soil color. determinants of soil color soil color determinants of soil color 1. parent material 2....

SOIL COLOR

SOIL COLORDETERMINANTS OF SOIL COLOR

SOIL COLORDETERMINANTS OF SOIL COLOR

1. Parent Material2. Vegetation

Prairie vs. Forest

3. Age4. Topography

TOP SOIL COLORINDICATES THE AMOUNT OF ORGANIC MATTER

IN THE SOIL

Black or Dark Brown - generally regarded as most productive

Red or Brown - considered less fertile than black

SOIL COLOR

MUNSELL COLOR CHARTS

SUBSOIL COLOR

Can the color of the soil 1' to 6' under the surface be really that important?

SUBSOIL COLOR

Subsoil color is an indication of drainage ability.

SUBSOIL COLOR

COLOR DRAINAGE

Brown/Red ExcellentBright Yellow Moderate

Pale Yellow FairGray Poor

Dark Variable

SUBSOIL COLOR

What causes a subsoil to be red or brown?

Iron x Oxygen = red “Oxidation”

If pore space is filled with water, oxidation can not occur.

SUBSOIL COLOR

MOTTLED

SUBSOIL COLOR

MOTTLED - Mixtures of gray, yellow, brown. Marked with spots of colors.

Indicates water saturation at times and not at others.

SUBSOIL COLORDRAINAGE CLASSES

SUBSOIL COLORDRAINAGE CLASSES

Well drained - Brown to yellowish brown subsoil. Water table fluctuates below the

subsoil nearly all the time.

SUBSOIL COLORDRAINAGE CLASSES

Moderately Well Drained - brown in upper 24", mottling below.

SUBSOIL COLORDRAINAGE CLASSES

Somewhat poorly drained - Gray and brown mottled subsoils. Water table

reaches the top of the subsoil.

SUBSOIL COLORDRAINAGE CLASSES

Poorly drained or Very poorly drained - Gray or olive gray subsoil. Water table is near the top of the soil for most of the

year.

Have a nice day!