Vaucluse like soil from South Carolina
Vaucluse soils are characterized by a B horizon more than 6 inches thick that is compact, dense, and brittle in 30 to 60 percent of the mass. This pedon has a similar layer several feet thick.
The brittleness is thought to be due to masses of oxidized iron. This horizon commonly has weak or moderate, medium or coarse subangular blocky structure but in some pedons it appears to be massive especially in the lower parts. Since establishment, the Vaucluse series has been classified as: Typic Hapludults, Fragic Paleudults, Typic Fragiudults, Typic Kanhapludults, and (2005) Fragic Kanhapludults.
Most of these soils have coarsely shaped vesicular areas of iron concentrations that are non-cemented to weakly cemented. Once exposed to the elements, these concentrations progressively hardened.
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In the U.S. soil science community, these soils are not well understood and are inconsistently described and correlated. Often, they have been ignored or identified as "map unit inclusions". Further study of the soil is needed to accurately determine the dominant diagnostic characteristics--the distinction between fragic soil properties, plinthite, and to a lesser extent ironstone (petroferric material) or the occurrence of each of these within the same profile.
In the FAO-WRB soil classification system, this soil may have a Ferric horizon. A ferric horizon (from Latin ferrum, iron) is one in which segregation of Fe (or Fe and Mn) has taken place to such an extent that large mottles or discrete concretions or nodules have formed and the matrix between mottles, concretions or nodules is largely depleted of Fe and Mn. They do not necessarily have enhanced Fe (or Fe and Mn) contents, but Fe (or Fe and Mn) are concentrated in mottles or concretions or nodules. Over time, these horizons may become a plinthic horizon.
Generally, such segregation leads to poor aggregation of the soil particles in Fe- and Mn-depleted zones and compaction of the horizon. The segregation is the result of redox processes that may be active or relict.
For more information about soil classification using the WRB system, visit:
www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf
For a detailed description of Vaucluse soil, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/V/VAUCLUSE.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Vaucluse like soil from South Carolina
Vaucluse soils are characterized by a B horizon more than 6 inches thick that is compact, dense, and brittle in 30 to 60 percent of the mass. This pedon has a similar layer several feet thick.
The brittleness is thought to be due to masses of oxidized iron. This horizon commonly has weak or moderate, medium or coarse subangular blocky structure but in some pedons it appears to be massive especially in the lower parts. Since establishment, the Vaucluse series has been classified as: Typic Hapludults, Fragic Paleudults, Typic Fragiudults, Typic Kanhapludults, and (2005) Fragic Kanhapludults.
Most of these soils have coarsely shaped vesicular areas of iron concentrations that are non-cemented to weakly cemented. Once exposed to the elements, these concentrations progressively hardened.
www.flickr.com/photos/jakelley/53415175462/in/dateposted-...
www.flickr.com/photos/jakelley/53414592606/in/dateposted-...
www.flickr.com/photos/jakelley/53413671632/in/dateposted-...
In the U.S. soil science community, these soils are not well understood and are inconsistently described and correlated. Often, they have been ignored or identified as "map unit inclusions". Further study of the soil is needed to accurately determine the dominant diagnostic characteristics--the distinction between fragic soil properties, plinthite, and to a lesser extent ironstone (petroferric material) or the occurrence of each of these within the same profile.
In the FAO-WRB soil classification system, this soil may have a Ferric horizon. A ferric horizon (from Latin ferrum, iron) is one in which segregation of Fe (or Fe and Mn) has taken place to such an extent that large mottles or discrete concretions or nodules have formed and the matrix between mottles, concretions or nodules is largely depleted of Fe and Mn. They do not necessarily have enhanced Fe (or Fe and Mn) contents, but Fe (or Fe and Mn) are concentrated in mottles or concretions or nodules. Over time, these horizons may become a plinthic horizon.
Generally, such segregation leads to poor aggregation of the soil particles in Fe- and Mn-depleted zones and compaction of the horizon. The segregation is the result of redox processes that may be active or relict.
For more information about soil classification using the WRB system, visit:
www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf
For a detailed description of Vaucluse soil, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/V/VAUCLUSE.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit: