Plinthic soil from Georgia, Regional Soil Scientist John Kelley, USDA-NRCS
Plinthic soils contain a large amount of plinthite. In the soil classification scheme used by the FAO, an iron-rich soil horizon more than 15 cm thick and containing more than 15% plinthite...
...a plinthic horizon (from Greek plinthos, brick) is a subsurface horizon that is rich in Fe (in some cases also Mn) (hydr-)oxides and poor in humus. The clay is mostly kaolinitic, with the presence of other products of strong weathering, such as gibbsite. The plinthic horizon usually changes irreversibly to a layer of hard concretions or nodules or a hardpan on exposure to repeated wetting and drying with free access to oxygen.
It consists of mineral material and has within ≥ 15% of the volume, single or in combination: a. discrete concretions and/or nodules that in the moist state are at least firm, with a redder hue or stronger chroma than the surrounding material; or concentrations in platy, polygonal or reticulate patterns that in the moist state are at least firm, with a redder hue or stronger chroma than the surrounding material.
For more information about the FAO-WRB, visit;
www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf
For more information on Soil Taxonomy, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/survey/class/
For more photos related to soils and landscapes visit:
Plinthic soil from Georgia, Regional Soil Scientist John Kelley, USDA-NRCS
Plinthic soils contain a large amount of plinthite. In the soil classification scheme used by the FAO, an iron-rich soil horizon more than 15 cm thick and containing more than 15% plinthite...
...a plinthic horizon (from Greek plinthos, brick) is a subsurface horizon that is rich in Fe (in some cases also Mn) (hydr-)oxides and poor in humus. The clay is mostly kaolinitic, with the presence of other products of strong weathering, such as gibbsite. The plinthic horizon usually changes irreversibly to a layer of hard concretions or nodules or a hardpan on exposure to repeated wetting and drying with free access to oxygen.
It consists of mineral material and has within ≥ 15% of the volume, single or in combination: a. discrete concretions and/or nodules that in the moist state are at least firm, with a redder hue or stronger chroma than the surrounding material; or concentrations in platy, polygonal or reticulate patterns that in the moist state are at least firm, with a redder hue or stronger chroma than the surrounding material.
For more information about the FAO-WRB, visit;
www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf
For more information on Soil Taxonomy, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/survey/class/
For more photos related to soils and landscapes visit: