Assessing land use influences on the expression of soil iron hydric indicators

Non-Peer ReviewedHydric soil features develop over frequent and prolonged saturation. This study investigated the influence of land use on the expression Fe related hydric indicators for the overarching goal of being able to delineate Prairie Pothole Region wetlands where native species have been significantly disturbed. Initial soil classification of wetland pits showed differences among the land uses. Further laboratory analysis looking at free extractable Fe (Dithionite-Fe extraction) and magnetic susceptibility showed little significant differences among the land uses. Further study is required to determine if interacting affects among other hydric indicators, including clay leaching and carbon contents, significantly differ among land uses