Question

These two questions are in regards to Soil Geomorphology, specifically in Texas. Please help!

1) How and why is it that Mollisols and Alfisols intergrade between the prairies and eastern woodlands?

2) Why do Mollisols and Alfisols cover so much of the land area of Texas?

Answer 1

1)

Alfisols are observed in cool to hot humid areas, and in the semiarid tropics. These are created mainly in the forest region, but also in the grass savanna region. These leached soils have comparatively high fertility. Generally favorable climate and high native fertility allows Alfisols to be productive soils for agricultural use.

Mollisols are the soils that are formed under grassland ecosystems. These soils have thick and dark fertile surface horizon and it is known as a mollic epipedon. These are created from the long-term addition of organic materials derived from plant roots. It mainly occur in the middle latitudes and also most common in prairie regions. These soils are among some of the most important and productive agricultural soils in the world.

2)

These mineral soils are formed on forest regions and grasslands, in which vegetation has massive fibrous root systems. Large areas of alfisols and mollisols are found in the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys in the USA. The topsoil of Mollisols and Alfisols are dark and rich with organic matter, and it creates natural fertility. These are among the most fertile soils found on Earth.