This presentation was presented during the GSOC17 - Launch of the International Network of Black Soils that took place in Rome 21-23 March 2017. The presentation was made by Ms. Skye Wills, from USDA – USA, in FAO Hq, Rome
8. Relief, Parent Material and Time
Complicate general climatic relationships.
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
https://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/EarthSC202Notes/GLACgeog.HTM
9.
10. US General Soils Map (STATSGO2)
Area ha % US land
Mollisols 196,645,700 21.5
Albolls 1,531,400 0.2
Aquolls 23,374,900 2.6
Cryolls 13,613,200 1.5
Rendolls 322,300 0.04
Udolls 35,606,400 3.9
Ustolls 88,468,800 9.7
Xerolls 33,728,700 3.7
US land area 914,753,700
11.
12.
13. US Mollisols
• XX,XXXX ha of Mollisols in the US
• XX% used for cropland production
• ??? What proportion of US production?
• XX% used for rangeland
Editor's Notes
The most direct representation of black soils is through a look ar mapped soil colors. At the surface, there are many areas with dark soils, primarily in the middle of the US (known as the MidWest).
At 15cm depth, the area of dark soils that qualify as Mollisols is somewhat restricted.
To look at general trends of Mollisols: climate variable explain broad distributions
Precipitation is generally highest in the southeastern US and lowest in the southwest. The Pacific Northwest has a Mediterranean climates with winter rainfall and high total ppt amounts.
Temperatures are highest in the southern US and lowest in the northern US (as well as with elevation, particularly in the Rocky Mountains)
When soils are mapped at the order level of soil taxonomy, on a broad scale. Mollisols occupy central portions of the country that have intermediate amounts of rainfall and temperature.
At intermediate and local scales: other soil forming factors influence where Molilsols occur. For instance, Mollisols are common in recently glaciated landscapes. They also occur locally in depositional landscape positions.
Currently, Soil Taxonomy partitions Mollisols by moisture and temperature regimes. The correspond roughly to soil potential in terms of land use and productivity. Udolls and Xerolls are often managed as productive croplands. Ustolls are managed both for irrigated cropland and in grazing lands. Cryolls often represent unique habitat and wild land management opportunities.