University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Plant, Soil & Entomological Sciences Soil & Land Resources
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Vertisols

(SSSA Marbut Memorial Slide Set)
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 9. gilgai pattern on Vertisol landscape
South Dakota

This image shows gilgai micro-topography, commonly associated with Vertisols. Gilgai develop as a result of repeated soil expansion and contraction due to changes in moisture content and the associated shrink/swell of smectitic clays. Orientation of micro-ridges and micro-valleys is parallel with the slope direction.

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  Examples:
1. Typic Hapludert
Texas
2. Udic Haplustert
Puerto Rico
3. Udic Haplustert
southcentral Texas
4. Epiaquert landscape
southern Idaho
5. Xeric Epiaquert
southern Idaho
6. surface cracks in Vertisol
Utah
7. Vertisol slickensides
8. cracked wall on Vertisol
9. gilgai pattern
South Dakota
10. gilgai pattern
Texas
If you have any comments, suggestions, or questions about the 12 Soil Orders web site,
please contact Dr. Paul McDaniel  at the Soil Science Division,
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-2339.