Date Available

8-3-2021

Year of Publication

2021

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Document Type

Master's Thesis

College

Agriculture, Food and Environment

Department/School/Program

Plant and Soil Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Christopher Shepard

Abstract

The fragipan is a common diagnostic soil feature that does not follow a clear development path. Fragipans are found commonly throughout the southeastern US and cover 2.7 million acres in Kentucky alone. However prevalent, there is no currently accepted genesis theory for fragipans. In this study, we sought to better understand the formation of fragic features in Kentucky’s soils by evaluating fragipan characteristics across a sequence of pedons featuring varying degrees of fragipan development. We found that [Si/Al]Dithionite, [Si/(Si + Al)]Dithionite and SiDithionite concentration were all higher in well-developed fragipans, suggesting the involvement of an aluminosilicate binding phase with fragipan development.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2021.318

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