Water table depths and color patterns in soils developed from red parent materials in Michigan, USA

Relationships between soil color patterns and depth and duration of water tables were studied using piezometers in three soil hydrosequences that had developed from different colored parent materials. Correlation coefficients relating color indices and percent of time saturated were less for the hydrosequences developed from red (5YR and 7.5YR) parent materials (5YR materials are lacustrine deposits, 7.5YR materials are till) than those developed from 10YR parent materials (till). A modified color index was a better predictor of water saturation in soils developed from 5YR parent materials. The presence of hematite in the soils developed from red parent materials is thought to cause these soils to be less gray than would be predicted from landscape position and piezometer data. Iron mineralogy, at least partially, explains why hue was not as important as chroma in predicting water saturation in these hydrosequences. Iron contents in high chroma mottles were greater, whereas, those of low chroma mottles were less than those in matrices, suggesting Fe has moved in saturated horizons of these soils. Insufficient low chroma colors was the primary reason for misclassification of soils developed from red parent materials and is thought to be related to the presence of hematite.