Title | Soils of the grassland biome sites |
Publication Type | Conference Proceedings |
Year of Publication | 1971 |
Authors | Reuss J.O |
Editor | French NR |
Conference Name | Preliminary Analysis of Structure and Function in Grasslands: Proceedings of Symposium Entitled "The Grassland Biome: Analysis and synthesis of First Year Data" |
Series Title | Range Science Department Science Series 10 |
Pagination | 35-40 |
Date Published | September 1, 197 |
Publisher | Colorado State University |
Conference Location | Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado |
Keywords | abstract, abstracts, conference, conference proceedings, conferences, grassland,soil properties, proceeding, proceedings, soil,grassland |
Abstract | Although widely separated geographically and formed on diverse parent materials, nine of the ten dominant soils on the biome sites are classified in the Mollisol order. This order is comprised mainly of the dark, base rich soils of the semiarid and subhumid steppes. Even though they are consistent as to order, the soil properties vary widely. Texture varies from silty clay to loamy sand. Depth to bedrock varies from 35 to greater than 150 cm, and estimated available moisture storage capacity to 100 cm depth varies from 4.5 to 20 cm. While a few are acidic in the surface, with the exception of the mountain grassland, the soils tend to be largely base saturated. Native vegetation could be expected to respond to nitrogen fertilizer during periods when moisture availability is not limiting growth. Phosphorus responses might be expected at some sites. It is unlikely that native vegetation will respond to additions of other nutrients on these soils. |
Custom 1 | Fort Collins, Colorado |