Characterization, classification, and genesis of Cullen soils from the Virginia Piedmont

The Cullen soil series concept in the Virginia Piedmont has been the subject of much debate. This series was originally named Lloyd and was mapped throughout the southeastern Piedmont. In 1969 the Lloyd series was deactivated because of conflicting concepts. The Cullen series was established in 1970 to cover the Lloyd concept in Virginia. This soil is developed from a mixed felsic and mafic parent material and has been mapped over various rock types. A dark red (10R or 2.5YR 3/6) B subhorizon is the major morphologic feature of this soil series. Field and laboratory evaluations were undertaken to: (1) examine the relationship of Cullen and associated soil series and provide a method for their separation, (2) determine if geomorphic or weathering differences exist in Cullen and associated soil series, and (3) determine the classification of the Cullen series in Soil Taxonomy. The majority of Cullen pedons sampled classified as Typic Hapludults, clayey, mixed, thermic, but bordered on the kaolinitic and oxidic mineralogy classes. Chemical and physical properties were consistent in the pedons sampled and did not relate well to parent rock type or B horizon color. Weathering for an extensive time period has brought soils derived from various parent materials to a similar mineralogical state. We recommend that the Cullen series concept be broadened to include red (10R or 2.5YR) soils that have a mixed mineralogy. This concept covers a range between the Davidson and Tatum series and includes what has been mapped as Georgeville in Virginia.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agronomy

Department dc:contributor.department

Agronomy

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1979

Author dc:creator

• Wysocki, Douglas A.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/71002

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/71002