Get FORM A - Soils - University Of Kentucky - Soils Rs Uky

One theory was that the red soil resulted from the dissolution of limestone and is simply an insoluble residue or leftover from that process. Another theory was that glaciers had “bulldozed” the red soil as far south as southern Indiana and other terminal areas.

Many types of clay are found in Kentucky. The most important are ball, bentonite, flint, fuller's earth, and halloysite.

The “Crider” is the official state soil of Kentucky. Let's explore how the Crider is impor- tant to Kentucky. Crider soil was first identified and established as a soil series in Caldwell County in 1957 on the University of Kentucky's Western Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Substation in Princeton, Ky.

Fertile Maury soils, derived from limestones, are dominant in the central portion. Surface soils are brown silt loams, and subsoils are reddish-brown silty clays of good structure and drainage.

The Total Nutrient Digest (TND) is a measure of the soil's net worth when it comes to nutrients. While most extract tests provide you with what is “available”, the TND provides you with the nutrient potential of your soil.

In humid regions like Kentucky, soils are most likely to be acidic and in dry regions they are more likely to be basic. However, soil pH levels can vary widely even from one field to another. Limestone based soils generally tend to be the least acidic or nearly neutral.

It's all about the limestone. The USDA rates most of the soil around Central Kentucky as prime. Around Lexington specifically, the soils are extremely well regarded and widely considered to be some of the best grazing lands anywhere in the world.

Procedure Divide the field into different homogenous units based on the visual observation and farmer's experience. Remove the surface litter at the sampling spot. Drive the auger to a plough depth of 15 cm and draw the soil sample. Collect at least 10 to 15 samples from each sampling unit and place in a bucket or tray.