| High shrink-swell potential soils forming from limestone have been noted in the Great Valley of West Virginia, but the taxonomic name of these soils does not indicate this potential. With increased pressures on land use from an increasing population in the Eastern Panhandle, it is necessary to have detailed soil information for soil scientists, county planners, engineers, and others. The objectives of this research were to characterize three soils forming on limestone, evaluate their shrink-swell potential, and classify these soils. Field observations and laboratory data indicate that Carbo and Swanpond soils have a high shrink-swell potential, whereas Hagerstown soils do not. High shrink-swell is recognized in the current classification of Swanpond soils (revised January 2000) but not Carbo soils. It is recommended that the classification of Carbo soils be updated to recognize this high shrink-swell potential. |
