1. SOIL COLOR

2. DETERMINANTS OF SOIL COLOR

3. SOIL COLOR DETERMINANTS OF SOIL COLOR 1. Parent Material 2. Vegetation Prairie vs. Forest 3. Age 4. Topography

4. TOP SOIL COLOR INDICATES 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

5. SOIL COLOR MUNSELL COLOR CHARTS

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

7. SUBSOIL COLOR Subsoil color is an indication of drainage ability.

8. SUBSOIL COLOR COLOR DRAINAGE Brown/Red Excellent Bright Yellow Moderate Pale Yellow Fair Gray Poor Dark Variable

9. 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.

10. SUBSOIL COLOR MOTTLED

11. SUBSOIL COLOR MOTTLED - Mixtures of gray, yellow, brown. Marked with spots of colors. Indicates water saturation at times and not at others.

12. SUBSOIL COLOR DRAINAGE CLASSES

13. SUBSOIL COLOR DRAINAGE CLASSES Well drained - Brown to yellowish brown subsoil. Water table fluctuates below the subsoil nearly all the time.

14. SUBSOIL COLOR DRAINAGE CLASSES Moderately Well Drained - brown in upper 24", mottling below.

15. SUBSOIL COLOR DRAINAGE CLASSES Somewhat poorly drained - Gray and brown mottled subsoils. Water table reaches the top of the subsoil.

16. SUBSOIL COLOR DRAINAGE 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.

17. Have a nice day!