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Vertisol profile, Laewest clay, Victoria County, Texas. Photograph by Wesley L. Miller
The A and B horizons in these soils are commonly cyclic, ranging from 60 to more than 80 inches thick. The amplitude of waviness between the mollic colored materials in the upper part of the solum and the higher value colors in the lower part ranges from 12 to 65 inches in more than 50 percent of the pedon. The chimneys of high value materials that extend to the surface or within 11 inches of the surface make up 10 to 30 percent of the pedon. Unless cultivated, gilgai microrelief with microknolls 6 to 16 inches higher than the microdepressions is common. The distance between center of high and center of low ranges from 5 to 18 feet. When dry, cracks 1 to 3 inches wide extend from the surface to depths of 60 inches or more.
Depth to slickensides ranges from about 15 to 24 inches. In pedology (the study of soils in their natural environments) a slickenside is a surface of grooved cracks produced in soils containing a high proportion of swelling clays. Slickensides are a type of cutan and are an indicator of a Vertisol.
VERTISOLS are one of the 12 soil orders in the U.S. Soil Taxonomy. They are clay-rich soils that undergo significant vertical cracking during dry seasons. Typically forming under grassland vegetation in basin or rolling hill landscapes, they are best suited for use as pastureland and for the cultivation of plants, such as rice, that thrive in standing surface water. Their very low water permeability when wet and unstable structure make them unsuitable for most other commercial uses. Although broadly distributed on every nonpolar continent, they occupy just over 2 percent of the land area on Earth, primarily in subtropical or tropical zones of Australia, India, and Africa and in parts of the western United States (California and Texas) and Europe (Austria and the Balkans). The shrinking and swelling of the clay forms bowls or gilgai resulting in an uneven surface morphometry.
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
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A representative soil profile of a Typic Hapludalf from Langlade County, NE Wisconsin. (Photo provided by R. Schaetzl.)
Typic Hapludalfs are the Hapludalfs fixed on freely drained soils that have an argillic horizon that does not have an abrupt upper boundary, that does not have interfingering of albic materials, that has a relatively high base saturation, and that has a loamy or clayey texture and is not composed entirely of thin lamellae. In addition, these soils are deep or moderately deep to hard rock, have a light colored plow layer, and do not have a thick epipedon with a sandy or sandy-skeletal particle-size class throughout. They do not have slickensides, wedge-shaped aggregates, a high linear extensibility, or wide cracks. An abrupt upper boundary of the argillic horizon and redox concentrations in the argillic horizon are properties shared with Albaqualfs and Albaquults and define intergrades to those great groups. If the upper 25 cm of the argillic horizon has aquic conditions for some time in normal years (or artificial drainage) and redox depletions with chroma of 2 or less, or saturation with water within 100 cm of the surface for extended periods, the soil is excluded from Typic Hapludalfs because these properties are shared with Aqualfs. A relatively low base saturation in the deeper horizons is a property shared with Ultisols and is used to define the intergrades to that order. Soils that have slickensides, wedge-shaped aggregates, a high linear extensibility, or wide cracks are excluded from the Typic Hapludalfs because these properties are shared with Vertisols.
Because most Hapludalfs have been cultivated extensively, many have lost their eluvial horizons. These soils formed principally in late-Pleistocene deposits or on a surface of comparable age. They are extensive soils in the Northeastern States, excluding New England, and in Europe, excluding most of Scandinavia. The vegetation on Hapludalfs in the United States was a deciduous broadleaf forest, but the soils are now mostly farmed. Temperature regimes are mesic or thermic.
For more information about soils and the Michigan State University-Department of Geography, visit:
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For additional information about soil classification, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/cla...
A representative soil profile of the Penistaja series; the State Soil of New Mexico. (Photos provided by Aaron Miller, Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS)
The profile location is close to La Bajada Mesa where the El Camino Real brought many of the early Spanish settlers into Santa Fe. Penistaja soils are on mesas, plateaus, hills, cuestas and bajadas with slopes of 0 to 10 percent at elevations from 4,800 to 7,100 feet.
The Penistaja series was established in Sante Fe County, NM in 1970. The soil was named after a small farming and stock raising community in northwest New Mexico. “Penistaja” is a Navajo word that means “forced to sit”. This soil is found in the Southwest landscape of sandstone mesas, snow-capped mountains and desert grass-lands.
The Penistaja series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soil that formed in mixed alluvium, fan alluvium, slope alluvium and eolian material derived from sandstone and shale. Penistaja soils are on mesas, plateaus, hills, cuestas and bajadas. Slopes are 0 to 10 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 12 inches and the mean annual air temperature is about 55 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Ustic Haplargids
Soil Moisture: Intermittently moist in some part of the soil moisture control section during December to March and July to September. The soil is driest during May and June. Ustic aridic soil moisture regime.
Soil Temperature: 51 to 59 degrees F.
Organic matter: averages more than 1 percent organic matter in the upper 16 inches
Depth to base of argillic horizon: 13 to 35 inches
Reaction: Neutral to moderately alkaline
USE AND VEGETATION: Penistaja soils are used for livestock grazing. Vegetation is blue grama, western wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass, galleta, winterfat and fourwing saltbush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwestern New Mexico and northeastern Arizona. MLRA 35 and 36, LRR-D. This series is of moderate extent.
For additional information about this state soil, visit:
www.soils4teachers.org/files/s4t/k12outreach/nm-state-soi....
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/P/PENISTAJA.html
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Soil profile: Babelthuap soils are characterized by very low fertility and a high level of soluble aluminum, which is toxic to most plants. The surface layer generally is gravelly. This profile is in an area of map unit 614, Babelthuap-Ngardmau-Typic Udorthents undifferentiated group, 12 to 30 percent slopes, in Aimeliik State, Babeldaob Island. (Soil Survey of the Islands of Palau, Republic of Palau; by Jason L. Nemecek and Robert T. Gavenda, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: Ngardmau-Babelthuap-Typic Udorthents undifferentiated group, 20 to 50 percent slopes, is characterized by steep slopes that are sparsely vegetated or barren. This site is in Melekeok State, Babeldaob Island.
The Babelthuap series consists of; very deep, well drained, that is shallow to an abrupt textural change. These soils are on erosional crests of hills on volcanic islands. Babelthuap soils formed in saprolite derived from basalt, andesite, dacite volcanic breccias, tuff, and bedded tuff. Slope is 2 to 75 percent. The mean annual rainfall is about 3685 millimeters (145 inches), and the mean annual temperature is about 27 C (81 F.)
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Very-fine, ferruginous, isohyperthermic Typic Kandiperox
Depth to diagnostic feature: kandic horizon: 2 to 15 centimeters (1 to 6 inches)
Control section: 25 to 100 centimeters (10 to 39 inches)
Thickness of solum: 50 to 100 centimeters (20 to 39 inches.)
Depth to diagnostic features::
abrupt textural change: 3 to 20 centimeters (1 to 8 inches
kandic horizon: 3 to 20 centimeters (1 to 8 inches)
Thickness of diagnostic features:
ochric epipedon: 2 to 15 centimeters (1 to 6 inches)
kandic horizon: 11 to 90 centimeters (4 to 35 inches)
Linear extensibility: 3 to 7 percent, weighted average RV is 4.8 percent
Surface Fragments: Rock fragments are vesicular petroferric fragments, ironstone and gibbsite concretions; 20 to 95 percent total rock fragments; 20 to 80 percent gravel; 0 to 15 percent cobbles
Mean annual soil temperature: 28 C (83 F)
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are in fern-land plant communities and are used only for watershed. A few areas are used as a source for mining bauxite. The vegetation is degraded anthropic savannah consisting of poor stands of Gleichenia linearis, Nepenthea mirabilis, Ectrosia lepornia and Paspalum orbiculare, scattered shrubs and pandanus.
This plant community is commonly dominant with Gleicheinia sp. Other associates that may be found scattered if the ferns are still short and young include Lycopodium cernuum. If the area has not been subjugated to fire for a considerable amount of time then there is often nothing but Gleichienia or at least a considerable lower diversity then areas exposed to occasional fire. It is common to come across small pockets of these areas deep in the hills of the upland forest.
The surface layer becomes dry for short periods particularly during the months of February, March, and April, due to the high coarse fragment content. The soil does not meet the definition of an oxic horizon for the clay content increases by more than 8 percent within 15 centimeters (6 inches.) Gibbsite is aluminum hydroxide and it is the principal component of bauxite. It is the product of intense soil weathering and is very stable in the soil environment. Gibbsite does not contribute to the soluble aluminum in the soil because it is stable.
Some agricultural crops suffer from aluminum toxicity when the Al saturation is only 10%. Aluminum interferes with the photosynthetic cycle by complexing with phosphate, so with high soluble aluminum the plant is starved for phosphate. Al-toxicity also stunts root growth thereby limiting the amount of soil the plant can exploit for nutrients. Stunted roots can also limit water uptake and can cause plants to wilt with only a few days without water. Some plants (e.g. cassava) have high tolerance to high levels of soluble aluminum. On the Babelthuap series, ferns that are highly tolerant to aluminum can make up nearly 100% of the plant community in places. High soluble Al and acidity may adversely affect soil health by inhibiting beneficial organisms. When liming soils with high soluble aluminum the rule of thumb is to add 1.5 tons of CaCO3 per acre for every milliequivalents of soluble aluminum. The pH only needs to be raised to about 5.5 to eliminate the harmful effects of high soluble aluminum.
Apparent field textures vary for tropical soils; therefore, field textures and their mid-point values of texture classes were used rather than laboratory analysis for particle size. Particle size distribution is difficult to determine in tropical soils because of the strong cohesion of aggregates and their tendency to suspend particles. The poor dispersion reflects the water-stable aggregates of clay in silt and sand-sized "particles." Therefore, the soils may have a lot of clay but physically they behave as coarser textures.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRA 193 Volcanic Islands of Western Micronesia, Republic of Palau. These soils of these series are of small extent; about 9000 acres in size. They are mapped on the islands of island of Babeldaob and to a lesser extent on Koror and Arakabesan.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/pacific_basin/...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
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A representative soil profile of a Rhodic Kandiudult (Photo courtesy of David Lindbo, Director of Soil and Plant Science Division, USDA-NRCS).
Rhodic Kandiudults are like Typic Kandiudults, but the upper part of their kandic horizon has hue of 2.5YR or redder, a color value, moist, of 3 or less, and a dry value no more than 1 unit higher than the moist value. Rhodic Kandiudults are of small extent in the United States. The natural vegetation consisted of forest plants. Slopes range from nearly level to moderately steep. Many of these soils are used as cropland. Some, particularly the most sloping ones, are used as forest. Some are used as pasture or homesites.
Note: Even though these soils are dark red throughout, and potentially a Rhodudult, they have a kandic horizon and Kandiudults key-out prior to Rhodudults.
For additional information about soil classification using Soil Taxonomy, visit:
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For more information about describing soils using the USDA-Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_052523...
Slaking v. Disaggregation
As footnoted in the Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils (FBDSS), disaggregation is or equals “slaking”. However, at one time a distinction was made between materials that disaggregated as opposed to those that slaked. The term "slakes" was limited to fragments that exhibited a violent rupture as the fragments break down (a popping off of the materials as opposed to simply sloughing away). This is a common characteristic of fragments taken from a fragipan and is used by many to identify fragic soil properties.
Currently, slaking is defined as the breakdown of soil aggregates into smaller microaggregates when the aggregates are immersed in water. The slake test provides a measure of soil stability when soil aggregates are exposed to rapid wetting. No distinction is now made as to how the material reacts as it disaggregates.
Only air-dry soil fragments or aggregates should be tested by the slaking procedure. Large intact samples are separated into fist size aggregates <75-mm in size. Care should be taken not to destroy naturally cemented aggregates (e.g., potential plinthite nodules) as the material is separated. Submersion is for a minimum of one hour, but overnight (about 8 hours) is preferred.
For a complete discussion, visit:
Soil Survey Field and Laboratory Methods Manual
Soil Survey Investigations Report No. 51, Version 2
Issued 2014
3.7 Soil Stability, Dispersion, and Slaking (pp.148-162)
3.7.5 Slaking (Disaggregation) for Identification and Semiquantification of Cemented Materials
John Kelley and Michael A. Wilson, United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil Survey Staff
Citation: Soil Survey Staff. 2014. Soil Survey Field and Laboratory Methods Manual. Soil Survey Investigations Report No. 51, Version 2.0. R. Burt and Soil Survey Staff (ed.). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Typical profile of a Kauder soil. The volcanic ash mantle extends to a depth of about 40 centimeters. (Soil Survey of Clearwater Area, Idaho; by Glenn Hoffman, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Kauder series consists of moderately deep to a fragipan, moderately well-drained soils that formed in loess and reworked loess with a thin mantle of volcanic ash. Kauder soils are on hills on plateaus, benches and broad ridges with slopes of 3 to 40 percent. They have moderately low or low saturated hydraulic conductivity. The average annual precipitation is about 35 inches and the average annual air temperature is about 42 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, active, frigid Andic Fragiudalfs
Soil moisture - usually moist year round, and not dry for 45 consecutive days between June and October (Udic moisture regime)
Average annual soil temperature - 39 to 45 degrees F. (Frigid temperature regime)
Depth to fragipan - 22 to 40 inches
Thickness of volcanic ash - 7 to 14 inches
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used primarily for timber production, livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, and watershed. Some areas have been cleared for cultivation. The natural vegetation is mainly western red-cedar, grand fir, Douglas-fir, Myrtle pachystima, common snowberry, queencup beadlily, and longtube twinflower.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North-Central, Idaho; Kauder soils are moderately extensive. MLRA 43A.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/idaho/clearwat...
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Plinthite nodules are checked for degree of cementation to determine plinthite versus ironstone. To test for cementation, the specimen is air dried and then submerged in water for at least 1 hour. Cemented materials will resist slaking. Cementation class placements do not pertain to the soil material at the field water state.
Plinthite nodules are less than strongly cemented. Most plinthite nodules are weakly or moderately cemented.
Weakly cemented nodules fail under strong force applied slowly between thumb and forefinger.
Moderately cemented nodules cannot be failed between thumb and forefinger but can be between both hands or by placing on a nonresilient surface and applying gentle force underfoot.
Note: Wording indicates plinthite maybe cemented, but cementation is not required. Whereas, if cementation was required, the wording would be "moderately cemented or less cemented".
Ironstone concretions are strongly or more cemented. Strongly cemented materials cannot be failed in hands but can be underfoot by full body weight.
Plinthite normally forms in a horizon below the surface, but it may form at the surface in a seepy area at the base of a slope. From a genetic viewpoint, plinthite forms by the segregation, transport, and concentration of iron. In many places iron may have been transported vertically or horizontally from other horizons or from higher adjacent soils. Plinthite may occur as a constituent of a number of horizons, such as an epipedon, a cambic horizon, an argillic horizon, a kandic horizon, an oxic horizon, or a C horizon. Generally, plinthite forms in a horizon that is (or has been) periodically saturated with water. Initially, the segregated iron forms more or less clayey, reddish, or brownish redox concentrations.
Individual plinthite nodules commonly have 3 to more than 10 percent citrate-dithionite extractable Fe.
For more information about describing and sampling soils, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/field...
or Chapter 3 of the Soil Survey manual:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/The-Soil-Su...
For additional information on "How to Use the Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils" (video reference), visit:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_hQaXV7MpM
For additional information about soil classification using USDA-NRCS Soil Taxonomy, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/keys-...
or;
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/soil-...
Soil profile: Profile of a Hoypus soil. These soils formed in sandy glacial outwash. They are very deep, are somewhat
excessively drained, and support forests that consist dominantly of Douglas-fir and Pacific madrone. (Soil Survey of San Juan County, Washington; by By Michael Regan, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: Typical area of Whidbey-Hoypus complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes, under pasture in foreground, on Lopez Island. Timber production and homesites are the principal uses. Small areas are used for pasture. Potential natural vegetation consists of Douglas-fir and Pacific madrone. Understory species include Oregon grape, oceanspray, bald hip rose, brackenfern, honeysuckle, blackcap, and strawberry.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwestern Washington. Series is moderately extensive.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/washington/WA0...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/H/HOYPUS.html
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Camp Casey is a U.S. military base in Dongducheon (also spelled Tongduchon), South Korea, 40 miles (64 km) north of Seoul, South Korea. Camp Casey was named in 1952 after Major Hugh Boyd Casey, who was killed in a plane crash near the camp site during the Korean War. Camp Casey is one of several U.S. Army bases in South Korea near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Camp Casey, Camp Hovey, and neighboring Camp Castle and Camp Mobile hold the main armor, engineer, and mechanized infantry elements of the 2nd Infantry Division (United States) in South Korea. Camp Casey spans 3,500 acres (14 km2) and is occupied by 6,300 military personnel and 2,500 civilians.
Human-altered soil materials have undergone some form of intentional human-induced alteration, including deep plowing to break up root-restrictive subsoil layers, excavation (such as for a gravel pit), and surface compaction in order to puddle water (such as for rice paddies). Although highly altered from their natural state, they have not been transported from another
location.
These human-constructed terraces in Nepal are used for growing rice and vegetables. They make up a large-scale anthropogenic landform with both human-altered and human-transported materials. (Photo courtesy of Dr. John Galbraith)
Illustrated Guide to Soil Taxonomy (p. 3-77)
A representative soil profile of the Toags series. (Soil Survey of Pinnacles National Monument, California; by Ken Oster, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Toags series consists of very deep, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in alluvium derived from igneous rocks. The Toags soils are on stream terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 5 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 17 inches (432 millimeters) and the mean annual air temperature is about 61 degrees F (16 degrees C).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, thermic Typic Xeropsamments
Depth to bedrock: over 61 inches (155 centimeters).
Mean annual soil temperature: 60 to 63 degrees F (16 to 17 degrees C).
Soil moisture control section: dry in all parts from about May 15 to November 15 (180 days), and moist in all parts from about January 15 to April 15 (90 days).
Soil reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline throughout the profile.
Particle size control section: Clay: ranges 4 to 10 percent; Coarse fragments: ranges 5 to 35 percent mostly gravel.
Base saturation by ammonium acetate: 91 to 97%
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for watershed, wildlife habitat and recreation. Vegetation is buckwheat and annual grasses and forbs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: San Benito County, California in MLRA 14 Central California Coastal Valleys. These soils are of small extent.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/california/CA7...
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Depth Class: Moderately deep
Drainage Class (Agricultural): Well drained
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity Class: Moderately high
Landscape: Mountains and hills
Parent Material: Residuum weathered mainly from red inter-bedded siltstone and shale
Slope: 3 to 80 percent
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Ultic Hapludalfs
USE AND VEGETATION:
Major Uses: Mostly forested; some areas have been cleared and are used for pasture.
Dominant Vegetation: Northern hardwoods consisting of American beech, black birch, yellow birch, sugar maple, black cherry, white ash, northern red oak, and black locust.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
Distribution: West Virginia and possibly Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Extent: Large extent with estimated acreage exceeding 350,000 acres. Cateache soils were previously mapped as members of the Teas series (inactive) or as a high base substratum phase of the Calvin series.
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/C/CATEACHE.html
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Soil profile: A Typic Cryaquept in the Juneau area of Alaska.
Landscape: A hillside wetland on 30 percent slopes in high mountains.
Typic Cryaquepts are the cold Aquepts. They are of moderate extent in the high mountains and subarctic regions of North America and Eurasia. They typically have an ochric or histic epipedon over a cambic horizon. Most have grayish subsoils, and some are stratified. The major areas of the Cryaquepts in the United States are on the outwash plains and flood plains of Alaska. Cryaquepts formed mostly in late-Pleistocene or recent sediments south of the continuous permafrost zone. Most support mixed forest, shrub, or grassy vegetation. Many are nearly level, but some in areas of high precipitation have strong slopes. Because Cryaquepts are both cold and wet, they have low potential for cropping.
Aquepts are the wet Inceptisols. The natural drainage is poor or very poor and, if the soils have not been artificially drained, ground water is at or near the soil surface at some time during normal years but typically not at all seasons. These soils generally have a gray to black surface horizon and a gray subsurface horizon with redox concentrations that begins at a depth of less than 50 cm. A few of the soils have a brownish surface horizon that is less than 50 cm thick. Most Aquepts formed in late-Pleistocene or younger deposits in depressions, on nearly level plains, or on flood plains. They occur from the Equator to latitudes with discontinuous permafrost. The common features of most of these soils are the grayish and reddish colors of redoximorphic features at a depth of 50 cm or less and, unless the soils have been artificially drained, shallow ground water. Aquepts may have almost any particle-size class except fragmental, any reaction class, any temperature regime, and almost any vegetation. Most of the soils have a cambic horizon, and some have a fragipan. It is possible that some have a plaggen epipedon.
For additional information about soil classification, visit:
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Plate 10: Typical soil profile and associated landscape for the Al Niddah series (soil AD210).
Taxonomic classification: Typic Calcigypsids, sandy, mixed, hyperthermic
The Al Niddah series is a moderately deep to deep sandy soil overlying bedrock (typically calcareous sandstone). The soils are typically moderately well to excessively drained. They occur on flats and gentle slopes within level to gently undulating deflation plains. They are formed from eolian sands and occur in older landscapes.
These soils are used for rangeland grazing of camels though vegetation cover is frequently less than 5%. The most common vegetation species recorded is Haloxylon salicornicum together with occasional Zygophyllum spp.
This soil predominantly occurs in the Ghayathi sub-area. A few sites have been described from the Al Ain sub-area.
The main feature of this soil is the moderately deep to deep, sandy profile that contains both accumulations of gypsum and carbonates. The soil material may show evidence of slightly elevated salt levels. The limited soil depth over a hardpan is the main limitation to the irrigated use of this soil. The sandy nature of the soil, giving rise to low nutrient storage and moisture holding capacities is also an issue. The presence of gypsum and the slightly elevated EC readings, where they occur, also suggest that salinity might be a problem. Under irrigation the leaching of gypsum may give rise to subsidence. This soil is unsuitable for irrigated agriculture.
For more information about describing soils, visit:
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For additional information about soil classification using Soil Taxonomy, visit:
The Cowarts series consists of very deep, moderately well and well drained soils on ridge tops and side slopes on uplands of the Coastal Plain (MLRA 133A) Major Land Resource Area. They formed in loamy marine sediments. They are Slopes range from 1 to 60 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults
Solum thickness ranges from 20 to 40 inches. Reaction is very strongly acid or strongly acid throughout except where lime has been added. Percent by volume of iron concretions and/or quartz gravel, 2 mm to 7 cm in diameter, ranges from 0 to 30 percent in the A and E horizons; from 0 to 10 percent in the B horizon; and from 0 to 15 percent in the C horizon. Percent by volume of nodular plinthite ranges from 0 to 4 percent, by volume. Silt content is less than 20 percent.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of Cowarts soils are used for woodland. Many areas have been cleared and are used for the production of cotton, corn, peanuts, vegetable crops and pasture. Common trees include longleaf pine, loblolly pine, shortleaf pine, slash pine, southern red oak, sweetgum, hickory and flowering dogwood.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Coastal Plain of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
For a detailed description, visit:
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A representative soil profile of Norwood loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, rarely flooded. This fertile soil is located along the flood plains of the Colorado River. (Soil Survey of Colorado County, Texas; by Samuel E. Brown, Jr., Natural Resources Conservation Service}
The Norwood series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils on flood plains. They have developed from reddish calcareous, loamy alluvial sediments. Slopes are mainly 0 to 1 percent, but range up to 8 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, hyperthermic Fluventic Eutrudepts
Solum thickness is variable, but typically ranges from 152 to more than 203 cm (60 to more than 80 in). Bedding planes and/or buried profiles occur in the majority of pedons. Bedding planes, where present, occur between 38 to 102 cm (15 and 40 in). Buried horizons, where present, are between a depth of 76 to 152 cm (30 and 60 in).
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for cropland. Crops are cotton, soybeans, alfalfa, sorghum, and oats. Some areas are in improved bermudagrass pasture. Native vegetation includes pecan, cottonwood, elm, oak, and hackberry trees and mid and tall grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mainly along the lower Brazos and Colorado River systems and their tributaries. The series is extensive.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/texas/TX089/0/...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/N/NORWOOD.html
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Redox depletions are bodies of low chroma (2 or less) having value of 4 or more where Fe-Mn oxides have been stripped or where both Fe-Mn oxides and clay have been stripped. Redox depletions contrast distinctly or prominently with the matrix. See Vepraskas (1994) for a complete discussion.
The examples provided are from both hydric and non-hydric soils that have undergone oxidation and reduction producing both redox concentrations and redox depletions.
______________________________
1. "common, very coarse, distinct, greenish gray (10GY 6/1), moist, spherical, iron depletions, in the matrix, clear boundary"
This sample is from an Ag horizon of an Icknuun soil. The Icknuun soil series (type location, Anchorage area, AK) consists of very deep, very poorly drained soils that formed in organic material interlayered with thin strata of mineral material.
2. "many, very coarse, prominent, light gray (2.5Y 7/1), moist, irregular iron depletions, in the matrix and common medium, light gray (2.5Y 7/1), moist, cylindrical, iron depletions, lining pores, clear boundary"
This sample is from a Btg horizon of a Roanoke soil. The Roanoke soil series (type location, Halifax County, VA) consists of very deep, poorly drained soils that formed in clayey fluvial sediments.
3. "many, very coarse, prominent, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2), moist, lenticular iron depletions, in the matrix, lining pores, and on surfaces along root channels, diffuse boundary"
This sample is from a Btx horizon of a Cataula soil. The Cataula soil series (type location, Greenville County, SC) consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils formed in material weathered from metamorphic and igneous rocks of the Piedmont. They contain a layer that is dense and partially brittle. Permeability is slow.
4. "common, very coarse, prominent, white (N 8/ ), moist, spherical iron depletions, in the matrix, diffuse boundary"
This sample is from an E horizon of a Riviera soil. The Riviera soil series (type location, Palm Beach County, FL) consists of very deep, poorly drained, very slowly permeable soils on broad, low flats, flatwoods and in depressions in the Southern Flatwoods and the Southern Florida Lowlands. They formed in stratified sandy and loamy marine sediments.
5. "45 percent, very coarse, prominent, light gray (2.5Y 7/1), moist, irregular iron depletions, in the matrix, diffuse boundary and common, medium, prominent, light gray (2.5Y 7/1), moist, cylindrical iron depletions, lining pores, clear boundary"
This sample is from a Bg horizon of a Chewacla soil. The Chewacla soil series (type location, Halifax County, NC) consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in loamy alluvial sediments on flood plains in Piedmont and Coastal Plain river valleys.
6. "common, medium, distinct, light gray (2.5Y 7/1), moist, cylindrical iron depletions, lining pores, clear boundary"
This sample is from a Btg horizon of a Rains soil. The Rains soil series (type location, Florence County, SC;) consists of very deep, poorly drained soils that formed in loamy marine or fluviomarine deposits in flats, depressions, or Carolina bays of the Lower, Middle, or Upper Coastal Plain in the southeastern U.S.
7. "common, medium and coarse, distinct, gray (10YR 5/1), moist, cylindrical, iron depletions, in the matrix surrounding redox concentrations, clear boundary and common, coarse, distinct, gray (10YR 5/1), moist, spherical, iron depletions, throughout the matrix, diffuse boundary"
This sample is from an Eg horizon of a Surrency soil. The Surrency soil series (type location, Appling County, GA) consists of very deep, very poorly drained soils that formed in loamy and sandy marine or fluvial deposits in flats, depressions, or swamps of the Lower Coastal Plain in the southeastern U.S.
8. "common, medium, distinct, light gray (2.5Y 7/1), moist, cylindrical iron depletions, lining pores, sharp boundary"
This sample is from a BCg horizon of a Myatt soil. The Myatt soil series (type location, Fayette County, AL) consists of very deep, poorly drained soils that formed in loamy marine or fluvial sediments in the Upper Coastal Plain of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia
9. "many, very coarse, prominent, light gray (2.5Y 7/1) and gray (2.5YR 6/1), moist, irregular iron depletions, infused in the matrix along faces of peds, clear boundary"
This sample is from a Bt horizon of an Altavista soil. The Altavista soil series (type location, Wake County, NC) consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils that formed in loamy sediments on fluvial terraces in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and Virginia.
10. "many, very coarse, distinct, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2), moist, cylindrical, iron depletions, lining pores and infused in the matrix, clear boundary"
This sample is from a Bs horizon of a Typic Cryaquod. These very deep, poorly drained soils formed in colluvium. They are along north-facing concave depressions of lower hills. (Douglas Island, southeastern, AK.)
11. "common, very coarse, prominent, white (N 8/ ), moist, spherical iron depletions, in the matrix, diffuse boundary"
This sample is from an E horizon of a Pomona soil. The Pomona soil series (type location, Marion County, FL) consists of very deep, poorly and very poorly drained, moderately slowly permeable soils on flats and flatwoods on marine terraces. They formed in stratified sandy and loamy marine sediments of Peninsular Florida.
12 "common, coarse, distinct, light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2), moist, dendritic iron depletions, lining pores, and on surfaces along root channels, diffuse boundary and many, coarse or very coarse, distinct, light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2), moist, spherical, iron depletions, in the matrix, diffuse boundary"
This sample is from a Cg horizon of a Piledriver soil. The Piledriver soil series (type location, Fairbanks Area, AK) consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in stratified silty and sandy alluvium overlying sand and gravel.
This photo accompanies Figure 19.—Indicator A14 (Alaska Redox). [Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States].
A typical landscape of the Piledriver soil series (Aquic Cryofluvents). The Piledriver series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained, moderately permeable soils on floodplains. They formed in stratified silty and sandy alluvium overlying sand and gravel. The climate is subarctic continental with long, cold winters and short, warm summers. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent.
Runoff is slow. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high to high in the upper part and high to very high in underlying material. These soils are subject to rare or occasional flooding. A water table is present at a depth of 3 to 6 feet for some period in most summers, allowing capillary rise of water into the soil profile. They have low chroma redoximorphic depletions from 3 to 33 inches and irregular decrease in organic carbon with depth.
The series is of minor extent in the Interior Alaska Lowlands. Most areas are in native forest consisting of white spruce, cottonwood and quaking aspen with alder shrubs.
A profile of Calvin channery silt loam. Siltstone bedrock is at a depth of 70 centimeters. (Soil survey of Bland County, Virginia; by Robert K. Conner, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Calvin series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils formed in residuum of red non-calcareous shale, siltstone, and sandstone on summits, hillslopes and side slopes of ridges. Permeability is moderately rapid. Slope ranges from 0 to 80 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 41 inches, and the mean annual air temperature is about 52 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, active, mesic Typic Dystrudepts
The depth to bedrock ranges from 20 to 40 inches. Thickness of the solum ranges from 12 to 35 inches. Illite is the dominant clay mineral with moderate amounts of vermiculite and chlorite. Percent coarse fragments range from 5 to 25 percent in the A and BA horizons, 25 to 55 percent in the Bw and BC horizons, and 40 to 80 percent in the C horizon, with the particle size control section averaging more than 35 percent. Fragments are generally channers or cobbles of reddish siltstone, fine-grained sandstone or shale. Reaction ranges from moderately acid to very strongly acid.
USE AND VEGETATION: Soils on favorable topography are used to cropland, pasture, or are idle. Stony and steep slopes are largely in woodland of mixed hardwoods, mainly oaks, with some maple and Virginia pine.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRA 125, 126, 127, 128, 147 and 148. In Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia. The soils are of large extent.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/virginia/VA021...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/C/CALVIN.html
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Soil profile: A representative soil profile of the Longsfolly soil series. (Soil Survey of Pinnacles National Monument, California; by Ken Oster, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: Typical area of a Longsfolly soil. Vegetation is mixed chaparral.
The Longsfolly series consists of deep to soft fanglomerate, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in colluvium over residuum weathered from fanglomerate on hills. Slopes range from 15 to 50 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 17 inches (432 millimeters) and the mean annual air temperature is about 61 degrees F (16 degrees C).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, mixed, thermic Entic Haploxerolls
Depth to paralithic contact: 40 to 60 inches (100 to 150 centimeters).
Mean annual soil temperature: 60 to 63 degrees F (16 to 17 degrees C).
Soil moisture control section: dry in all parts from about June 15 to November 15 (150 days), and moist in all parts from about January 15 to May 1 (105 days).
Particle size control section: clay content: 2 to 5 percent clay, Coarse fragments: 15 to 35 percent gravel .
Soil Reaction: moderately acid to slightly alkaline
Base Saturation by ammonium acetate: 83 to 90%
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for watershed, wildlife habitat and recreation. Vegetation is mixed chaparral.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: San Benito and Monterey Counties, California in MLRA 15 -- Central California Coast Range. These soils are of small extent. Source of name: rock formation in Pinnacles National Monument. This series was established based on limited acreage observed within the National Park Service Pinnacles National Monument boundary.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/california/CA7...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/L/LONGSFOLLY.html
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A representative soil profile of the Appomattox series. When photographing soils, a soil scientist will commonly use a knife to pick the profile face to show natural soil structure (left side of profile). Or, they may use a knife or shovel to smooth the surface (right side of the profile) which helps show change in color or horizonation.
Depth Class: Very deep
Drainage Class (Agricultural): Well drained
Depth to top of Seasonal High Water Table: 36 to 40 inches, December to March
Depth to base of Seasonal High Water Table: 42 to 60 inches or more, December to March
Internal Free Water Occurrence: Moderately deep, common, thin or thick
Flooding Frequency and Duration: None
Ponding Frequency and Duration: None
Index Surface Runoff: Medium to very high
Permeability: Moderately slow
Shrink-Swell Potential: Moderate
Landscape: Piedmont upland
Landform: Low hill, fan
Geomorphic Component: Interfluve, head slope, side slope, and nose slope
Hillslope Profile Position: Summit, shoulder, backslope, footslope
Parent Material: Capping from mixed crystalline rock colluvium and old alluvium over residuum
Slope: 0 to 45 percent
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, semiactive, mesic Oxyaquic Hapludults
USE AND VEGETATION: Where cultivated--corn, small grain, hay, apple and peach orchards, berries, and vegetables. Where wooded--upland oaks, dogwood, hickory, yellow poplar, and Virginia pine.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Virginia, North Carolina, and other southern states adjacent to the Blue Ridge Mountains with small extent, about 12,000 acres.
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/A/APPOMATTOX.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Mollisols are a soil order in USDA soil taxonomy. Mollisols form in semi-arid to semi-humid areas, typically under a grassland cover. They are most commonly found in the mid-latitudes, namely in North America, mostly east of the Rocky Mountains, in South America in Argentina (Pampas) and Brazil, and in Asia in Mongolia and the Russian Steppes. Their parent material is typically base-rich and calcareous and include limestone, loess, or wind-blown sand. The main processes that lead to the formation of grassland Mollisols are melanisation, decomposition, humification and pedoturbation.
Mollisols have deep, high organic matter, nutrient-enriched surface soil (A horizon), typically between 60–80 cm in depth. This fertile surface horizon, known as a mollic epipedon, is the defining diagnostic feature of Mollisols. Mollic epipedons result from the long-term addition of organic materials derived from plant roots, and typically have soft, granular, soil structure.
Mollisols occur in savannahs and mountain valleys (such as Central Asia, or the North American Great Plains). These environments have historically been strongly influenced by fire and abundant pedoturbation from organisms such as ants and earth worms. It was estimated that in 2003, only 14 to 26 percent of grassland ecosystems still remained in a relatively natural state (that is, they were not used for agriculture due to the fertility of the A horizon). Globally, they represent about 7% of ice-free land area. As the world's most agriculturally productive soil order, the Mollisols represent one of the more economically important soil orders.
For more information about describing and sampling soils, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/field...
or Chapter 3 of the Soil Survey manual:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/The-Soil-Su...
For additional information on "How to Use the Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils" (video reference), visit:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_hQaXV7MpM
For additional information about soil classification using USDA-NRCS Soil Taxonomy, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/keys-...
or;
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/soil-...
For more photos related to soils and landscapes visit:
Profile of LaCerda clay loam, 0 to 5 percent slopes. The LaCerda soils have clayey subsoils that developed over weakly bedded dense shale. (Soil Survey of San Augustine and Sabine Counties, Texas; by Kirby Griffith, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The LaCerda series consists of residual soils that are deep to weathered shale. They are moderately well drained and very slowly permeable. These soils are nearly level to moderately steep. The slope is dominantly less than 5 percent and ranges from 0 to 20 percent.
.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Very-fine, smectitic, thermic Chromic Dystruderts
The solum thickness ranges from 40 to 60 inches. The weighted average clay content of the particle-size control section ranges from 60 to 72 percent. When dry, cracks 1/2 to more than 1 inch wide extend from the surface to a depth of more than 12 inches. Cracks are open from 60 to 90 cumulative days in most years. Slickensides and wedge shaped peds begin at a depth of 10 to 24 inches. Undisturbed areas have gilgai relief with microknolls about 4 to 12 inches above the microdepressions. Distance from the center of the microknoll to the center of the microdepression ranges from 4 to about 15 feet. Mottles are considered to be litho-chromic or relic.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for woodland of loblolly and shortleaf pine, red oak, and sweetgum. A few areas are used for improved bermudagrass or penscola bahiagrass pastures.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: East and Southeast Texas in MLRA 133B. The series is of large extent. These soils were formerly included with the Susquehanna and Vaiden soils. The classification is changed from Aquentic Chromuderts to Chromic Dystruderts in January 1994.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/texas/sanaugus...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/L/LACERDA.html
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A representative soil profile of a Typic Haploxererts in Bulgaria. (Photo from the 4th International Meeting on Red Mediterranean Soils, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. 1997)
The central concept of Vertisols is that of clayey soils that have deep, wide cracks for some time during the year and have slickensides within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface. They shrink when dry and swell when moistened. Vertisols make up a relatively homogeneous order because of the amounts and kinds of clay common to them; however, their microvariability within a pedon is great. Before the advent of modern classification systems, these soils were already well known for their characteristic color, the cracks they produce during the dry season, and the difficulty of their engineering properties.
Xererts are the Vertisols of Mediterranean climates, which are typified by cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. These soils have cracks that regularly close and open each year. Because the soils dry every summer and remoisten in the winter, damage to structures and roads is very significant. If not irrigated, these soils are used for small grain or grazing. In the United States, most of the soils supported grasses before they were cultivated.
Haploxererts are the Xererts that do not have a calcic or petrocalcic horizon or a duripan. These are the most common of the Xererts. They formed in a variety of parent materials, including volcanic and sedimentary rocks, lacustrine deposits, and alluvium. In many areas these soils are used for grazing by livestock. In some areas they are used for citrus, small grain, truck crops, or rice.
Typic Haploxererts are centered on deep or very deep, clayey soils with dark colored surface layers. These soils do not have significant amounts of sodium or salts, a soil moisture regime that borders on aridic or udic, or aquic conditions within 100 cm of the soil surface for extended periods. They occur in Oregon, Idaho, and California and are used for rangeland, pasture, or dryland or irrigated crops.
For additional information about soil classification, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/survey/class...
Soil profile: Andic Dystrocryepts are the Dystrocryepts that have, throughout one or more horizons with a total thickness of 18 cm or more within 75 cm of the mineral soil surface, a fine-earth fraction with both a bulk density of 1.0 g/cm3 or less, measured at 33 kPa water retention, and Al plus 1/2 Fe percentages (by ammonium oxalate) totaling more than 1.0. Dystrocryepts are the Cryepts that do not have free carbonates and have a base saturation (by NH4OAc) of less than 60 percent in all horizons at a depth between 25 and 75 cm from the mineral soil surface.
Landscape: The vegetation is mostly conifers or mixed conifers and hardwoods. Few of the soils are cultivated. Dystrocryepts may have formed in loess, drift, or alluvium or in solifluction deposits, mostly late Pleistocene or Holocene in age. The soils commonly have a thin, dark brownish ochric epipedon and a brownish cambic horizon. Some have an umbric epipedon, and some have bedrock within 100 cm of the surface. In the United States, Dystrocryepts are moderately extensive in the high mountains of the West and in southern Alaska. They also occur in other mountainous areas of the world.
For additional information about Idaho soils, please visit:
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Soil profile: A representative soil profile of the Goldsboro series. Goldsboro soils are moderately well drained with a seasonal high water table within a depth of 45 to 75 centimeters commonly during December through April. (Soil Survey of Webster County, Georgia; by Scott Moore, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: Goldsboro soils are moderately suited to corn, soybeans, peanuts, and wheat and well suited to cotton lint and tobacco. Management concerns--the seasonal high water table restricts equipment operation, decreases the viability
of crops, and interferes with the planting and harvesting of crops.
Depth Class: Very deep
Drainage Class (Agricultural): Moderately well drained
Flooding Frequency and Duration: None
Ponding Frequency and Duration: None
Internal Free Water Occurrence: Moderately deep, transitory
Index Surface Runoff: Negligible to medium
Permeability: Moderate
Landscape: Lower to upper coastal plain
Landform: Marine terraces, uplands
Hillslope Profile Position: Summit, shoulder
Geomorphic Component: Interfluve, talf
Parent Material: Marine deposits, fluviomarine deposits
Slope: 0 to 10 percent
Elevation (type location): Unknown
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Aquic Paleudults
Depth to top of the Argillic horizon: 5 to 19 inches
Depth to the base of the Argillic horizon: 60 to more than 80 inches
Depth to Bedrock: Greater than 80 inches
Depth to Seasonal High Water Table: 18 to 30 inches, December to April
Rock Fragment Content: 0 to 50 percent, by volume throughout, mostly quartz pebbles
Soil Reaction: Extremely acid to strongly acid, except where limed
Other soil features: Silt content in the particle-size control section is less than 30 percent.
USE AND VEGETATION:
Major Uses: Cropland
Dominant Vegetation: Where cultivated--corn, peanuts, tobacco, soybeans, small grain, cotton, and pasture. Where wooded--loblolly pine, longleaf pine, slash pine, sweetgum, southern red oak, white oak, water oak, and red maple, yellow poplar. Understory plants include American holly, blueberry, flowering dogwood, greenbrier, persimmon, redbay, southern bayberry (waxmyrtle), inkberry (bitter gallberry), honeysuckle, poison ivy, and summersweet clethra.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
Distribution: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia
Extent: Large
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/georgia/webste...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/G/GOLDSBORO.html
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A representative soil profile of the Bengal series. (Soil Survey of Pike County, Arkansas; by Jeffrey W. Olson, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Bengal series consists of moderately deep, well drained, slowly permeable soils. The upper part of the soil formed in colluvium and the underlying part formed in residuum weathered from shale of Pennsylvanian age. These nearly level to very steep soils are on uplands of the Ouachita Mountains (MLRA 119). Slopes range from 1 to 60 percent. Mean annual temperature is 63 degrees F., and mean annual precipitation is 46 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, semiactive, thermic Typic Hapludults
Solum thickness ranges from 20 to 40 inches and depth to weathered shale bedrock (Cr) ranges from 20 to 40 inches. Combined thickness of the A horizon is 5 to 12 inches.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for woodland. Some of the less sloping and less stony areas are used for tame pasture. The vegetation is principally post oak and blackjack oak with minor amounts of shortleaf pine. Bermudagrass and bahiagrass are the principal pasture grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas. The series is of moderate extent. These soils were formerly included in the Carnasaw series.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/arkansas/pikeA...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/B/BENGAL.html
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Soil motting--redoximorphic features in an Augusta soil:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/A/AUGUSTA.html
Mottling (mottles, mottled) refers to secondary soil colors not associated with compositional properties. Redoximorphic features are a type of mottle associated with wetness. Redoximorphic features (RMFs) consist of color patterns in a soil that are caused by loss (depletion) or gain (concentration) of pigment compared to the matrix color, formed by oxidation/reduction of iron and/or manganese coupled with their removal, translocation, or accrual; or a soil matrix color controlled by the presence of iron. The composition and responsible formation processes for a soil color or color pattern must be known or inferred before it can be described as an RMF.
Refer to Soil Color, Field Guide for Describing and Sampling Soils, page 2-8.
For more information about describing and sampling soils, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/field...
or Chapter 3 of the Soil Survey manual:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/The-Soil-Su...
For additional information on "How to Use the Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils" (video reference), visit:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_hQaXV7MpM
Terms such as mixed, intermingled, mottled, or multicolored to describe color are discouraged.
Example: If the color pattern is the result of redoximorphic processes, and a dominant color does not exist—
Bt=20 to 60 centimeters; 35 percent dark gray (5Y 4/1), 35 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/4), and 30 percent brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay loam; ...areas with dark gray color are iron depletions and areas with brown color are masses of oxidized iron; ...
Example: If the color pattern is the result of redoximorphic processes, and a dominant gray color does exist—
Btg--60 to 110 centimeters; gray (10YR 5/1) sandy clay; weak medium subangular blocky structure; firm, sticky, plastic; few faint clay films on faces of peds; common medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) and red (2.5YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
In South Korea are areas adjacent to the DMZ referred to as the Civilian Control Zone (CCZ) where public access is restricted. Most of these areas are heavily farmed.
South Korean farmers see these areaa adjecent to the DMZ as valuable soil, frequently planting crops despite warnings to stay away, a typical example of how South Korea's population has encroached on once-rural training areas.
In 1996 and 1998, unexploded ordnance killed two Korean civilians who had entered the Story range to look for scrap metal. Unexploded munitions and live-fire exercises make the area very dangerous. Unexploded ordnance in that area presents a very real and significant danger to anyone walking in the area. This danger is greatly amplified if someone is planting or harvesting crops... or sampling soils!
The South Korean Army supervises farming. Farmers must have a pass to cross any of the three bridges, guarded by South Korean soldiers, leading to the CCZ. Normally, range control officials and Army explosive ordnance disposal teams would clear munitions from the area annually. But many of these areas are swampy, and teams can only look for duds on the surface.
Additionally, the entire area just south of the DMZ is rife with mines. Many are newer mines laid by the South Korean Army as part of the DMZ defense. But there are unmarked mine fields, and monsoon rains shift mines around. Korean contractors and 8th Army personnel have uncovered about 30 mines while putting in fence posts.
A representative soil profile of a Melanudand in Japan. The soil formed in successive layers of volcanic ash and debris. It has a thick, dark, humus-rich melanic epipedon about 55 cm thick. A cambic horizon extends from depths of 55 to 90 cm. An older surface layer, now covered by more recent deposits, can be seen between depths of 90 and 120 cm. The right side of the profile has been smoothed; the left side retains the natural soil structure. (Soil Survey Staff. 2015. Illustrated guide to Soil Taxonomy. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, Nebraska)
Melanudands have a melanic (dark and humus-rich with andic properties) epipedon and a cambic (minimal soil development) subsoil horizon. The Melanudands in the United States generally developed in late Pleistocene deposits. Most formed under forest or savanna vegetation.
For additional information about soil classification, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/cla...
A representative soil profile of the Iphill soil series.
The Iphil series consists of deep and very deep, well drained soils formed in loess and silty alluvium derived from loess. Iphil soils formed on hills on terraces and fan remnants and have slopes of 1 to 30 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 360 mm and the mean annual air temperature is 6.6 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-silty, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Calcixerolls
Mollic epipedon thickness: 18 to 40 cm Particle size control section total clay: 10 to 24 percent (weighted average of non-carbonate clay is less than 18 percent)
Control section carbonate clay: 2 to 14 percent
Control section non-carbonate clay: 10 to 18 percent
Control section sands coarser than very fine: 2 to 10 percent
Control section rock fragments: 0 to 3 percent Depth to calcic horizon: 18 to 40 cm
Depth to bedrock: 100 cm to greater than 152 cm
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 35 percent average in the calcic horizon
Mean annual soil temperature: 5.0 to 8.0 degrees C.
Mean summer soil temperature: 15.0 to 18.9 degrees C. (frigid soil temperature regime)
USE AND VEGETATION:
Major uses: irrigated areas are used primarily for small grains, potatoes, hay and pasture; non-irrigated areas are used for pasture and range.
Dominant native vegetation: mountain big sagebrush, bluebunch wheatgrass, antelope bitterbrush, western wheatgrass, and eriogonum
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
Distribution: Southeastern Idaho and Western Wyoming, MLRA 13
Extent: the series is not extensive
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Oneida County, Idaho, 1994; Oneida County Area Soil Survey.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/wyoming/TetonI...
For additional information about Idaho soils, please visit:
storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/97d01af9d4554b9097cb0a477e04...
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/I/IPHIL.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Descriptions and distribution maps of The 12 Soil Orders of Soil Taxonomy.
Distribution map of the twelve soil orders.
Soil scientists classify soils into groups much as biologists group plants and animals. Individual soils are grouped into series, series into families, and so on until the largest grouping is reached—that of orders.
How many orders does the soil have?
The United States Department of Agriculture recognizes 12 soil orders.
12 Soil Orders
All of the soils in the world can be assigned to one of just 12 soil orders: Gelisols, Histosols, Andisols, Oxisols, Vertisols, Alfisols, Aridisols, Inceptisols, Entisols, Mollisols, Spodosols, Ultisols.
What is the importance of knowing the 12 soil orders?
Soil Taxonomy is a soil classification system developed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s soil survey staff. This system is based on measurable and observable soil properties and was designed to facilitate detailed soil survey.
Soil orders and their characteristics
Gelisols
Soils of very cold climates that contain permafrost within 2 meters of the surface. These soils are limited geographically to the high-latitude polar regions and localized areas at high mountain elevations. Because of the extreme environment in which they are found, Gelisols support only ~0.4% of the world’s population – the lowest percentage of any of the soil orders.
Histosols
Soils that are composed mainly of organic materials. They contain at least 20-30% organic matter by weight and are more than 40 cm thick. Bulk densities are quite low, often less than 0.3 g cm3.
Andisols
Soils that have formed in volcanic ash or other volcanic ejecta. They differ from those of other orders in that they typically are dominated by glass and short-range-order colloidal weathering products such as allophane, imogolite, and ferrihydrite.
Oxisols
Very highly weathered soils that are found primarily in the intertropical regions of the world. These soils contain few weatherable minerals and are often rich in Fe and Al oxide minerals. Oxisols occupy ~7.5% of the global ice-free land area. In the US, they only occupy ~0.02% of the land area and are restricted to Hawaii.
Vertisols
Clay-rich soils that shrink and swell with changes in moisture content. During dry periods, the soil volume shrinks, and deep wide cracks form. The soil volume then expands as it wets up. This shrink/swell action creates serious engineering problems and generally prevents formation of distinct, well-developed horizons in these soils.
Alfisols
These gray to brown soils over clay subsoil are among the most fertile and productive soils in the country. They may require the addition of lime. Fertilizers and irrigation during dry periods will increase yields.
Aridisols
Soils are dry for long periods with only short periods of wetness, which reduces leaching and may allow accumulation of soluble salts. Arid conditions reduce plant growth and therefore also organic content. When irrigated and fertilized, soils may be very productive.
Inceptisols
Usually wet during the growing season, these young soils are greatly variable. They often produce well when amended.
Entisols
Soils of recent origin. The central concept is soils developed in unconsolidated parent material with usually no genetic horizons except an A horizon. All soils that do not fit into one of the other 11 orders are Entisols. Thus, they are characterized by great diversity, both in environmental setting and land use.
Many Entisols are found in steep, rocky settings. However, Entisols of large river valleys and associated shore deposits provide cropland and habitat for millions of people worldwide.
Mollisols
These dark, fertile soils of grasslands and some hardwood forests are relatively high in humus and nitrogen. They are highly productive but may need lime to correct acidity.
Spodosols
With a high sand content, these soils are usually moist and moderately to strongly acidic. Add lime and fertilizers.
Ultisols
Soils of humid warm regions, Ultisols are often acidic and heavily weathered. When managed well, they can be very productive. Fertilizing and liming are needed.
Soil profile: A typical profile of Reddies sandy loam. Reddies soils are very deep and formed from material deposited by streams and consisting mainly of sand. They occur in mountain valleys of low and intermediate mountains, predominantly at the upper end of large flood plains throughout Buncombe County. (Soil Survey of Buncombe County, North Carolina; by Mark S. Hudson, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: Burley tobacco and corn in an area of Dellwood-Reddies complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes, occasionally flooded, Reddies soil produces high crop yields when properly managed. (Soil Survey of Yancey County, North Carolina; by Bruce P. Smith, Jr., Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Reddies series consists of moderately well drained, moderately rapidly permeable soils on flood plains in the Southern Blue Ridge mountains, MLRA 130B. They formed in recent alluvium that is loamy in the upper part and is moderately deep to sandy strata containing more than 35 percent by volume gravel and/or cobbles. Slope ranges from 0 to 3 percent. Near the type location, mean annual temperature is 56 degrees F. and mean annual precipitation is 49 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Oxyaquic Humudepts
Solum thickness ranges from 20 to 39 inches. The soil is underlain within depths of 20 to 40 inches, by horizons that contain more than 35 percent gravel and/or cobbles. The coarse-loamy material above the C horizon averages less than 50 percent fine and coarser sand. Rock fragments, dominantly gravel size are in the A and B horizons of some pedons, but comprise less than 35 percent by volume. Reaction ranges from very strongly acid to neutral. Content of mica flakes is few to many.
USE AND VEGETATION: Nearly all of the acreage is cleared and is used for hay, corn, pasture, truck crops, ornamentals, and urban uses. The rest is mainly in hardwood forest. Yellow-poplar, sycamore, red maple, and river birch are the dominant trees. Common understory plants are rhododendron, ironwood, flowering dogwood, red maple, tag alder, greenbrier, and switchcane. A few areas have been planted to eastern white pine.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern Blue Ridge mountains, MLRA 130B North Carolina and Tennessee and possibly Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia. This series is of moderate extent.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/north_carolina...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
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Sequum.—A horizon sequence consisting of a B horizon and an associated overlying eluvial horizon. Most soils have one sequum, but some have two or more. A soil with two sequa that formed in the same material is said to be “bisequal.” See bisequum.
Figure 100.—Soil profile and landscape of a Pomona soil (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Ultic Alaquods). The Pomona series consists of very deep, poorly and very poorly drained soils that formed in sandy and loamy marine sediments. These soils are bisequal with an eluvial albic horizon (E) underlain by a spodic horizon (Bh) which sits atop another eluvial horizon (E’) underlain by an argillic horizon (Btg). (Photos courtesy of L. Rex Ellis, Environmental Scientist V, Bureau of Water Resources, Division of Water and Land Resources, St. Johns River Water Management District, Palatka, Florida).
Soils of the Abell series are very deep and moderately well drained with moderate permeability. They formed in colluvium or alluvium over residuum. They are in upland depressions, on footslopes, and along intermittent drainageways. Slopes range from 0 to 7 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, semiactive, thermic Aquic Hapludults
Solum thickness ranges from 30 to more than 60 inches. Depth to 2B horizons range from 24 to 48 inches. Depth to hard bedrock is more than 60 inches. Rock fragments average 0 to 15 percent by volume of the solum, but individual horizons are allowed to have up to 35 percent. The soil ranges from very strongly acid through moderately acid unless limed.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of this soil are cleared and used for growing corn, wheat, soybeans, truck crops, and pasture. The natural vegetation was forest of oaks, pine, and gum.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: These soils are moderately extensive throughout the Piedmont in Virginia.
Wooded landform showing Kintner loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes, occasionally flooded, very brief duration, and indurated limestone bedrock (Soil Survey of Harrison County, Indiana by Steven W. Neyhouse, Sr., Byron G. Nagel, Gary R. Struben, and Steven Blanford, Natural Resources Conservation Service).
Setting
Landform: Flood plains
Map Unit Composition
95 percent Kintner and similar soils
5 percent frequently flooded Kintner and similar soils on flood plains
Interpretive Groups
Land capability classification: 2w
Prime farmland: All areas are prime farmland
Properties and Qualities of the Kintner Soil
Parent material: Loamy-skeletal alluvium over Mississippian limestone bedrock
Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Permeability range to a depth of 40 inches: Moderate to rapid
Permeability range below a depth of 40 inches: Slow to rapid
Depth to restrictive feature: 40 to 60 inches to lithic bedrock
Available water capacity: About 6.5 inches to a depth of 60 inches
Organic matter content of surface layer: 1.0 to 3.0 percent
Shrink-swell potential: Low
Highest apparent seasonal high water table (depth, months): 2.5 feet; January,
February, and March
Ponding: None
Most likely flooding (frequency, months): Occasional; January, February, March, April,
May, and June
Hydric soil: No
Potential frost action: Moderate
Corrosivity: Low for steel and low for concrete
Potential for surface runoff: Low
Water erosion susceptibility: Slight
Wind erosion susceptibility: Slight
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/indiana/IN061/...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
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Soil profile: A representative soil profile of the Waynesboro soil series. Waynesboro soils are very deep and well drained and have a clay subsoil. (Soil Survey of Overton County, Tennessee; by Carlie McCowan, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: An area of Waynesboro soils on karst topography. Areas of karst topography are underlain by limestone and commonly have sinkholes. Waynesville soil is commonly used for production of small grains, hay, pasture, tobacco, cotton, and truck crops.
The Waynesboro series consists of moderately permeable soils that formed in old alluvium or unconsolidated material of sandstone, shale, and limestone origin. Slopes range from 2 to 30 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Paleudults
Thickness of solum and depth to bedrock are more than 60 inches. The soil is strongly acid or very strongly acid except the surface layer where limed. Each horizon contains 0 to 15 percent chert or quartzite pebbles and sandstone cobbles, except the surface layer ranges to 25 percent.
USE AND VEGETATION: About three-fourths of the soil is cleared. Principal crops are small grains, hay, pasture, tobacco, cotton, and truck crops. Forests are of oaks, hickory, beech, elm, maple, yellow- poplar, and in places, loblolly, shortleaf, and Virginia pines.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Great Valley and Highland Rim in Tennessee, northern Alabama, northwest Georgia, Maryland and Kentucky. The series is of large extent.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/tennessee/TN13...
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(Classification by UAE Keys to Soil Taxonomy)
Gypsic Haplosalids, aquic are the Haplosalids that have a gypsic horizon that has its upper boundary within 100 cm of the soil surface and are saturated with water in one or more layers for 1 month or more in normal years at a depth of more than 100–200 cm from the soil surface.
Haplosalids are the arid soils that have a high concentration of salts but do not have the saturation that is associated with the wetter Aquisalids. Haplosalids may be saturated for shorter periods than Aquisalids or may have had a water table associated with a past climate.
Salids are most common in depressions (playas) in the deserts or in closed basins in the wetter areas bordering the deserts. In North Africa and in the Near East, such depressions are referred to as Sabkhas depending on the presence or absence of surface water for prolonged periods. Under the arid environment and hot temperatures, accumulation of salts commonly occurs when there is a supply of salts and a net upward movement of water in the soils. In some areas a salic horizon has formed in salty parent materials without the presence of ground water. The most common form of salt is sodium chloride (halite), but sulfates (thenardite, mirabilite, and hexahydrite) and other salts may also occur.
Salids are Aridisols that are unsuitable for agricultural use, unless the salts are leached out. Leaching the salts is an expensive undertaking, particularly if there is no natural outlet for the drainage water.
Aridisols, as their name implies, are soils in which water is not available to mesophytic plants for long periods. During most of the time when the soils are warm enough for plants to grow, soil water is held at potentials less than the permanent wilting point or has a content of soluble salts great enough to limit the growth of plants other than halophytes, or both. The concept of Aridisols is based on limited soil moisture available for the growth of most plants. In areas bordering deserts, the absolute precipitation may be sufficient for the growth of some plants. Because of runoff or a very low storage capacity of the soils, or both, however, the actual soil moisture regime is aridic.
A Humic Pachic Dystrudepts soil and landscape in Idaho. These soils have an umbric or mollic epipedon 50 cm or more thick. They are otherwise like the soils of the Typic subgroup. Humic Pachic Dystrudepts are of small extent in the United States. They are widely distributed but are concentrated in the mountains of the Eastern and Northwestern States. The native vegetation consists mostly of mixed forest. Most of these soils are used as forest. Many of the less sloping soils have been cleared and are used as cropland or pasture.
The umbric horizon (Latin: umbra, shade) is a thick, dark colored, surface horizon rich in organic matter. It is identified by its dark color and structure. Normally it has a pH of less than 5.5. It is similar to a mollic epipedon but with a base saturation of less than 50 percent.
Dystrudepts are the acid Udepts of humid and perhumid regions. They developed mostly in late-Pleistocene or Holocene deposits. Some developed on older, steeply sloping surfaces. The parent materials generally are acid, moderately or weakly consolidated sedimentary or metamorphic rocks or acid sediments. A few of the soils formed in saprolite derived from igneous rocks. The vegetation was mostly deciduous trees.
For additional information about Idaho soils, please visit:
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The Peckmantown series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in stratified glaciolacustrine and glaciofluvial sediments. They are moderately deep to a fragipan. Slope ranges from 0 to 15 percent. Permeability is moderately rapid in the A and Bt horizons, slow or very slow throughout the fragipan and moderately rapid to very rapid in the substratum. Mean annual temperature is about 51 degrees F. and mean annual precipitation is about 50 inches. (Soil Survey of Essex County, New Jersey by Edwin Muñiz and Richard K. Shaw, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-silty, mixed, semiactive, mesic Typic Fragiudalfs
USE AND VEGETATION: Peckmantown soils are commonly in highly urbanized areas. The few undeveloped areas are commonly wooded with white pine, Norway spruce, black cherry, oaks, and red maple.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northeast New Jersey between the first and second Watchung Mountains in the Moggy Hollow glacial stage of Lake Passaic; MLRA 144A. The series is of small extent.
SERIES PROPOSED: Essex County, New Jersey, 2000.
REMARKS: The Peckmantown series is proposed as a well drained soil formed in stratified medium-textured over coarse-textured sediments. It is named for a settlement along the Peckman River. Cation exchange activity class placement is based upon available data.
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This aggregate exhibits iron cementation in more than 85 percent of its volume. The cementation ranges from weakly cemented to indurated. The reddish zones (about 70 to 80%) are firm and brittle and are less than strongly cemented. The blackish zones (about 5%) are more than strongly cemented. Based on the following definitions, this layer is from a plinthic horizon.
A plinthic horizon (WRB system) (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.
A plinthic horizon consists of mineral material and:
1. 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
b. 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; and
2. one or more of the following:
a. has ≥ 2.5% (by mass) Fe dith in the fine earth fraction; or
b. has ≥ 10% (by mass) Fe dith in the concretions, nodules or concentrations; or
c. hardens irreversibly after repeated wetting and drying; and
3. has a ratio between Fe ox and Fe dith of < 0.1 in the fine earth fraction; and
4. does not form part of a petroplinthic or pisoplinthic horizon; and
5. has a thickness of ≥ 15 cm.
A plinthic horizon shows prominent concretions or nodules or concentrations in platy, polygonal or reticulate patterns. In a perennially moist soil, many concretions, nodules or concentrations are not hard but firm or very firm and can be cut with a spade. Repeated wetting and drying will generally change them irreversibly to hard concretions or nodules or a hardpan (ironstone), especially if also exposed to heat from the sun, but they do not harden irreversibly as a result of a single cycle of drying and rewetting.
If the concretions, nodules or mottles do not reach 15% of the volume, it may be a ferric horizon.
If the concretions and nodules of the plinthic horizon harden (strongly or more cemented) and reach ≥ 40% of the volume, the plinthic horizon becomes a pisoplinthic horizon.
If it hardens to a continuous sheet, the plinthic horizon becomes a petroplinthic horizon.
For more information about a plinthic horizon, visit;
www.researchgate.net/publication/242649722_Rationale_for_...
For more information about soil classification using the WRB system, visit:
www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf
For more information about describing and sampling soils, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/field...
or Chapter 3 of the Soil Survey manual:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/The-Soil-Su...
For additional information on "How to Use the Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils" (video reference), visit:
Typic Haplosalids, sandy, mixed, hyperthermic, aquic phase (Soil AD147) are deep or very deep, sandy soils with salinity throughout the profile. A water table occurs below 100cm. The soils occur in coastal sabkha plains and some inland sabkha. They are typically somewhat poorly drained or moderately well drained and have moderately rapid or rapid permeability.
These soils are distributed in nearly level plains and slight depressions. They are formed in eolian sands and are influenced by fluctuating groundwater. These soils are distributed in nearly level plains and slight depressions.
Due to strongly saline nature, the soils are barren without any vegetation and are not used for any specific purpose.
These soils are common within the coastal sabkha areas and have also been described from inland sabkhas including Sabkha Matti and at Liwa. They have been identified as components of numerous map units across the Emirate outside of the central areas that are dominated by sand dunes.
Plate 45: Typical soil profile and associated landscape for Typic Haplosalids, sandy, mixed, hyperthermic, aquic phase (Soil AD147).
Soil conservation terraces are an example of an anthropogenic microfeature.
An anthropogenic microfeature is a discrete, individual, human derived form on the Earth’s surface or in shallow water that has a range in composition of unconsolidated earthy, organic, human-transported materials, or rock. It typically has a recognizable human-imposed shape. It is the direct result of human manipulation or activities. It typically cannot be mapped at common soil survey scales, such as order 1 (< 1:10,000) but can be observed locally. Anthropogenic microfeatures can originate from deposition (e.g., a conservation terrace; or removal (e.g., a ditch).
A representative soil profile of the Lindaas soil series. (Soil Survey of Polk County, Minnesota; by Charles T. Saari and Rodney B. Heschke, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Lindaas series consists of very deep, poorly drained, slowly permeable soils that formed in glacial lake sediments or local alluvium from till. These soils are in shallow depressions and on broad flats on glacial lake plains, till plains and moraines. They have slopes of 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual air temperature is 40 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation is 19 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, frigid Typic Argiaquolls
The depth to carbonates ranges from 18 to 35 inches. The mollic epipedon is more than 16 inches thick and may include part or all of the Bt horizon. LE is less than 6 cm in the upper meter.
USE AND VEGETATION: Cropped to small grains, row crops and legumes. The original vegetation was tall prairie grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota. The series is extensive.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/minnesota/MN11...
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Lamellae are thin, often discontinuous layers of clay-enriched material that are associated with iron oxides and may occur in Alfisols, Ultisols, Mollisols, Entisols, Inceptisols, or Spodosols. These soils are of small extent in the Southeastern United States. The natural vegetation consisted of forest plants. These soils generally are nearly level or gently sloping. They are used mostly as forest or cropland. Some are used as pasture or homesites.
The Alpin series consists of very deep, excessively drained, moderately rapidly permeable soils on uplands and river terraces of the Coastal Plain. They formed in thick beds of sandy eolian or marine deposits. Near the type location, the mean annual precipitation is about 55 inches and the mean annual temperature is about 68 70 degrees F. Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Thermic, coated Lamellic Quartzipsamments
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Thickness of sand is 80 inches or more. Reaction ranges from very strongly acid to slightly acid throughout. Depth to lamellae ranges from 40 to 78 inches but most commonly is 50 to 70 inches. Cumulative thickness of lamellae ranges from 1 cm to 15 cm.
A representative soil profile of the Grigsby series. The Grigsby series consists of very deep, well drained soils formed in mixed alluvium on flood plains. Permeability is moderate or moderately rapid. Slopes range from 0 to 20 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Dystric Fluventic Eutrudepts
Thickness of the solum ranges from 30 to 65 inches. Coarse fragments, mostly subrounded gravels or channers, range from 0 to 15 percent in the solum and from 0 to 60 percent in the substratum. Reaction ranges from moderately acid to slightly alkaline in the solum and from strongly acid to neutral in the substratum.
USE AND VEGETATION: Largely used for cultivated crops, hay or pasture. The native vegetation was a mixed mesophytic forest interspaced with canebrakes.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Kentucky and possibly Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The series is moderately extensive, over 100,000 acres.
For additional information about Kentucky soils, visit:
uknowledge.uky.edu/pss_book/4/
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A representative soil profile of the Iosco loamy sand, which formed in sandy lacustrine deposits underlain by loamy glacial till. (Soil Survey of Alpena County, Michigan; by Thomas E. Williams, Michigan Department of Agriculture)
The Iosco series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in sandy lacustrine deposits or outwash and the underlying loamy lacustrine deposits or till on ground moraines, outwash plains, and lake plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 762 mm (30 inches), and mean annual temperature is about 6.7 degrees C (44 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy over loamy, mixed, active, frigid Argic Endoaquods
Depth to the lithologic discontinuity (2Bt horizon): dominantly 53 to 91 cm (21 to 36 inches), and ranges from 51 to 102 cm (20 to 40 inches)
Depth to carbonates: 89 cm (35 inches) to greater than 152 cm (60 inches)
USE AND VEGETATION: Less than one-half is cropped to corn, hay, oats, potatoes, and vegetables. The greater part is in permanent pasture or forest. Native vegetation is northern hardwoods and pines. Second growth forests are largely quaking aspen.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 90A, 93A, 93B, 94A, 94B, 94C, 95A, 96, and 98 in central and northern Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and northern Minnesota. This series is of large extent.
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www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/michigan/MI007...
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The Chilicotal series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils that formed in loamy gravelly piedmont sediments from igneous mountains. These soils are on gently undulating to strongly rolling fan remnants and alluvial fans. Slopes range from 1 to 50 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, thermic Ustic Haplocalcids
USE AND VEGETATION: Livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Grasses in most areas are mainly chino grama, slim tridens, black grama, and threeawns with woody vegetation of lechuguilla, creosotebush, skeletonleaf goldeneye, catclaw, sotol, yucca, and ceniza.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: West Texas in MLRA 42. The series is of moderate extent.
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