Analysis of Sandy Glacial till-Outwash Complexes Across Wisconsin's Soil Survey Region #10 to More Accurately Determine Suitability for Biomass Production.

Timber production has long been an economic driver in Northern Wisconsin, more than 1.8 million (12.32%) harvestable acres are restricted due to the complexs containg a soil that is considered to be a dry, nutrient-poor sandy soil. Through further investigation of common soil complexes; myself, along with the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) hope to increase environmental sustainability of biomass production (whole-tree harvesting) across soil survey region #10, through the addition of more represantive samples to the database which is used to run the interpretation. The components of these complexes are comprised of soils from separate parent materials, glacial till and outwash. Both of these glacial deposits contain high amounts of sand, however, it is thought that the till component will contain greater amounts of clay and silt, making this component suitable for biomass harvesting. Thus, there may be a point were biomass production is restricted due to a soil complex containing a "dry, nutrient poor sand"; by limiting water retention, base cation mineralization, and overall soil fertility within the map unit. This study analysed Particle Size Distribution (PSDA), Bulk Density, Drainage Class, average C.E.C of past samples, and distribution of lamellea on the soils which currently restrict biomass harvesting. Visual observation of the landscape, physical soil properties, and vegetation data will also be documented and eventually used to make the Wisconsin Biomass Harvesting interpretation more accurate due to having a larger range of data. In this study, if the soil contains less than 3% clay in the upper 100 cm, no lamellae under 100 cm, no carbonates or water table(s), and not classified as an Alifsol or Mollisol, the site will be determined to be unsuitable. This is based closely on the components that comprise the Wisconsin interpretation.