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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Reno, Nevada » Great Basin Rangelands Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #294528
Title: Biogeochemistry of a soil catena in the eastern Sierra Nevada Range, NV

Author
item Blank, Robert - Bob
item JOHNSON, DALE - University Of Nevada
item Morgan, Tye
item FREEZE, P - University Of Nevada
item JONES, R - University Of Nevada
item LAWRENCE, R - University Of Nevada
item LUE, A - University Of Nevada
item ROALDSON, L - University Of Nevada
item STEINMAN, J - University Of Nevada
item WOODWARD, C - University Of Nevada

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/5/2013
Publication Date: 7/22/2013
Citation: Blank, R.R., Johnson, D.W., Morgan, T.A., Freeze, P., Jones, R., Lawrence, R., Lue, A., Roaldson, L., Steinman, J., Woodward, C. 2013. Biogeochemistry of a soil catena in the eastern Sierra Nevada Range, NV. In: 68th International Soil and Water Conservation Society International Annual Conference Abstract Book. p. 92.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: As a field/lab project, students in the Soil Biogeochemistry class of the University of Nevada, Reno described and characterized five pedons at Little Valley, NV, at the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada. Developed largely from granite, the catena encompassed five pedons, which from high to low elevation, included a Lithic Psamment, a Typic Psamment, a Haploxerept, a Haploxeroll, and an Argiaquoll. Overall, total nitrogen, mineral nitrogen, organic carbon, and solution-phase cations and anions were generally greatest in O horizons relative to underlying mineral horizons. Net 30-day nitrogen mineralization potentials were very low or negative for the first four pedons in the catena, but considerably higher in pedon 5, and are predictable based on carbon to nitrogen ratios. For pedons 1-3, Bray-extractable phosphorus significantly correlated with citrate-dithionite extractable iron (R2=0.86); but not so for pedons 4 and 5. Lower Bray-extractable P and lack of correlation with citrate-dithionite iron in pedons 4 and 5 may be due to a greater proportion of ecosystem phosphorus in vegetation, which at these sites, is dominated by grasses and sedges. Characterizing and understanding the pedogenesis of this and other catenas could be used as a baseline for assessing the effects of management decisions, fire, and climate-change.