Chemical variation of soils in Missouri associated with selected levels of the soil classification system

Abstract

Natural variation in the total elemental composition of the plow zone (approximately 6 in. (15 em) in deptp) of soils in Missouri has been examined using a five-level hierarchical analysis-of-variance design. This study is an initial investigation of the chemical variation in the soils and can serve as a basis for planning future intensive sampling. The design includes three levels (Suborders, Subgroups, and Series) of the Soil Taxonomy developed by the National Cooperative Soil Survey and permits an objective evaluation of the geochemical properties of the taxonomic system. Components of geochemical variance for 31 elements were estimated for differences between soil Suborders, between soil Subgroups, and between soil Series. Significant differences in composition between Suborders were found for 23 elements, including the trace metals arsenic, barium, chromium, copper, gallium, lanthanum, lead, scandium, selenium, strontium, vanadium, ytterbium, and zinc. Such differences, however, account for no more than 45 and commonly less than 35 percent of the natural variation (excluding analytical effects) of any element. Maps based on the distribution of Suborders, therefore, would not be particularly useful in interpretation of geochemical characteristics. Variation between soil Series is, for the most part, much larger than variation within a given Series. Only cobalt, nickel, lead, and zirconium were found to have variation within Series larger than that between Series. Thus, maps based on the distribution of Series might serve as fairly good geochemical maps for most elements.

Geochemical landscapes of the conterminous United States — New map presentations for 22 elements

“…Therefore, reported values from the different methods can be directly compared for each element. Similar analytical methods were used for a reconnaissance geochemical survey of the State of Missouri conducted by the USGS during 1969-73 (Conner and others, 1972;Tidball, 1974Tidball, , 1976Miesch, 1976). After testing the sampling and analytical reproducibility in this survey, Miesch (1976) concluded that the sampling errors were more significant than the analytical errors and that the application of more precise analytical methods would have been a waste of money.…”

Geochemistry of some rocks, mine spoils, stream sediments, soils, plants, and waters in the Western Energy Region of the conterminous United States, with sections on field studies

“…Other geochemical investigations concerned particular areas of the country. One concerted study was made of the State of Missouri, in which the background geochemistry of rocks, soils, plants, and waters was determined (Miesch, 1976;Tidball, 1976;Erdman andothers, 1976a and1976b;Feder, 1979;Conner, 1980). Tourtelot (1973) studied soil geochemistry of the Front Range Urban Corridor, Colo. Other studies were centered on small areas exhibiting geochemically related environmental problems, or were of cultivated soils and plants considered to be normal if not natural (Shacklette and others, 1970;Connor and others, 1971;Ebens and others, 1973;and Erdman and others, 1976b).…”

Investigation of Selected Heavy Metals Level in Top Soils Around Ajaokuta Steel Company, North Central Nigeria

“…In an extensive geochemical study of Missouri, also conducted cooperatively with medical researchers, both cultivated and natural soils were sampled. The results were presented for the State as a whole, and for physiographic regions or other subdivisions and smaller areas, as follows: others (1976a, 1976b); Tidball(1976Tidball( , 1983aTidball( , 1983b; and Ebens and others (1973). The results of these studies, and of other regional geochemical investigations, were summarized and tabulated by Connor and Shacklette (1975).…”