Soils of the central Orange River basin
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Date
1971-12
Authors
Van Rooyen, Theodorus Hermanus
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
The work reported in this thesis is based on a reconnaissence soil survey
of the Central Orange River' Basin with the object to identify and select
soils suitable for irrigation under the Orange River Development Project.
The demarcated area constitutes 3,1 million hectares and is situated between latitudes
28° 45' and 30°, 45 and Iongitudes 22° 37' and 25° 15' in, the
South Western Orange Free State and Northern Gape. Province , This is an
arid to semi-arid region according to climatic classification.
During the soil survey particular attention was paid to those factors of the
environment which have a bearing on soils found in this area, and especially
on their morphology" genesis and distribution. The environment, apart
from the soils, is dominated by the general aridity" Iow relief with isolated
hilly features and Karroe System rocks. Soils identified, fall in, two general
classes, viz. clayey soils of colluvial , alluvial and sedentary origin and
sandy soils of aeolian origin. The former are mostly of a saline nature and
have poor physical properties with respect to irrigability. The sandy soils
contain little or no soluble salts, are well, drained and well suited towards
irrigation.
Identification and mapping of the soils were carried out in accordance with
a current classification system of the Soil and Irrigation Research Institute.
Seventeen soil series of six soil forms and various land classes and
complexes were identified and mapped. A soil map on a scale of
approximately 1:320 000 accompanies this thesis.
Soil samples of representative profiles were collected and analysed in order
to further characterize soils. Chemical analyses substantiated field
observations that the clayey soils were, in most cases, highly saline and the
sandy soils non-saline. Clayey soils were furthermore alkaline in
reaction, and rich in-exchandeable cations, notablyCa++,Mg ++ and
Na+. High CEC values indicated a dominance of 2:1. clay minerals,
whereas X-ray diffractograms gave evidence of mixed layering of these minerals.
The aeolian sands generally had lower pH values low clay contents and
hence Iow CEC and exchanqeable cations. Clay mineral suites appeared to
be of a similar nature to those of the clayey soils.
The prominence of large Aeolian deposits in the landscape and their importance towards irrigation prompted an investigation on the origin of the Aeolian sandy parent materials. Morphological and mineralogical studies proved that two types of Aeolian sandy deposits, distinctly different in origin, occur. It is postulated that the yellowish sands were blown from the Orange River bed in situations favourable for westerly winds. The red sands are of Vaal River origin and were blown from the river bed towards the east and south-east by westerly to north-westerly winds.
Description
Keywords
Soil science, Soils, Thesis (Ph.D. (Soil Science))--University of the Free State, 1971