Hydromorphology of Piedmont Floodplain Soils

Abstract

Alluvial soils situated on middle locations along Mid-Atlantic Piedmont floodplains lack characteristic redoximorphic features that allow them to meet a current field indicator of hydric soil. Although these soils appear to be located in wetlands based on their hydrologic, vegetative, and electrochemical status; there is no hydric soil indicator that accurately includes soils on these landscapes. Two research sites in Maryland and one in Delaware were instrumented along a hydrosequence. Depth to water table, redox potential, and soil temperature were measured. Redox potential measurements of the hydric and possible hydric soil conclude that Fe(III) is predicted to be reduced to Fe(II) for a significant period of time during the growing season. Based on data collected over three years, the possible hydric soil was confirmed hydric. An alternate hydric soil indicator has been proposed for these landscapes.