SOILS IN USA B AB SC IV SEMESTER

SOILS IN USA B. A/B. SC. IV SEMESTER PAPER NAME: REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY OF DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING WORLD (USA AND CHINA) PAPER CODE: GRB/GRA 401 Prepared and compiled by: Dr. Sabina Bano Assistant Professor Mahila Maha Vidyalaya BHU, Varanasi

LESSON PLAN: 06 TIME DURATION: 01 Hour EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES: v v v To develop an overview of soil and its type in USA To generate an idea of the distribution of soil on map. To understand soil erosion and conservation with respect to USA Dear students as this topic is giving you an idea of soils in USA. Few things you have to keep in your mind to understand it in a easy way…. . First one is here that the generalize map of soils in USA has been shown here into two parts to make the picture more clear for your mental map & you may make a table for the types of soils and its characteristics under the following heads as area found, presence of humus, suitable for growing crops and remarks. I am sure you will be going through your studies and preparing yourself for future. Give your best at home and enjoy togetherness too.

INTRODUCTION v v v v v Area wise third largest country of the world USA has distinct physiography, climatic conditions and lithological structure. This vast country regionally vary according to its soils from one part of the country to other. The entire types of soil can be broadly categorized into two broader groups: Pedocals and Pedalfer Western part of USA mainly covered by Pedocals and which is dominated in Calcium Carbonate. Due to comparatively higher temperature in the western part of USA water evaporated from land its brings minerals at the upper surface of soil. It resultant into high presence of salt and lime. Where as eastern parts of USA is covered by Pedalfar which is acidic dominated in nature. eastern half of USA marked by humid climate and presence of leaching process in forested areas. It resulted into the solvent minerals to reach at higher depth of the soil. It has absence of calcium carbonate at upper surface level. Presence of iron and aluminum are comparatively higher.

Soil in USA Pedocals Pedalfar (calcium carbonate ) (Acidic soil) 1. Black soil/ Chernozem 2. Brown or Chestnut 1. Prairie Soil 2. Brown Soil 3. Grey Desert Soil 3. Podsol Soil 4. Red & Yellow Soils OTHERS IMPORTANT SOILS: ALLUVIAL AND MOUNTAINEOUS etc

PEDOCAL SOILS Under the category of Pedocal soils there are three types of soils found in USA i. Black Soils or Chernozem ii. Brown or Chestnut iii. Grey Desert Soil i. BLACK SOILS/ CHERNOZEM v It is extended at the centre of USA from north to south. v There are two layers found in this soil as A which is rich in humus and calcium carbonate. v Suitable for the wheat cultivation. v another one below the A layer up to 1. 2 meter depth is B which is dark brown colour. ii. BROWN OR CHESTNUT v It is extended higher altitudinal regions of prairies grassland. v The soil’s layer is lesser in depth as compare to chernozem v These are lesser in humus as compare to chernozem

PEDOCAL SOILS iii. GREY DESEART SOIL v It is mainly found in the Intermontane region of plateau. Colorado plateau and great basin region is noticeable for such soils. v This desert soil extended up to Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho and eastern California states. v It is having thin layers and lack of fossils. v Deposition of calcium carbonate is found at the upper surface. v Proper irrigation helps it to be suitable for cultivation.

PEDOCAL SOILS

PEDALFER SOILS Under the category of Pedalfar soils there are four types of soils found in USA: i. Prairie Soil ii. Brown Soil iii. Podsol Soil iv. Red& Yellow Soil PRAIRIE SOIL: v This soil is found mainly humid regions of the eastern USA as shown in next slide. v Though this soil is Pedalfar but less leaching process occurred in this soil. v Humus contents are available in this soil. v It’s dark in colour and due to its fertility highly productive for cultivation. BROWN SOIL: v This soil is mainly found in hard wood deciduous forest area of eastern part of USA v It is lesser in depth but presence of good content of humus. v Due to leaching process mineral reaches at sub soil layer and changes it into acidic. v This forested area has been cleared for the mixed farming v For better result fertilizers needed for soils.

PEDALFER SOILS PODZOL SOIL: v It is mainly found in northern conical forested area as new England region, upper Great lakes region, and north western part of coastal pacific ocean. v Low presence of humus v High leaching processes leads to needed deeper ploughing for the cultivation. v After utilizing fertilizers it become suitable for oat, potato farming and used as dairy farming RED & YELLOW SOIL: v It is mainly stretches in south east part of USA. v Due to high temperature and high amount of rainfall leaching process dominated in this region. v With the help of use of the regular fertilizers and crop rotation this region is suitable for cotton farming. v Low presence of humus. OTHER IMPORTANT SOILS: Beside the above variety of soils there are some other important soils are also in USA as alluvial soil deposited in the deltaic region of missippi river and where as mountainous soil in the western half of the USA mainly Rocky mountain ranges and Cascade and Sierra -Nevada region as shown in the pedocals distribution map. These soils are shallow and their profile is undeveloped. Therefore infertile.

PEDALFER SOILS

SOIL EROSION & CONSERVATION v v v v v Soil erosion in the USA does not pose an immediate threat to the Nation’s ability to produce food and fiber, but it does reduce the productivity of some soils, and its also cause offsite damage. The following reasons are noticeable for it: Erosion is done importantly by wind and water Erosion caused by water: Splash erosion, sheet erosion rill erosion, ephemeral or concentrated flow action Gully erosion and Streambank erosion etc. Erosion caused by wind: Saltation, Suspension, Surface creep, Sheet erosion etc Farmers and ranchers often avoid adopting new practices if it is expensive Uncertain cost and crop yield effects of conservation measures. Soil Conservation through terrace farming, controlled grazing, afforestation, contour and strip farming and emphasis on growing such plants which hold the soil properly through its roots. Beside it USDA’s conservation and water quality programme use one or more following policy : 1. Onfarm technical assistance and extension education 2. Cost sharing assistance for practice installation 3. Public participation through project activities 4. Rental and easement payments to take land out of production and place it into conservation users. 5. Conservation data and research aimed at evaluating and improving conservation practices and programmes.

REFERENCES v v v Arreola D. D, Deal M. S, Peterson J. F. Sanders R. (2007) World Geography, Mc Dougal Little Tikha, R. N. , Bali, P. K. and Sekhon M. S. (2009) World Regional Geography, New Academic Publishing Co. Sharma Y. K. (2017) World Regional Geography, L. K. Agrawal publication Srivastava V. K. & Sriwatava K. R. (2009) Sayunktay rajya America ka bhogolik swaroop, basundhara prakashan https: //naldc. nal. usda. gov

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