| A study was initiated to determine relationships between soils and landforms at large scale and related patterns to processes of pedogeomorphic evolution in the Libby Creek watershed, Medicine Bow Mountains, Wyoming. The results demonstrate that topographic position, slope gradient, and soil age were major factors controlling the spatial variability of soils.;The data suggest lateral movement of material from the summit to the toeslope and vertical movement at stable and concave surfaces. Well developed soils occurred on stable, flat, concave, and old surfaces, whereas weakly developed soils were found on steep, convex slope segments and younger surfaces. The results indicate that terrain attributes can be used to quantitatively describe water, solute, and material flow pathways.;A soil genesis model was constructed by characterizing soils formed under the influence of different age, parent material, vegetation, plan curvature, slope position and slope gradient. The resultant model provided the basis for extrapolation to a larger scale and reliable interpretation of soil development. A soil map of the Libby Creek watershed was produced on the basis of a soil genesis model, using ARC/INFO GIS. The GIS-derived soil map exhibited reasonable similarities with the USFS soil map. Transecting and GIS-based mapping were found to be useful, time efficient and cost effective to generate soil map of this large watershed. Geostatistical techniques proved effective in assessing the variation of soil properties. |
