1. Reconciling Podzolic and Redoximorphic Responses to Seasonal Saturation
Willie Harris, Rex Ellis, Wade Hurt, Chumki Banik, Scarlett Balboa, Travis Richardson, Chad Rischar, Ashley Phillips
Acknowledgments:
We thank Mr. Kafui Awuma and Ms. Kimberly Johnson for assistance with various field and laboratory aspects of this project. We also thank the following students for their help in the field with well installation, surveying, photography, etc.: Jeff Brantley, Luke Gommermann, Will Mahler, and Alexandra Rozin.
Funding from USDA-NRCS and McIntire-Stennis

2. “Podzolic” relates to …
Podzolization
Pedogenic translocation & joint accumulation of C & metals
Produces Bh horizon in FL
Well expressed Bh = Spodic horizon & Spodosol soil order
Eluviation –
loss
Illuviation –
gain A E Bh
Florida Spodosol

3. Spodosol distribution worldwide
Mainly restricted to
imperfectly-drained sites
Commonly well drained
Randy Schaetzl
What is the role of the water table (WT) in fostering Spodosol formation in Florida?

4. “Seasonal High Water Saturation” (SHS)
SHS commonly about here E Bh
Florida Spodosol

5. “Redoximorphic” relates to …
Redoximorphic features:
Features associated with wetness – SHS indicators
Result from alternating periods of reduction & oxidation of Fe & Mn in soils
Concentrations
Depletions
Images from page 18 of "Field Indicators of Hydric Soils" ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/NSSC/Hydric_Soils/FieldIndicators_v7.pdf

6. Main Objectives
Address uncertainties of redoximorphic–podzolic morphological effects along hydrologic gradients
Test idea that Fe depletion along hydrologic gradients is a factor explaining association of Florida Spodosols with fluctuating WT

7. Approach
Evaluate hydropedological trends along sandhill-flatwood-wetland transitions
Install wells along 4 transects (23 total)
Have local experts make SHS calls
Monitor WT over a 2-year period
Described and sample soils at each well site
Determine Al, Fe, and C distribution by horizon

8. Transect Site Locations – Alachua Co.
Austin Carey Memorial Forest (ACMF) – 2 sites
20 km
Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve (LFR) – 2 sites
12.4 miles

9. Transect Site Plant Community Transition
Example:“sandhills” to site 3
Marginal “sandhills”
Flatwoods bordering wetland

10. Oh, yeah! Come over here and say that!
What are we “reconciling”? …
Bunk! That’s not redox!
Oh, yeah! Come over here and say that!

11. What are we “reconciling”? … (cont.)
Overlapping morphological effects of both processes along transition from Spodosols to better-drained soils
Evidence of process linkage through redox influence on Fe
Jeff Locuta’s image – Pedology class 2012

12. What are we “reconciling”? … (cont.)
Schematic cross section of transition
Soils shown were along transition
Note trend in water table and degree of podzolization
Note “cross-over” between SHS and Bh
How are SHS indicators (redox features) affected by Bh? A
“Sandhills”
“Flatwoods”

13. A. WT & SHS indicator correspondence
Findings
A. WT & SHS indicator correspondence

14. SHS calls vs. WT Late summer Water in all wells
Water table fluctuating

15. Transect 1 - LFR
Concentrations
Depletions
(aka “stripping”)

33. Conclusions –WT & SHS calls
Strong relation between SHS & mean WT depth during periods of fluctuation
Highest WT shallower than SHS calls, especially on wettest end
Predominant indicator was depletion
Depletions were indicators for SHS calls in Bh

34. Thanks!
Questions?