Canfield Silt Loam, a Fragiudalf: I. Macromorphological, Physical, and Chemical Properties

Abstract

Abstract More than a half‐million hectares of the moderately well‐drained Canfield soil and its toposequence members occur in northeastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania. These fragipan soils derived from low‐lime glacial till are intensively used for both agricultural and urban purposes. Because this soil is being used for a long‐term study of the disposition of strontium‐90 under natural conditions and because its classification was unconfirmed, 18 profiles from the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center at Wooster were described and characterized. The soil profile tended to be bisequal with a moderately well‐developed, loam fragipan occurring at an average depth of 45 cm. The bulk density of the fragipan centered on 1.7, with coarse fragments occupying about 12–16% by volume. The Canfield series was found to contain an argillic horizon above the fragipan and was classed as an Aquic Fragiudalf assigned to the fine‐loamy, mixed, mesic family. The fragipan controls the hydraulic conductivity of this soil, resulting in lateral movement of percolating water across the fragipan surface equivalent to about 30% of the total precipitation. The quantity of subsurface runoff which must accrue from the long slopes, which sometimes exceed 300 m, poses a major problem for the use and management of this soil.