T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGIN.E?ERING C H E i V I S T R Y .
2 46
April, 191 I
temperature .is a trifle above the formation point recently made complete analyses of samples repof siloxicon. resenting several distinct soil types, embraced in the timber belt of north Idaho, locally referred t o as the From this we deduce the following figures : Pan Handle. Since up t o this time no data have Decomposition point of Sic t o graphite 2 2 2 0 O 2oO ; .been published relative to the composition of any of Formation of crystalline Sic 1820’ & z o o ; these timber lands, we submit the following analyses Formation of siloxicon 1540’ 5 30’. The value for siloxicon is not established within as in the belief t h a t they will be of interest to others close limits as the others because of greater difficulty engaged in soil investigations. in telling where the zone really begins. All these If comparisons are suggested b y these analyses, it values were checked by repeated runs. should be noted that the lands in question lie entirely Tucher’s figure for graphite agrees exactly with in the humid section of the state. The fine soil only ours, and his lower figure for Sic, when corrected for (that which passed the meshes of a mm. sieve) the error due to the use of a graphite tube, comes was used for analysis. The samples were digested within 10’ of our value. One figure, 1980°, obtained for ten hours in a boiling water bath with hydrob y him for this point is 160’ out because of the differ- chloric acid of 1 . 1 1 5 sp. gr., I O cc. of acid being used ence in the gradients in tube and, furnace. This for each gram of soil. The analysis of the hydroshows how large an error disregard of this point may in- chloric acid solutions, in the main, was conducted in troduce into temperature measurements in electric accordance with the methods outlined by the Associafurnace work. tion of Official Agricultural Chemists. The humus We have not attempted t o fix any formation tem- determinations were made on solutions filtered through perature for the so-called “Amorphous Carborundum ” Pasteur-Chamberland filter tubes. that is said to occur between the zones of crystalline TABLEPERCENTAGE COMPOSITION OF TIMBERS o r ~ s . ~ Sic and of siloxicon, as there is no way of telling Bench Land. where the “amorphous S i c ” zone begins or ends. Laboratory number. 360a 360b 360c 360d 360e 360f 204 Belief in the existence of this seems to have been , ,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 .OO handed down through the literature from the first Coarse soil. . . . . . Fine soil.. , . 100.00 100.00 100.00 1 0 0 . 0 0 100.00 100.00 70.00 work of Mulhauser.1 CHEMICAL ANALYSISOF FINESOIL. -~ He analyzed a sample taken just outside the crys- Insoluble talline Sic zone, and after long treatment with H F matter., . 84.690 8 4 . 0 3 0 8 2 . 5 5 0 82.230 78.830 84.520 8 2 . 7 9 and ignition, found it to correspond fairly well with Potash (KzO) 0 . 3 1 8 0.283 0 , 3 0 2 0.310 0 . 3 6 0 0 , 3 2 1 0 . 3 0 Soda ( N a n o ) 0.229 0.226 0.276 0.282 0.292 0,276 0.24 the formula Sic. Potter* has shown t h a t siloxicon Lime (CaO) 0.436 0.590 0,407 0.918 0.415 0.81 0.407 is attacked b y H F and ignition with elimination of Magnesia 0.516 0,623 0,734 0.846 0,878 0.42 (MgO). . . 0.623 Si and 0, leaving a residue that approximates the Iron Oxide formula Sic. I t seems very doubtful if amorphous i F e 2 0 a ) .. 3.490 3.300 3.530 3.350 3.820 3.520 2.26 Sic is formed in the commercial furnace, the zone Alumiha 6.655 6 943 6.139 (.llzOa).. . . . 6.039 6.275 6.618 7.46 outside the crystallized Sic probably being a series Phosphoric of complex oxycarbide compounds or solid solutions 0.302 0,425 0.237 0.271 0.43 0.305 acid (P205) 0 . 2 8 5 Sulphur tri: grouped under the name of siloxicon. trace trace trace trace trace 0.04 oxide (SOa) trace This work was done a t Cornel1 University in the Carbon dioxide (C02) . . , . Spring of 1 9 1 0 under the direction of Prof. Bancroft, Volatile to whom the writer’s best thanks are due. 4.676 4.930 5.580 7.770 3.957 5.70 matter.. . . . 4.300 ,
_ _ - ~ - _ _ -
DETROIT,.MICH , Feb , 1911
T o t a l . , ..
ANALYSES OF CHARACTERISTIC NORTHWEST TIMBER SOILS. By J . S. JONES.
Received January 23, 1911.
I n the northwestern states large areas of cut and burned-over timber lands are being rapidly cleared and brought into a state of cultivation. For the most part these lands have produced splendid growths of white and yellow pine, fir, tamarack, and cedar. They will, in time, become of great importance to the agricultural development of the Northwest. I n many localities they have already reached a stage in their development which indicates, t h a t , as a class, the timbered soils of the Northwest will present problems peculiar to themselves. As a first step t o a better understanding of these lands, we have Chem., 189.3, 641; J . Ant. Cltem. S o c . , 16, 411 (1893). Trans.Am. Ebclrochem. S o c . , 12, 191 (1907).
12. angev. 2
100.381 100.047 slightly acid.
Reaction
Total nitrogen 0 . 0 4 4 Humus. . . , . 0 . 7 0 2 H u m u s nitrogen p.c. in humus.. . . 4.830 Humus nitrogen p.c. in soil.. 0.034
.
.
99.721
9 9 . 9 7 3 100.016 100.297 100.45
slightly slightly slightly slightly slightly slightly acid. acid. acid. acid. acid. acid. 0.054 0,773
0,050 0,740
0.080 1.730
0,170 1.620
0.042 0,542
0.10 1.36
4.430
4.330
3.300
6.640
5.250
6.62
0.034
0,032
0.057
0.107
0.028
0.08
The samples whose analyses appear in Table I , represent to a depth of 1 5 inches the soils of typical bench lands in the northern most county of the state. Samples No. 360a-360j, inclusive, were taken a t various places along the “divide” which separates the valleys of the Pend d’Oreille and Kootenai Rivers, and which here has an elevation of approximately 2000 feet. The crest of the “divide” is perhaps 150 feet higher than the broad valleys on either side. More precisely the area represented by these samples lies from twenty 1
For t h e analyses which are recorded in ‘fable I, credit is due Mr. H
P Fishburn
JONES 0:V ANALYSES OF ATORTHWEST TI,ZIBER SOILS. t o twenty-five miles northeast of the town of Sandpoint. A large portion of i t will be utilized in the immediate future for orchard purposes. Physically, the surface soil may be described as a fine sandy loam. This a t a depth of 2 0 - 2 4 inches shades into a light clay loam. A vertical excavation t o a depth of 1 0 - 1 2 feet failed to reveal any material change in the physical characteristics’ of the under soil. A large portion of the area has been fire-swept, the blackened stumps and prostrate trunks of trees still bearing testimony t o the splendid growth of yellow pine and cedar which it has produced. Sample KO. 204 represents similar bench land on the west side of Pend d’Orielle Lake, and approximately ten miles southeast of the town of Sandpoint. This bench has a n elevation of 150-200 feet greater than the level of the lake. From i t the heavy timber has been logged a,nd a dense growth of underbrush has taken its place. This section has not recently been burned over. TABLEII.-PERCEKTAGE COMPOSITION OF TIMBER SOILS, VALLEYLANDS, Laboratory number.
145a
1456
Coarsesoil.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fine soil.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 0 . 0 0 100..00
145c 35.00 65.00
CHEMICAL ANALYSISOF FIXE SOIL 70.05 Insoluble matter. . . . . . . . . . . . 7 4 . 3 6 4 3 . 4 0 11.96 Soluble silica. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 . 1 5 2 6 . 2 8 0.44 0.25 0.66 Potash (K20). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.57 0.34 S o d a ( s a z O ) .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . 4 5 0.63 0.10 0.90 Lime (CaO). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . trace trace Magnesia (MgO), . . . . . . . . . . . . trace 3.27 4.44 3.04 I r o n oxide (Fe20a). , , , , , , , , , . . 6.45 Alumina (A1203) . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.86 10.13 0.15 0.56 Phosphoric acid (PzO5). . . . . . . . 0.09 none none none Sulphur trioxide ( S O 3 ) .. . . . . . . ... ... Carbon dioxide (CO?). . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.09 Volatile m a t t e r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.09 14.37 ~
Total., . . . . . . . . . 1 0 0 . 6 0
Total nitrogen
none
145d
145e
8.00 92.00
30.00
70.00
67.26 12.14 0.35 0.39 0.61 trace 3.70 7.53 0.28 none
64.09 15.60 0.39 0.53 0.58 0.74 4.35 5.32 0.28 none
6.23
7.81
...
...
__
__
.-
.___
99.65
99.83
08.49
99.69
0.16
0.08
0.11
0.17
Samples No. 14ja-14je, inclusive, represent the bottom lands on the south side of the Pend d’Orielle River not far from the Idaho-Washington State line. This area has been cleared of a heavy growth of yellow pine, cedar, and underbrush. Like the bench land previously mentioned it is being developed for orchard purposes. No. 14ja represents a very light colored soil. Near the river i t appears as a surface soil, b u t for the most part i t is the characteristic subsoil of t h a t section. This sample was taken t o a depth of 1 5 inches. No. 1456 represents a, soil of similar character farther back from the river. This one apparently results from the first coming very close to the surface, and having incorporated with i t more or less of the alluvium Nos. carried down from the adjacent hillsides. 14jb, 14jd, and 14je are representative of alluvial and colluvial soils carried into the valley from the near-by hills, and deposited evenly t o a considerable depth upon No. r45a. These samples were likewise taken t o a depth of 1 5 inches. Still another type of timber land is represented in our analyses. This characterizes extensive areas of the higher lands embraced in and bordering the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation on the south and south-
247
east. This district is covered with a heavy growth of yellow pine and fir. I t is very rolling in character, b u t has a n average elevation of 2 joo-3000 feet. The soil, in depth and physical properties, resembles very closely the prevailing types of the adjacent open prairie country, also a very rolling one, known locally as the “palouse.” TABLE 111 .-PERCENTAGE
COMPOSITION
Laboratory number
OF
TIMBER SOILS. H I G H L A N D .
200
Coarse s o i l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fine soil.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..
201a
201b.
...
... ...
...
CHEMICAL AXALYSISOF FINESOIL. Insoluble m a t t e r . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 . 3 8 Soluble silica. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 89 Potash ( K z O ) . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 63 Soda (“azo).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 .SO Lime (CaO). . . . . . . . . 0.73 Magnesia (MgO) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 .OO Iron oxide (FezOa).. . . . . . . . . . . 8 . 0 9 Alumina (A1203). . . . . . . . . Phosphoric acid (PaOi). . , , Sulphur trioxide (SO3). . , , Carbon dioxide ( ( 2 0 2 ) . . . . . Volatile matter. . . . . . . . . .
7 0 . 00 9.85 0.57 0.50 0.83 0.82 8.27 4.00 0.24 trace
... 5 .31
72.77 8.34 0.60
0.41 0.86 0.78 9.6.5 2.64 0.25 trace
... 4.00
__
__
__
T o t a l . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.48
100.39
100.30
Total nitrogen.. Humus.
....... .......
0.06 1.08
.
0.07 0.92
... ,..
No. z o o represents a district of somewhat greater elevation than t h a t represented b y either of the others. S o . Z O I U represents the yellow pine lands more particularly, and was taken t o a depth of 24 inches on a southwesterly slope. No. zoIb was taken t o an even greater depth on a north hill slope, and is typical of the fir lands. Both Nos. Z O I U and 2 0 1 b represent cut-over timber lands, but neither one has ever been in cultivation. Soil in adjacent fields and identical in character with that represented b y Z O I U has been in cultivation for several years and grows darker in color with cultivation. Cultivated soil similar to that represented b y No. z o I b has not changed perceptibly in color during the several years it has been under cultivation. I t has also been noticed t h a t soils represented b y No. 201a compact readily, and that those represented b y No. z o r b persistently remain loose and open. On the crest of the hills these soil types blend. When cleared of stumps and underbrush this land will be converted into grain and timothy farms. With soil investigators, a n opinion seems to be prevalent that pine forest soils, as a class, are weak in the essential elements of plant nutrition. The analyses recorded above, however, indicate very clearly that extensive areas of typical pine forest soils of the Northwest are well supplied with all of the mineral elements required in plant growth, and are exceptionally rich in phosphoric acid. As a rule, they are slightly acid in reaction, and, although substantial amounts of calcium are present, the application of finely crushed limestone is known t o be of decided advantage in bringing them into a good state of cultivation. LABORATORY OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY, UNIVERSITYO F I D A H O .
