Soils and landforms on the loess mantled karst uplands in southwestern Wisconsin, USA

Slope soil formation and its attributes in southwestern Wisconsin are potentially important due to its origin, landscape position and karstic backgrounds (Oh, 1990). Since French explorers and missionaries reached in southwestern Wisconsin in the 1830's, the loess mantled karst upland surfaces, consisted of forests: timberland, oak openings, and prairie, had been cultivated. At present, nearly 90% of the ridge land is in farms. Karst soils are usually reddish clayey features (Oh and Day, 1989).(omitted)