Relationships of saturation and B horizon colour patterns in soils of three hydrosequences in south‐central Michigan, USA

Relationships between soil colour patterns and depth and duration of water tables were studied using piezometers in three soil hydrosequences. A colour index was developed to quantify matrix colour, size and colour of mottles, and continuity and colour of clay films. It correlated well with duration of saturation when above 5°C ( r = 0.88) and with duration of total saturation ( r = 0.87). The colour index is useful to evaluate soils for various land uses.