Hydromorphic Calcareous Soils of Western Wyoming. M.S. Soil Science Defense Matt King

Transcription

1 Hydromorphic Calcareous Soils of Western Wyoming M.S. Soil Science Defense Matt King

2 Outline Part I: Wetland Background Part II: Spatial Analysis Part III: Mesocosm Experiment

3 Part I: Wetlands Ecosystem Services Water filtration C storage Flood mitigation Wildlife habitat Total area of wetlands in WY is 2% (Dahl, 1990).

4 Wetland Delineation Criteria for wetland delineation Hydrophytic vegetation dominate the site At least one Hydrology field indicator must be meet At least one Hydric soil field indicator must be meet * All 3 of these criteria must be met to be classified as a wetland

5 Hydrophytic Vegetation Defined as the community of macrophytes that occurs in areas where inundation or soil saturation is either permanent or of sufficient frequency and duration to exert a controlling influence on the plant species present. (US Army Corp of Engineers, 2008)

6 Hydrophytic Vegetation: field indicators 1. Dominance Test >50% of the dominant plant spp. across all strata are rated OBL, FACW, or FAC. 2. Prevalence Index The prevalence index is <3.0. A comprehensive analysis based on weighted average of wetland indicator status of all plant species in sampling plot. 3. Morphological Adaptations Plant exhibits morphological adaptations for wetlands, then plant spp. will be reconsidered for Indicators 1 & 2. Ex. Shallow root systems, buttress roots.. * Common use in Arid West for FACU species (US Army Corp of Engineers 2008) Nebraska Sedge: OBL

7 Wetland Hydrology Defined as all hydrologic characteristics of areas that are periodically inundated or have soils saturated to the surface at some time during the growing season. (US Army Corp of Engineers, 1987)

8 Wetland Hydrology: field indicators A: Observation of surface water or saturated soils Ex. A1: Surface Water B: Evidence of recent inundation Ex. B6: Surface soil cracks C: Evidence of current or recent inundation Ex. C4: Presence of reduced Iron D: Evidence from other site conditions or data Ex. D3: Shallow aquitard B6: Surface Soil Cracks

9 Hydric Soil Defined as soils formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part. (Federal Register, 1994).

10 Identifying Hydric Soil 1. Indicator of Reduction in Soils (IRIS) tubes 2. Oxidation-reduction potential (Eh) measurements 3. Alpha alpha dipyridyl dye Dye changes to light to dark pink in presence of Fe Saturated Conditions

11 Hydric Soil: field indicators 1. All Soils Ex. A2: Histic Epipedon 2. Sandy Soils Ex. S1: Sandy Mucky Mineral 3. Loamy and Clayey Soils Ex. F3: Depleted Matrix F3: Depleted Matrix (Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the US 2017)

12 Redoximorphic Feature Formation Requirements for Redox Formation: Soil microbes Organic C source Electron Acceptor Fe is used in profile descriptions because it is the most visible

13 Introduction Calcareous soils in Western WY which are problematic for wetland delineation were identified by NRCS soil scientist. These sites can not be afforded protection at either the Federal (Clean Water Act) or State-level (WY Wetlands Act) This could lead to the commercial, agricultural and/or residential development of these sites

14 Introduction Cont. 2 of 3 criteria for wetland delineation are meet but not Hydric Soils These soils have matrix colors that are high value and low chroma Lack redoximorphic features needed for a calcareous horizon Virtually no organic matter accumulation

15 Objectives To determine the limiting factor(s) for redoximorphic feature development Map the spatial extent of the calcareous soils at the 4 sites Relationship between calcareous soil extent and aerial imagery Map soil associated with these calcareous soils to determine a spatial pattern

16 Part II: Spatial Analysis

17 Study Location 4 study sites All sites have soils with matrix colors with high values and low chromas No redox features within the upper portion of the profile MAT: 1.05 C MAP: 45.5 cm NAME LAT/LONG SITE PROPERTIES Site 1 Randall , Active cattle operation, downslope of multiple residential buildings Site 2 Big Piney , Site 3 Site 4 Duck Creek Piney Creek , , Active cattle operation, multiple reservoirs within 5km of site Active cattle operation, just outside of Pinedale city limits Active cattle operation, adjacent constructed ponds

18 Hydrology: Groundwater Level Groundwater wells installed to determine whether the groundwater table level meets the requirements for a wetland Soil saturation within 25 cm (10 in) For 14 consecutive days

19 74 DAYS 74 consecutive days with water table within 25 cm (10 in) of the soil surface

20 121 DAYS 121 consecutive days of the water table within 25 cm (10 in) of the soil surface

21 28 DAYS 28 consecutive days of the water table within 25 cm (10 in) of the soil surface

22 IRIS Tubes Fe oxide paint on 60 cm schedule 40 PVC (Rabenhorst, 2006) Used for Hydric Soil determination (NRCS, 2015) 30 % iron removed from a zone 15 cm (6 in) or more thick and the zone of removal must begin within 15 cm of the soil surface for all soil textures to meet the Hydric Soil Technical Standard (HSTS) (NTHCS, 2015).

23 IRIS Tubes: Cont. IRIS tubes clusters Retrieved after 9 months Location No. of IRIS Tubes that met HSTS Total No. IRIS Tubes Site Site Site Site 4 0 5

24 Calcareous Soil Mapping 75-m grid overlaid on Trimble Calcareous Soil requirements Soil matrix color values 5 with chromas 2 From 0-40 cm NO Redox features from 0-50 cm

25 Associated Soils Pits dug and described until groundwater or lithic contact 4 pits dug at different landscape features surrounding the calcareous soil Only 2 pits at Site 1 because of site size

26 Soil taxonomy: Calcareous Pit: fine-loamy, carbonatic Typic Cryaquepts Current classification: fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, calcareous Typic Cryaquepts Randall 1: fine-loamy, mixed, Typic Cryaqualfs Randall 2: fine-loamy Typic Cryaqualfs

27 Soil Taxonomy: Calcareous Pit: fine-loamy, carbonatic Typic Cryaquepts Current Classification: fineloamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, calcareous, frigid Fluvaquentic Endoaquepts BP Road: Dysic Typic Cryohemists BP Slough: Dysic Typic Cryofibrists BP Pond: fine-loamy mixed Aquic Haplocryepts BP Creek: fine-loamy mixed Aquic Haplocryepts

28 Soil Taxonomy: Calcareous Pit: fine-loamy carbonatic Typic Cryaquepts Current Classification: fineloamy over sandy or sandyskeletal, mixed, superactive, calcareous, frigid Fluvaquentic Endoaquepts DC North: fine-loamy mixed Typic Cryaquents DC East: coarse-loamy mixed Aquic Haplocryalfs DC South: fine-loamy mixed Typic Cryaquents DC West: fine-loamy mixed Aquic Cryorthents

29 Soil Taxonomy: Calcareous Pit: fine-loamy carbonatic Typic Cryaquepts Current Classification: fineloamy over sandy or sandyskeletal, mixed, superactive Oxyaquic Haplocryolls PC Slough: dysic Typic Sulfohemists PC Pasture: fine-loamy mixed Typic Cryaquolls PC Creek: fine-loamy over sandy mixed Eutric Humicryepts PC Ridge: coarse-loamy mixed Lithic Cryorthents

30 Associated Soil Orders Soil Order Alfisols 3 Histosols 3 Inceptisols 3 Entisols 4 Mollisols 1

31 Spatial Analysis Conclusion Groundwater levels meets requirements for wetland Majority of IRIS tubes meet the HSTS Relationship between aerial imagery and calcareous soil extent No spatial pattern of associated soils

32 Part III: Mesocosm Experiment To determine the limiting factor(s) for the lack of redoximorphic feature development Soil used intact from the field Amended with FeCl 3 and dextrose (OC) Inundated for 16 weeks

33 Mesocosm Experiment Soil Core Collection 15 soil cores collected Each PVC core was hammered into the soil within close proximity using a sledgehammer and a block of wood The soil cores were excavated and capped at both ends The cores were then transferred to the lab

34 Mesocosm Experiment Laboratory Experiment Design Soil cores suspended within 20-gal barrels and treated with: 2% Fe by weight (FeCl 3 ) 36 mg/l dextrose (OC) A combination of both Fe+OC Control Arranged into a completely randomized block design Temperature Data Logger installed into each block to account for any possible gradient

35 Mesocosm Experiment Mesocosms inundated for 16 weeks Eh (redox potential) and ph recorded weekly Research grade voltmeter (Thermo Scientific) Pt-tipped electrode and AgCl reference electrode Upper 10 cm

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37 NRCS, 2015

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39 Mesocosm Core Description Barrels drained after 16 weeks Mesocosm cores drained overnight of residual water Cores described in 5 cm increments Matrix color Redox features Color Amount (%) Type Contrast

40 Averages for the entire mesocosm length for each treatment P, Prominent; D, Distinct; F, Faint; FeS, Iron Monosulfide;

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43 Statistical Differences Tukey s Studentized Range (HSD) test for redoximorphic concentrations on the surface Note: This test controls the Type I experimentwise error rate. The differences between the treatment types using Tukey s Post-hoc analysis. Comparisons were made using α = 0.05 Comparisons significant at the 0.05 level are indicated by ***. Difference Between Means Simultaneous 95% Confidence Limits Treatment Comparison FeOM - Fe FeOM - OM *** FeOM - control *** Fe - FeOM Fe - OM *** Fe - control *** OM - FeOM *** OM - Fe *** OM - control control - FeOM *** control - Fe *** control - OM

44 Chemical Properties Samples taken from each soil horizon for a pit adjacent to the soil core extraction site Inorganic C Gravimetric Method Organic C LOI ph and EC Total Elemental Inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy Total C and N Dry combustion

45 Chemical Properties LOCATION Sample Depth TOT/ Fe (%) TOT/C (%) XRF TOT/C (%) EVMC Organic C (%) LOI Inorganic C (%) CaCO 3 (%) ph EC Site cm Site Classified as: Moderately alkaline Non-saline Typical for this region: TOT/ Fe: 2-5% Organic C: %

46 Mesocosm Conclusions Fe is the limiting factor for redox feature formation No significant differences between OC treatment and Control No interaction between OC and Fe No significant differences between mesocosms treated with just Fe and Fe+OC These soils being Fe limited is supported by the total Fe data

47 Mesocosm Conclusions Propose an alternate hydric soil indicator specific to MLRA 34A (Cool Desertic Basins and Plateaus). Must meet following criteria: 1. Dominant matrix colors with a value 5 and a chroma 2 from soil surface to a depth of 30 cm (12 in); and 2. Effervescence after the application of 1 M HCl within 30 cm (12 in) of the soil surface must be strongly effervescent or stronger; and 3. Sites observed under this indicator require the presence of hydrophytic vegetation and wetland hydrology indicators to be valid or positive reaction to alpha alpha dipyridyl dye. User Notes: This indicator could also be limited to use in riparian floodplains. Unlike indicator F3 which excludes calcic horizons without the presence of redoximorphic features this indicator requires the presence of a calcic horizon.

48 Advisor: Dr. Karen Vaughan Acknowledgements Committee Members: Dr. Linda van Diepen and Dr. Karen Panter Statistical assistance: Dr. David Legg and Dr. Richard Anderson-Sprecher Field assistance: Dan Perkins, Karen Clause, Gabe, Kim, Dan Mattke, and Taylor Bush Lab assistance: Taylor Bush and Ethan Rowe

49 References Dahl, T Wetlands Losses in The United States 1780 s to 1980 s. St. Petersburg, FL. NTCHS Hydric Soils Technical Note 11: Hydric Soils Technical Standard and Data Submission Requirements for Field Indicators of Hydric Soils. Beltsville, MD. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Wetlands Regulatory Assistance Program, Vicksburg, MS. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. Environmental Labortory United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States, Version 8.0. L.M. Vasilas, G.W. Hurt, and J.F. Berkowitz (eds.). USDA, NRCS, in cooperation with the National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils.

50 Thank you