explain these data is that the Moody and Nora soils developed in a loess mantle of irregular thickness overlying a highly calcareous and concretionary older loess. Crofton soil is formed in places where outcrops of the older loess occur.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Agronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Published with the approval of the Director as paper No. 1102, Journal Series, Nebraska Agr. Exp. Sta. Presented before Div. V, Soil Science Society of America, Nov. 28, 1961, at St. Louis, Mo.

² Former graduate student, now Research Assistant in Soils, Washington State University, and Associate Professor of Agronomy, University of Nebraska, respectively.

Received for publication May 29, 1961. Accepted for publication October 27, 1961.