Classification and characterization of recently buried soils in the southern High Plains

The Southern High Plains is an extensive plateau, which lacks any major topographic variation. ReUef is provided locally by several types of landforms on the otherwise flat landscape of the Southern High Plains. Dunes, comprised of reworked Holocene eolian sediments, occur in the western and southwestern parts of the area. Thousands of small depressions, or playa lakes, dot the landscape. Some large depressions or basins, most of which are occupied by salinas (ephemeral saline lakes), also occur. In addition, there are several NW-SE trending draws narrow, dry valleys), ancient headwaters of the Red, Brazos, and Colorado Rivers, incised in the surface of the Southern High Plains.

This study was focused on soils occurring within the draws and slightly depressed areas in the southwest part of the Southern High Plains. The draws and depressions have been partially filled with aluvial and eolian sediments in Late Pleistocene and Holocene tune (Holliday, 1995). Also, in selected locations, the draws and depressions have up to a meter of sediments deposited since agriculture, including cattle grazing, was initiated in the area.