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Soil profile: Windy Creek soils are coarse-silty, mixed, active, subgelic Typic Histoturbels. Windy Creek soils have moderately deep mixed loess and alluvium over permafrost. (Soil Survey of Greater Nenana Area, Alaska; by Dennis Mulligan, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: Windy Creek soils occur on alluvial fans and terraces. Vegetation is stunted black spruce (P. mariana) forest with an understory of mixed shrubs that include Labrador tea (L. groenlandicum), blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), lingonberry (vaccinium vitis-idea) and various willows (Salix spp.) with a thick ground cover of peat mosses (sphagnum spp.).
Depth class: moderately deep
Drainage class: poorly drained
Parent material: loess and alluvium
Landform: alluvial fans
Slopes: 0 to 2 percent
Mean annual precipitation: about 11 inches, 280 mm
Mean annual temperature: about 25 degrees F., -4 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-silty, mixed, active, acid, subgelic Typic Histoturbels
Particle-size control (section weighted average):
Percent clay in the control section: 5 to 13 percent
Soil moisture regime: aquic
Mean annual soil temperature: 26 degrees F., 50 cm
Thickness of organic materials: 8 to 11 inches, 20 to 28 cm
Texture of the loess and alluvium mantle: silt loam or silt
Texture of the permafrost substratum: permanently frozen material
Percent clay in the loess and alluvium mantle: 5 to 13 percent
Thickness of histic epipedon 8 to 11 inches, 20 to 28 cm
Thickness of redoximorphic concentrations: from 11 to 72 inches, 27 to 183 cm.
Thickness of redoximorphic depletions: from 11 to 72 inches, 27 to 183 cm.
Thickness of cryoturbation and gelic materials: from 11 to 72 inches, 27 to 183 cm.
Depth to Permafrost: from 11 to 38 inches, 28 to 99 cm.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for recreation and wildlife habitat. The native vegetation includes stunted black spruce forest.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRA 229, Interior Alaska lowlands the series is of limited extent.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/alaska/AK655/0...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/W/WINDY_CREEK.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Center-pivot irrigation (sometimes called central pivot irrigation), also called waterwheel and circle irrigation, is a method of crop irrigation in which equipment rotates around a pivot and crops are watered with sprinklers. A circular area centered on the pivot is irrigated, often creating a circular pattern in crops when viewed from above (sometimes referred to as crop circles).
An area of the dark red Greenville soil--a fine, kaolinitic, thermic Rhodic Kandiudult.
For additional information about the soil series, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/G/GREENVILLE.html
For information about extent, visit:
Calcic Petrogypsids UAE (Classification by UAE Keys to Soil Taxonomy)
Calcic Petrogypsids are the Petrogypsids that have a calcic horizon above a petrogypsic horizon. The calcic horizon is an illuvial horizon in which secondary calcium carbonate or other carbonates have accumulated to a significant extent. The petrogypsic horizon is a horizon in which visible secondary gypsum has accumulated or has been transformed. The horizon is cemented (i.e., extremely weakly through indurated cementation classes), and the cementation is both laterally continuous and root limiting, even when the soil is moist. The horizon typically occurs as a subsurface horizon, but it may occur at the surface in some soils.
Petrogypsids are the Gypsids that have a petrogypsic horizon that has its upper boundary within 100 cm of the soil surface. These soils occur in very arid areas of the world where the parent material is high in content of gypsum. When the petrogypsic horizon is close to the surface, crusting forms pseudohexagonal patterns on the soil surface. Petrogypsids occupy old surfaces. In Syria and Iraq, they are on the highest terraces along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. These soils are not extensive in the United States but are extensive in other countries.
Gypsids are the Aridisols that have a gypsic or petrogypsic horizon within 100 cm of the soil surface. Accumulation of gypsum takes place initially as crystal aggregates in the voids of the soils. These aggregates grow by accretion, displacing the enclosing soil material. When the gypsic horizon occurs as a cemented impermeable layer, it is recognized as the petrogypsic horizon. Each of these forms of gypsum accumulation implies processes in the soils, and each presents a constraint to soil use. One of the largest constraints is dissolution of the gypsum, which plays havoc with structures, roads, and irrigation delivery systems. The presence of one or more of these horizons, with or without other diagnostic horizons, defines the great groups of the Gypsids. Gypsids occur in Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Somalia, West Asia, and some of the most arid areas of the western part of the United States. Gypsids are on many segments of the landscape. Some of them have calcic or related horizons that overlie the gypsic horizon.
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. There is no period of 90 consecutive days when moisture is continuously available for plant growth. Because of an extreme imbalance between evapotranspiration and precipitation, many Aridisols contain salts. The dominant process is one of accumulation and concentration of weathering products. The accumulation of salts is the second most important constraint to land use.
For more information about soil classification in the UAE, visit:
"United Arab Emirates Keys to Soil Taxonomy" and "ICBA News"
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:
The EAD is the major sponsor of the Soil Surveys of the UAE. Established in 1996, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is committed to protecting and enhancing air quality, groundwater as well as the biodiversity of desert and marine ecosystems. By partnering with other government entities, the private sector, NGOs and global environmental agencies, EAD embraces international best practice, innovation and hard work to institute effective policy measures. EAD seeks to raise environmental awareness, facilitate sustainable development and ensure environmental issues remain one of the top priorities of UAE's national agenda.
Soil profile: A representative soil profile of the Dickson series; the State Soil of Tennessee. (Soil Survey of Cannon County, Tennessee; by Jerry L. Prater, United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: Soybeans on an area of Dickson soils. They are on nearly level to undulating ridges on uplands. Slopes range from 0 to 12 percent, but are commonly less than 8 percent. The soil formed in 2 to 4 feet of a silty mantle underlain by residuum of limestone.
The Dickson series was established in 1923 in Dickson County, Tennessee, where it was first mapped in the Soil Survey of Dickson County, Tennessee (published 1926). At the time of the first soil survey about 50% of the acreage was being cultivated with the remaining acreage in forestland. Hugh Hammond Bennett collected samples of Dickson soils from both cultivated and forested settings and studied the moisture retention of the soils. Dickson was selected by the Tennessee NRCS Soil Survey Staff as the state soil due to its acreage and extent mapped within Tennessee.
The Dickson series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils that have a slowly permeable fragipan in the subsoil. These soils formed in a silty mantle 2 to 4 feet thick and the underlying residuum of limestone. They are on nearly level to sloping uplands. Slopes range from 0 to 12 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, siliceous, semiactive, thermic Glossic Fragiudults
Depth to the fragipan ranges from 18 to 36 inches. Reaction is strongly acid or very strongly acid except where lime has been added. Fragments of gravel range from none to 10 percent in the lower Btx horizon and up to 35 percent in the 2Bt horizon. Depth to hard bedrock is greater than 5 feet. Transition horizons have color and textures similar to adjacent horizons.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cleared and used for growing hay, pasture, small grains, corn, soybeans, and tobacco. Some areas are in forest chiefly of oaks, yellow-poplar, hickories, gums, and maples.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Highland Rim in Tennessee, Northern Alabama, and the Pennyroyal of Kentucky. The series is of large extent, over 500,000 acres.
For more information about this state soil. visit:
www.soils4teachers.org/files/s4t/k12outreach/tn-state-soi...
For information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/tennessee/cann...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/D/DICKSON.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Figure 3-21. Sand grains (visible as individual quartz grains) coated and bridged with illuvial clay (smooth yellowish color). (Soil Survey Manual, USDA Handbook No. 18; issued March 2017).
For more information about the major principles and practices needed for making and using soil surveys and for assembling and using related soils data (Soil Survey Manual), visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/soil-...
Clay bridging is oriented clay that binds or bridges sand grains. It is used as criteria for the identification of an argillic horizon, primarily in sandy soils. Argillic horizons form in natural soil by the illuviation and accumulation of silicate clay minerals.
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-...
A Typic Haplogypsid, petrogypsic from the interior of the UAE.
Typic Haplogypsids are the Haplogypsids that do not have have a gypsic horizon with its upper boundary within 18 cm of the soil surface. These soils do not have a lithic contact within 50 cm of the soil surface. In the United States they occur in Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico.
The gypsic horizon is a horizon in which gypsum has accumulated or been transformed to a significant extent (secondary gypsum (CaSO 4) has accumulated through more than 150 mm of soil, so that this horizon contains at least 5% more gypsum than the underlying horizon). It typically occurs as a subsurface horizon, but it may occur at the surface in some soils.
This pedon has a petrogypsic horizon at a depth of 100 to 200 cm (127 cm in this pedon) and is identified as a "phase" in classification. In the UAE soil classification system, phases of soil taxa have been developed for those mineral soils that have soil properties or characteristics that occur at a deeper depth than currently identified for an established taxonomic subgroup or soil properties that effect interpretations not currently recognized at the subgroup level. The phases which have been identified in the UAE include: anhydritic, aquic, calcic, gypsic, lithic, petrocalcic, petrogypsic, salic, salidic, shelly, and sodic.
The petrogypsic horizon is a horizon in which visible secondary gypsum has accumulated or has been transformed. The horizon is cemented (i.e., extremely weakly through indurated cementation classes), and the cementation is both laterally continuous and root limiting, even when the soil is moist. Th e horizon typically occurs as a subsurface horizon, but it may occur at the surface in some soils.
Haplogypsids are the Gypsids that have no petrogypsic, natric, argillic, or calcic horizon that has an upper boundary within 100 cm of the soil surface. Some Haplogypsids have a cambic horizon overlying the gypsic horizon. These soils are commonly very pale in color. They are not extensive in the United States. The largest concentrations in the United States are in New Mexico and Texas. The soils are more common in other parts of the world.
Gypsids are the Aridisols that have a gypsic or petrogypsic horizon within 100 cm of the soil surface. Accumulation of gypsum takes place initially as crystal aggregates in the voids of the soils. These aggregates grow by accretion, displacing the enclosing soil material. When the gypsic horizon occurs as a cemented impermeable layer, it is recognized as the petrogypsic horizon. Each of these forms of gypsum accumulation implies processes in the soils, and each presents a constraint to soil use. One of the largest constraints is dissolution of the gypsum, which plays havoc with structures, roads, and irrigation delivery systems. The presence of one or more of these horizons, with or without other diagnostic horizons, defines the great groups of the Gypsids. Gypsids occur in Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Somalia, West Asia, and some of the most arid areas of the western part of the United States. Gypsids are on many segments of the landscape. Some of them have calcic or related horizons that overlie the gypsic horizon.
For more information about describing soils, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_052523...
For additional information about soil classification using Soil Taxonomy, visit:
sites.google.com/site/dinpuithai/Home
For more information about soil classification using the UAE Keys to Soil Taxonomy, visit:
agrifs.ir/sites/default/files/United%20Arab%20Emirates%20...
Williams Series--North Dakota State Soil:
www.soils4teachers.org/files/s4t/k12outreach/nd-state-soi...
Agriculture is North Dakota's largest industry. About 90 percent of the state's land is used for crop farming and cattle ranching with about 24 million acres of cropland. On average, North Dakota producers plant about 7.5 million acres of wheat with production totaling 320 million bushels. North Dakota and Kansas are most often the top two wheat producing states.
The climate, rich soil and flat land of the Northern Plains are perfectly suited to the production of spring wheat and durum. These classes of wheat are planted in April and May with harvest generally taking place from late July through September. The time lapse between sowing spring wheat and plant head development is usually 65 to 80 days. It takes another 20 to 30 days for the kernels to ripen for harvest.
The soils are commonly the Williams soil series. The Williams series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately slow or slowly permeable soils formed in calcareous glacial till. These soils are on glacial till plains and moraines and have slope of 0 to 35 percent. Mean annual air temperature is about 40 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation is about 14 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Argiustolls
Depth to carbonates ranges from 10 to 30 inches. The soil typically contains 1 to 10 percent coarse fragments but ranges up to 20 percent. Stony and cobbly phases are recognized.
USE AND VEGETATION: Cultivated areas are used for growing small grains, flax, corn, hay or pasture. Native vegetation is western wheatgrass, needleandthread, blue grama, green needlegrass and prairie junegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North-central South Dakota, central, and northwestern North Dakota and northeastern Montana. The soil is extensive.
For more information about this soil, visit:
www.soils4teachers.org/files/s4t/k12outreach/nd-state-soi...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/W/WILLIAMS.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Translocated clay along ped faces is called clay films or argillans. They appear as a waxy coating. Soil horizons with sufficient clay illuviation are argillic horizons.
This soil is dominated by iron minerals. Hematite weathers to reddish color, while goethite weathers to yellowish color.
Cecil soils were originally mapped in Cecil County, Maryland in 1899. More than 10 million acres (40,000 km²) of the Cecil soil series (Fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults) are now mapped in the Piedmont region of the southeastern United States. It extends from Virginia through North Carolina (where it is the state soil), South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, with the typic Cecil pedon actually located in Franklin County, NC.
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-...
Black land soil and landscape in Germany; Photo provided by Altermann, Merbach, I., Körschens, Rinklebe, UFZ Leipzig-Halle.
www.dbges.de/en/Boden-des-Jahres-2005-Die-Schwarzerde
Chernozem is a black-colored soil containing a high percentage of humus and carbonates. Chernozem is very fertile and can produce high agricultural yields with its high moisture storage capacity. Chernozems are also a Reference Soil Group of the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB).
For more information about soil classification using the WRB system, visit:
www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf
The name comes from the Russian terms for black and soil, earth or land (chorny + zemlya). The soil, rich in organic matter presenting a black color, was first identified by Russian geologist Vasily Dokuchaev in 1883 in the tallgrass steppe or prairie of European Russia.
In the USDA soil classification system Chernozem soils are similar to Mollisols. The central concept of Mollisols is that of soils that have a dark colored surface horizon and are base rich. Nearly all have a mollic epipedon. Many also have an argillic or natric horizon or a calcic horizon. A few have an albic horizon. Some also have a duripan or a petrocalic horizon.
For additional information about USDA soil classification, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/cla...
The agriculture of Brazil is historically one of the principal bases of Brazil's economy. While its initial focus was on sugarcane, Brazil eventually became the world's largest exporter of coffee, soybeans, beef, and crop-based ethanol. The success of agriculture during the Estado Novo (New State), with Getúlio Vargas, led to the expression, "Brazil, breadbasket of the world"
As of 2009, Brazil had about 106,000,000 hectares (260,000,000 acres) of undeveloped fertile land – a territory larger than the combined area of France and Spain. According to a 2008 IBGE study, despite the world financial crisis, Brazil had record agricultural production, with growth of 9.1%, principally motivated by favorable weather. The production of grains in the year reached an unprecedented 145,400,000 tons. That record output employed an additional 4.8% in planted area, totaling 65,338,000 hectares and producing $148 billion Reals ($28 billion U.S. dollars). The principal products were corn (13.1% growth) and soy (2.4% growth).
The southern one-half to two-thirds of Brazil has a semi-temperate climate, higher rainfall, more fertile soil, more advanced technology and input use, adequate infrastructure and more experienced farmers. This region produces most of Brazil's grains, oilseeds (and exports).
The drought-ridden northeast region and Amazon basin lack well-distributed rainfall, good soil, adequate infrastructure and development capital. Although mostly occupied by subsistence farmers, both regions are increasingly important as exporters of forest products, cocoa and tropical fruits. Central Brazil contains substantial areas of grassland. Brazilian grasslands are far less fertile than those of North America and are generally suited only for grazing.
Soil profile: A representative soil profile of the Williams series; North Dakota State Soil.
Landscape: Williams soils are on level to steep glacial till plains and moraines. Slopes commonly are less than 9 percent but range from 0 to 35 percent. The soils formed in calcareous glacial till of mixed mineralogy. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 34 to 45 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation from 12 to 19 inches. (Harvested wheat on a Williams soil in North Dakota (credit: USDA-NRCS Soil Survey Staff).
Many states have a designated state bird, flower, fish, tree, rock, etc. And, many states also have a state soil–one that has significance or is important to the state. The Williams is the state soil of North Dakota. Soils form the foundation of North Dakota, which is firmly recognized in the state’s motto “Strength from the Soil”.
In North Dakota, the Williams soil series is among the most extensive and economically important soils in the state. The native vegetation of the Williams series includes species such as western wheatgrass, blue grama, needleandthread, green needlegrass, and prairie junegrass.
These soils have high natural fertility and their content of organic matter creates highly productive landscapes. Most level to gently rolling areas of Williams soils are used for growing small grain crops such as wheat, barley, oats, flax, and sunflowers, whereas the steeper rolling and hilly areas are used as rangeland.
The soil name is derived from Williams County, North Dakota, although the type location is in Mountrail County, near the town of White Earth. In 1900, the Williams series was recognized as an official soil series for North Dakota. William soils formed under short grass prairies and were mostly converted to small grain production and working rangelands upon settlement. These working landscapes are still present today, although more recently the region where these soils predominant has been focused on great amounts of oil and gas extraction.
The Williams series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately slow or slowly permeable soils formed in calcareous glacial till. These soils are on glacial till plains and moraines and have slope of 0 to 35 percent. Mean annual air temperature is about 40 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation is about 14 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Argiustolls
Depth to carbonates ranges from 10 to 30 inches. The soil typically contains 1 to 10 percent coarse fragments but ranges up to 20 percent. Stony and cobbly phases are recognized.
USE AND VEGETATION: Cultivated areas are used for growing small grains, flax, corn, hay or pasture. Native vegetation is western wheatgrass, needleandthread, blue grama, green needlegrass and prairie junegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North-central South Dakota, central, and northwestern North Dakota and northeastern Montana. The soil is extensive.
For more information about this soil, visit:
www.soils4teachers.org/files/s4t/k12outreach/nd-state-soi...
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/north_dakota/N...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/W/WILLIAMS.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Soil profile: The Cataloochee series consists of moderately deep, well drained, moderately rapidly permeable soils on mountain summits and side slopes at the higher elevations in the Southern Blue Ridge mountains, MLRA 130B. They formed in residuum that is affected by soil creep in the upper part, and weathered from low-grade metasedimentary rock. Slope ranges from 8 to 95 percent. (Soil Survey of Buncombe County, North Carolina; by Mark S. Hudson, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: High mountain summer pasture in an area of Oconaluftee-Guyot-Cataloochee complex, windswept, 15 to 30 percent slopes, bouldery. Open areas such as these provide good habitat diversity for wildlife.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, isotic, frigid Typic Humudepts
Depth to paralithic contact is 20 to 40 inches. Depth to lithic contact is greater than 40 inches. The soil is ultra acid to strongly acid throughout. Content of mica flakes is none or few throughout. Content of rock fragments is less than 35 percent throughout, and are mainly channers in size.
USE AND VEGETATION: Nearly all of this soil is in forest. Common trees at the lower elevation range are northern red oak, black birch, American beech, yellow birch, black cherry, sugar maple, eastern hemlock, and yellow buckeye. At higher elevations, red spruce and fraser fir become the dominant tree species. In many areas the trees are stunted due to wind and ice damage and a "windswept" phase is recognized. The understory species are serviceberry, striped maple, American chestnut sprouts, pin cherry, rhododendron, mountain-laurel, silverbell, blueberry, and flame azalea. Common forbs are hay-scented fern, wood fern, New York fern, Solomon's seal, yellow mandarin, and trillium. A small acreage is covered by heath balds vegetated with rhododendron, flame azalea, blueberry, hawthorn, and mountain ash.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Higher elevations of the Southern Blue Ridge mountains, MLRA 130B of Tennessee and North Carolina and possibly Virginia. This series is of moderate extent.
The Cataloochee series was formerly included with the Oconaluftee series. However, Oconaluftee soils are greater than 60 inches to bedrock. Fine-loamy particle-size class placement is based on the presence of amorphous (non-crystalline) clay-size material associated with the relatively high organic matter content found in these soils. Although field estimates, laboratory measurements, and calculated values may vary, clay content in the particle-size control section is generally less than 25 percent. Although Cataloochee soils may exhibit some of the characteristics of andic soil properties, they lack the volcanic glass found in soils of similar taxa in the Western United States.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/north_carolina...
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/C/CATALOOCHEE.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
A Typic Petrogypsid from the interior of the UAE.
Petrogypsids are the Gypsids that have a petrogypsic horizon that has its upper boundary within 100 cm of the soil surface. These soils occur in very arid areas of the world where the parent material is high in content of gypsum. When the petrogypsic horizon is close to the surface, crusting forms pseudohexagonal patterns on the soil surface. Petrogypsids occupy old surfaces. In Syria and Iraq, they are on the highest terraces along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. These soils are not extensive in the United States but are extensive in other countries.
The petrogypsic horizon is a horizon in which visible secondary gypsum has accumulated or has been transformed. The horizon is cemented (i.e., extremely weakly cemented through indurated cementation classes), and the cementation is both laterally continuous and root limiting, even when the soil is moist. The horizon typically occurs as a subsurface horizon, but it may occur at the surface in some soils (foreground).
Gypsids are the Aridisols that have a gypsic or petrogypsic horizon within 100 cm of the soil surface. Accumulation of gypsum takes place initially as crystal aggregates in the voids of the soils. These aggregates grow by accretion, displacing the enclosing soil material. When the gypsic horizon occurs as a cemented impermeable layer, it is recognized as the petrogypsic horizon. Each of these forms of gypsum accumulation implies processes in the soils, and each presents a constraint to soil use. One of the largest constraints is dissolution of the gypsum, which plays havoc with structures, roads, and irrigation delivery systems. The presence of one or more of these horizons, with or without other diagnostic horizons, defines the great groups of the Gypsids. Gypsids occur in Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Somalia, West Asia, and some of the most arid areas of the western part of the United States. Gypsids are on many segments of the landscape. Some of them have calcic or related horizons that overlie the gypsic horizon.
For more information about describing soils, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_052523...
For additional information about soil classification using Soil Taxonomy, visit:
sites.google.com/site/dinpuithai/Home
For more information about soil classification using the UAE Keys to Soil Taxonomy, visit:
agrifs.ir/sites/default/files/United%20Arab%20Emirates%20...
Soils of the Groseclose series are very deep and well drained with slowly permeable subsoils. They formed in materials weathered from limestone, shale, siltstone, and sandstone. Slopes range from 0 to 75 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 40 inches, and mean annual temperature is about 54 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, semiactive, mesic Typic Hapludults
Solum thickness ranges from 30 to 60 inches. In some pedons, variegated colors in the solum occur at depths from 20 to 40 inches below the soil surface. Depth to bedrock is more than 60 inches. Rock fragments of chert, siltstone, shale, and sandstone range from 0 to 75 percent in the A horizon and from 0 to 35 percent in the Bt and C horizon. Reaction ranges from extremely acid through strongly acid, unless limed.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are used for row crops, hay, or pasture. Corn and small grains are the principal row crops.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. The series is of moderate extent.
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/G/GROSECLOSE.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
L: In place platy structure.
R: Intact plates removed from matrix.
www.flickr.com/photos/jakelley/53410253540/in/dateposted-...
Soil Peds are aggregates of soil particles form as a result of pedogenic processes; this natural organization of particles forms discrete units separated by pores or voids. The term is generally used for macroscopic (visible; i.e., greater than 1 mm in size) structural units when observing soils in the field. Soil peds should be described when the soil is dry or slightly moist, as they can be difficult to distinguish when wet.
Platy soil structure is characterized by peds that are flat and platelike. They are generally oriented horizontally. A special form, lenticular platy structure, is recognized for plates that are thickest in the middle and thin toward the edges. Platy structure is usually found in subsurface soils that have been subject to leaching or compaction by animals or machinery. The plates can be separated with little effort by prying the horizontal layers with a pen knife. Platy structure tends to impede the downward movement of water and plant roots through the soil.
There are five major classes of macrostructure seen in soils: platy, prismatic, columnar, granular, and blocky. There are also structureless conditions. Some soils have simple structure, each unit being an entity without component smaller units. Others have compound structure, in which large units are composed of smaller units separated by persistent planes of weakness.
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:
Soil profile: A representative soil profile of the Tannahill series.
Landscape: Tannahill soils are on steep south- and west-facing canyon slopes and have gradients of 7 to 90 percent. They formed in residuum from fine grained igneous rocks, mainly basalt with some loess in the upper layers. Elevations are 1,200 to 2,800 feet. The climate is dry subhumid. Average annual precipitation is typically 12 to 16 inches with most of it coming as rainfall. In northeastern Oregon, the average annual precipitation ranges to 25 inches.
The Tannahill series consists of deep, well drained soils that formed in material weathered from fine grained igneous rocks, mainly basalt, with some loess in the surface horizons. Tannahill soils are on south and west facing canyon slopes and have gradients of 7 to 90 percent. The average annual precipitation is about 14 inches and the average annual air temperature is about 52 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Calcic Argixerolls
Depth to bedrock is 40 to 60 inches or more. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 20 inches thick and may include the upper part of the argillic horizon. The top of the argillic horizon is within 24 inches of the surface and this horizon contains more than 35 percent rock fragments. Average annual soil temperature ranges from 49 to 56 degrees F. Average summer soil temperature ranges from 65 to 70 degrees F. The soils are usually moist but are dry for 45 to 90 days in the summer.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most is used for grazing by livestock and big game animals, some for recreation. The natural vegetation is mainly bluebunch wheatgrass, Sandberg bluegrass, arrowleaf balsamroot and pear cactus.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: West-central Idaho, northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington; MLRA 9. The series is of moderate extent.
For additional information about Idaho soils, please visit:
storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/97d01af9d4554b9097cb0a477e04...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/T/TANNAHILL.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
A Lithic Petrogypsid from the interior of the UAE.
Lithic Petrogypsids have lithic contact within 50 cm of the soil surface (UAE Keys to Soil Taxonomy). The "lithic" subgroup in Petrogypsids is not currently recognized in Soil Taxonomy.
Petrogypsids are the Gypsids that have a petrogypsic or petrocalcic horizon that has its upper boundary within 100 cm of the soil surface. These soils occur in very arid areas of the world where the parent material is high in content of gypsum. When the petrogypsic horizon is close to the surface, crusting forms pseudohexagonal patterns on the soil surface. Petrogypsids occupy old surfaces. In Syria and Iraq, they are on the highest terraces along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. These soils are not extensive in the United States but are extensive in other countries.
Gypsids are the Aridisols that have a gypsic or petrogypsic horizon within 100 cm of the soil surface. Accumulation of gypsum takes place initially as crystal aggregates in the voids of the soils. These aggregates grow by accretion, displacing the enclosing soil material. When the gypsic horizon occurs as a cemented impermeable layer, it is recognized as the petrogypsic horizon. Each of these forms of gypsum accumulation implies processes in the soils, and each presents a constraint to soil use. One of the largest constraints is dissolution of the gypsum, which plays havoc with structures, roads, and irrigation delivery systems. The presence of one or more of these horizons, with or without other diagnostic horizons, defines the great groups of the Gypsids. Gypsids occur in Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Somalia, West Asia, and some of the most arid areas of the western part of the United States. Gypsids are on many segments of the landscape. Some of them have calcic or related horizons that overlie the gypsic horizon.
For more information about soil classification in the UAE, visit:
vdocument.in/united-arab-emirates-keys-to-soil-taxonomy.h...
A landscape of Barnwell loamy coarse sand. (Soil Survey of Lee County, South Carolina; by Charles M. Ogg, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
MLRA(s): 133A-Southern Coastal Plain
Depth Class: Very deep
Drainage Class (Agricultural): Well drained
Internal Free Water Occurrence: Deep and transitory
Flooding Frequency and Duration: None
Ponding Frequency and Duration: None
Index Surface Runoff: Negligible to high
Permeability: Moderately slow to slow
Shrink-swell potential: Low
Landscape: Middle and upper coastal plain
Landform: Uplands
Hillslope Profile Position: Summits, shoulders, backslopes
Geomorphic Component: Interfluves, side slopes
Parent Material: Marine deposits
Slope: 2 to 15 percent
Elevation (type location): Unknown
Mean Annual Air Temperature (type location): 62 degrees F.
Mean Annual Precipitation (type location): 45 inches
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults
Thickness of the sandy surface and subsurface layers: 3 to 19 inches
Depth to top of the Argillic or Kandic horizon: 3 to 19 inches
Depth to the base of the Argillic horizon: 35 to 80
Depth to contrasting soil material (lithologic discontinuity): 35 to more than 80 inches
Depth to densic materials: 40 to more than 60 inches
Soil reaction: Extremely acid to strongly acid throughout, except where limed
Mica content: 0 to 20 percent
Depth to bedrock: Greater than 80 inches
Depth to Seasonal High Water Table: 40 to 60 inches, November to April
Rock Fragment content: 0 to 35 percent, by volume throughout
Content of mica: None to 20 percent
Other Feature: 40 to 60 inches to a densic BC horizon with firm or very firm moist consistence
USE AND VEGETATION:
Major Uses: Truck and row crops
Dominant Vegetation: Where cultivated--watermelon, canteloupe, wheat, soybean, cotton, and corn. Where wooded--mixed hardwoods and pines.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
Distribution: Southern Coastal Plain in South Carolina, and possibly Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia
Extent: Moderate
For more detailed information, please visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/B/BARNWELL.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Soil profile: A representative soil profile of an Oxisol (fine, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic Typic Kandiudox) from the Cerado physiographic region--a vast tropical savanna ecoregion of Brazil, particularly in the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Minas Gerais and the Federal District of Brazil.
Soil pit: A soil scientist examining an Oxisol. Note the uniform nature of this soil. (Photo provided by Phil Haygarth.)
Oxisols are a soil order in USDA soil taxonomy. Oxisols are weathered soils that are low in fertility. They are most common on the gentle slopes of geologically old surfaces in tropical and subtropical regions. Their profiles are distinctive because of a lack of obvious horizons. Their surface horizons are normally somewhat darker than the subsoil, but the transition of subsoil features is gradual. Some oxisols have been previously classified as laterite soils.
In the Brazil soil classification system, these Latossolos are highly weathered soils composed mostly of clay and weathering resistant sand particles. Clay silicates of low activity (kaolinite clays) or iron and aluminum oxide rich (haematite, goethite, gibbsite) are common. There are little noticeable horizonation differences. These are naturally very infertile soils, but, because of the ideal topography and physical conditions, some are being used for agricultural production. These soils do require fertilizers because of the ease of leaching of nutrients through the highly weathered soils.
A soil scientist is a person who is qualified to evaluate and interpret soils and soil-related data for the purpose of understanding soil resources as they contribute to not only agricultural production, but as they affect environmental quality and as they are managed for protection of human health and the environment. The university degree should be in Soil Science, or closely related field (i.e., natural resources, environmental science, earth science, etc.) and include sufficient soils-related course work so the Soil Scientist has a measurable level of understanding of the soil environment, including soil morphology and soil forming factors, soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil biology, and the dynamic interaction of these areas.
To learn more about describing soil horizons, visit;
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlyDyQT6_WE
To learn about the Field Book for describing soils, visit;
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_hQaXV7MpM
For additional information about these soils, visit:
sites.google.com/site/soil350brazilsoilsla/soil-formation...
and...
For additional information about U.S. soil classification, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/survey/class...
Soil profile: El Cacique soil in an area of El Cacique-La Taína complex, 20 to 60 percent slopes. El Cacique soils are characterized by a surface layer of gravelly clay loam and a subsurface layer of very paragravelly clay over hard, fractured, consolidated serpentinite bedrock. They are in the udic soil moisture regime. (Soil Survey of San Germán Area, Puerto Rico; by Jorge L. Lugo-Camacho, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: Forestland in an area of El Cacique-La Taína complex, 20 to 60 percent slopes. El Cacique and La Taína soils are subject to slippage.
The El Cacique series consists of shallow, well drained, moderately slowly permeable soils on summits and side slopes of the serpentinite hills and mountains of the Humid Mountains and Valleys MLRA. They formed in material that weathered from serpentinite bedrock. Near the type location, the mean annual temperature is about 81 degrees F., and the mean annual precipitation is about 80 inches. Slopes range from 5 to 90 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Clayey, magnesic, isohyperthermic, shallow Typic Argiudolls
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of El Cacique soils are used for forestland, grazing, or wildlife habitat. The vegetation consists of Maricao doncella, Cupey delmonte, and Algarrobo trees, Cariaquillo, Leucaena, Arbol de navidad del pobre, and Carrasco shrubs, along with lamina and guinea grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Summits and side slopes of the humid serpentinite hills and mountains of southern Puerto Rico. This series is not extensive. These soils were formerly included in the Maresua series.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/puerto_rico/PR...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/E/EL_CACIQUE.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Soil is the unconsolidated mineral or organic material on the immediate surface of the Earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land plants. The word “soil,” like many common words, has several meanings. In its traditional meaning, soil is the natural medium for the growth of land plants, whether or not it has discernible soil horizons. This meaning is still the common understanding of the word, and the greatest interest in soil is centered on this meaning. People consider soil important because it supports plants that supply food, fibers, drugs, and other wants of humans and because it filters water and recycles wastes. Soil covers the earth’s surface as a continuum, except on bare rock, in areas of perpetual frost or deep water, or on the bare ice of glaciers. In this sense, soil has a thickness that is determined by the rooting depth of plants.
Although you may not have considered this area as soil--but an area of miscellaneous land (dune land)--note the plants naturally growing up the side of the star dune.
Soil Profile: The Lake Charles series consists of very deep, moderately well drained, very slowly permeable soils that formed in clayey sediments. These soils are on broad coastal prairies. Slopes are mainly less than 1 percent, but range from 0 to 8 percent. (Photos by W.L. Miller, USDA-NRCS, retired)
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, hyperthermic Typic Hapluderts
Classification changed from thermic Typic Pelluderts to hyperthermic Typic Hapluderts 3/94 based on Amendment 16 to Soil Taxonomy. Temperature regime changed based on local data and study by Texas Agriculture Experiment Station. The series type location was moved to the current location during the Soil Data Join and Recorrelation initiative to a location that is more central to the map unit concept.
Landscape: Lake Charles soils are mainly in cultivation and native pasture. Crops are corn, cotton, rice, and grain sorghum. Native grasses include little bluestem, indiangrass, eastern gamagrass, switchgrass, big bluestem, and brownseed paspalum. Most areas have scattered live oak, water oak, elm, hackberry, and huisache trees. Pine trees have encroached in some areas.
This is a cyclic soil and undisturbed areas have gilgai microrelief with microknolls 15 to 38 cm (6 to 15 in) higher than microdepressions. Distance from the center of the microknoll to the center of the microdepression ranges from 1.2 to 4.9 m (4 to 16 ft). The microknoll makes up about 20 percent, the intermediate or area between the knoll and depression about 60 percent, and the microdepression about 20 percent or less. The angle of the slickenside ranges from about 10 to 65 degrees from horizontal and tend to be more vertical in microknolls than in microdepressions. The amplitude of waviness between mollic colored matrix in the upper part of the solum and the higher value colors in the lower part ranges from 30 to 60 inches. When dry, the soil has cracks 1 to 5 cm (1/2 to 2 in) wide at the surface and extend to a depth of 30 cm (12 in) or more. Cracks remain open for 60 to 90 cumulative days in most years.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeast Texas mainly between the Colorado and Trinity Rivers of Texas. Land Resource Region T; Major Land Resource Area 150A. The series is extensive.
For additional information about Texas Vertisols, visit:
cristinemorgan.tamu.edu/research/crack_data/Vertisol-SSH_...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/L/LAKE_CHARLES.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Alabama State Soil:
[www.soils4teachers.org/files/s4t/k12outreach/al-state-soi...]
[www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9QK7grSM-E]
Soil profile: A representative soil profile of the Bama series; the State Soil of Alabama. (Soil Survey of Bibb County, Alabama by Lawrence E. McGhee, Natural Resources Conservation Service).
Landscape: Bama soils are very deep, well drained soils on summits of broad ridges and high stream terraces. Crops commonly grown include corn, cotton, soybeans, wheat, and pecans.
A state soil is a soil that has special significance to a particular state. Each state in the United States has selected a state soil, twenty of which have been legislatively established. These “Official State Soils” share the same level of distinction as official state flowers and birds. Also, representative soils have been selected for the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
The Bama series formed in thick beds of loamy marine and fluvial sediments on high stream or marine terraces in the Southern Coastal Plain (MLRA 133A). Near the type location, the average annual air temperature is about 19.4 degrees C (67 degrees F) and the average annual precipitation is about 1600 millimeters (63 inches). Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Typic Paleudults
Solum thickness is more than 152 centimeters (60 inches). Percent by volume of ironstone concretions and/or quartz gravel, 2 to 20 mm in diameter, ranges from 0 to 15 percent throughout the solum. Silt content of the particle-size control section ranges from 20 to 46 percent. Reaction ranges from very strongly acid to slightly acid in the A, Ap, E, BE, EB, BA and AB horizons except where the surface has been limed. Reaction in the Bt, BC and C horizons is very strongly acid or strongly acid.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of Bama soils are used for cultivated crops, pasture, hayland, orchards or urban development. Crops commonly grown include corn, cotton, soybeans, wheat, and pecans. Some areas are in woodland that consist of longleaf pine, loblolly pine and slash pine with scattered oak, sweetgum, hickory and dogwood.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern Coastal Plain of Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Virginia. The series is of moderate extent.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/alabama/AL007/...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/B/BAMA.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Soil profile: Faywood soils are well drained with medium or rapid runoff. Permeability is moderately slow or slow.
Landscape: Faywood soils are on ridgetops and side slopes of dissected uplands. Some areas have rock outcrops and some are karst. Slopes range from 2 to 60 percent. These soils formed in limestone residuum interbedded with thin layers of shale. Some areas are interbedded with siltstone. Lowell and Faywood soils are dominant in the Outer Bluegrass region. (Photo by Chad Lee; Kentucky Soil Atlas by Anastasios D. Karathanasis, University of Kentucky)
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, active, mesic Typic Hapludalfs
Solum thickness and depth to bedrock is 20 to 40 inches. Limestone and shale flagstones and channers range from 0 to 15 percent in the solum and up to 35 percent in the substratum. The reaction ranges from mildly alkaline to strongly acid.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are used for growing hay and pasture. Some areas are used for growing corn, small grains, and tobacco. A few areas are idle or wooded. Native vegetation was dominantly upland oaks, hickory, black walnut, black locust, white ash, beech, hackberry and eastern redcedar.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and possibly Indiana and Virginia. The series is of large extent.
For additional information about Kentucky soils, visit:
uknowledge.uky.edu/pss_book/4/
For a detailed description, please visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/F/FAYWOOD.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Figure 3-3. A soil (a Glacistel in Alaska) with a permanently frozen ice layer (designated “Wf”) between depths of 60 and 130 cm.
(Soil Survey Manual, USDA Handbook No. 18; issued March 2017).
Glacistels are the Histels that are saturated with water for 30 or more cumulative days during normal years and that have both a glacic layer within 100 cm of the soil surface; and less than three-fourths (by volume) Sphagnum fibers in the organic soil material to a depth of 50 cm or to a densic, lithic, or paralithic contact, whichever is shallower.
Histels have organic soil materials that meet one or more of the following:
1. Overlie cindery, fragmental, or pumiceous materials and/or fill their interstices and directly below these materials have either a densic, lithic, or paralithic contact; or
2. When added with the underlying cindery, fragmental, or pumiceous materials, total 40 cm or more between the soil surface and a depth of 50 cm; or
3. Comprise 80 percent or more, by volume, from the soil surface to a depth of 50 cm or to a glacic layer or a densic, lithic, or paralithic contact, whichever is shallower.
Soil Profile: These somewhat poorly drained soils have very high runoff. The saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high in the alluvium mantle and impermeable in the permafrost.
Landscape: The soils are used for recreation and wildlife habitat. The native vegetation includes black spruce and rose. In the US, they occur mostly in the Interior Alaska Highlands. The series is of small extent.
The central concept of Gelisols is that of soils with gelic materials underlain by permafrost. Freezing and thawing are important processes in Gelisols. Gelic materials are mineral or organic soil materials that show evidence of cryoturbation (frost churning) and/or ice segregation in the active layer (seasonal thaw layer) and/or the upper part of the permafrost.
Permafrost is defined as a thermal condition in which a material (including soil material) remains below 0 degrees C for 2 or more years in succession. Those gelic materials having permafrost contain the unfrozen soil solution that drives cryopedogenic processes. Permafrost may be impregnated by ice or, in the case of insufficient interstitial water, may be dry. The frozen layer has a variety of ice lenses, vein ice, segregated ice crystals, and ice wedges. The permafrost table is in dynamic equilibrium with the environment.
A glacic layer is massive ice or ground ice in the form of ice lenses or wedges. The layer is 30 cm or more thick and contains 75 percent or more visible ice.
For more information about describing, sampling, classifying, and/or mapping soils, please refer to the following references: "Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils", "Keys to Soil Taxonomy", and the "Soil Survey Manual".
Originally mapped in Cecil County, Maryland in 1899, more than 10 million acres (40,000 km²) of the Cecil soil series (Fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults) are now mapped in the Piedmont region of the southeastern United States. It extends from Virginia through North Carolina (where it is the state soil), South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, with the typic Cecil pedon actually located in Franklin County, NC. A map showing the actual extent of the Cecil series is available at the Center for Environmental Informatics.
For a detailed description of the soil, visit:
casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/sde/?series=cecil#osd
The Cecil series developed over igneous rock such as granite, and metamorphic rock which is chemically similar to granite. Virgin Cecil soils support forests dominated by pine, oak and hickory, and have a topsoil of brown sandy loam. The subsoil is a red clay which is dominated by kaolinite and has considerable mica. Few Cecil soils are in their virgin state, for most have been cultivated at one time or another. Indifferent land management has allowed many areas of Cecil soils to lose their topsoils through soil erosion, exposing the red clay subsoil. This clay is amenable to cultivation, responds well to careful management, and supports healthy growth of pine where allowed to revert to forest. Like other well-drained Ultisols, it is ideal for urban development; however, in common with other kaolinite-dominated clays, it has little ability to recover from soil compaction. Total potassium in the Cecil is higher than typical for Ultisols due to the presence of mica.
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-...
Like skin covers and protects our human body, so does soil cover and protect the earth's surface. Without vibrant and healthy soil, plants and animals cannot flourish. Therefore, it is vital that we have a deep understanding of soil so we may conserve and protect this very valuable natural resource.
The Soils Atlas of the Abu Dhabi Emirate provides a new and unique perspective of the recently published Soil Survey. The Atlas is designed to be used by students, naturalists, or anyone interested in a better understanding of the natural world we live in.
The soils atlas provides an overview of the process of making and using soil surveys through a series of soil map sheets and thematic maps for both the Extensive and Intensive Soil Survey. These materials will assist the reader to deepen their knowledge about soil as a natural, evolving feature of the earth's surface and its critical role in sustaining life.
The Kina series (a hydric soil) consists of very deep, very poorly drained soils that formed in partially decomposed organic material derived from sedges. Kina soils occupy depressional bench-like areas associated with drumlinoid hills and the toeslope, lower backslopes, and floors of valleys.
Hydric soils are formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part (Federal Register, 1994). Most hydric soils exhibit characteristic morphologies that result from repeated periods of saturation or inundation that last more than a few days.
To download the latest version of "Field Indicators of Hydric Soils" and additional technical references, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=s...
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Dysic Typic Cryohemists
The soils formed in organic material derived in sedges which is many feet thick over glacial till or bedrock. The climate is humid maritime with an average annual precipitation of about 100 inches. The mean annual temperature is 45 degrees F., and the mean summer air temperature is about 55 degrees F. The slope gradient is commonly less than 35 percent, but ranges from 0 to 30 percent on the drumlinoid hills and 0 to 60 percent on the landforms associated with the valley landscape. Elevation ranges from sea level to 1500 feet.
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/K/KINA.html#:~:text=....
For geographic distribution, visit:
A representative soil profile of the Carnasaw series in an area of Littlefir-Carnasaw complex, 1 to 8 percent slopes. (Soil Survey of Pike County, Arkansas; by Jeffrey W. Olson, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Carnasaw series consists of deep to bedrock, well drained, slowly permeable upland soils. Carnasaw soils are on nearly level to very steep sideslopes of the Ouachita Mountains and the Arkansas Valley and Ridges. Slopes are 1 to 60 percent. These soils formed in residuum weathered from shale of Pennsylvanian age.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, semiactive, thermic Typic Hapludults
Solum thickness and depth to shale bedrock ranges from 40 to 60 inches.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly as woodland. Some less sloping areas are used for cropland or tame pasture. Native forest vegetation is blackjack oak, loblolly pine, post oak, red oak, white oak, hickory, and shortleaf pine.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Ouachita Mountains and the Arkansas Valley and Ridges (MLRA 118) (MLRA 119) of Arkansas and Oklahoma. The series is of moderate extent. Carnasaw soils formerly were included in the Enders 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/C/CARNASAW.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
A representative soil profile of the Tihonet series. (Photo provided by New England Soil Profiles)
The Tihonet series consists of very deep, poorly drained soils that formed in thick sandy glaciofluvial deposits. They are on excavated landscapes where the original solum and substratum has been excavated to the depth of the water table. Slope ranges from 0 through 3 percent. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is high or very high. Mean annual temperature is about 48 degrees F. (9 degrees C.) and mean annual precipitation is about 43 inches (1092 millimeters).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, mesic Typic Psammaquents
Depth to bedrock is greater than 165 centimeters. Rock fragments range from 0 through 35 percent throughout and typically consist of gravel size granite, gneiss, and schist. Reaction ranges from extremely acid through moderately acid. Human transported materials range from 0 to 40 centimeters.
USE AND VEGETATION: Tihonet soils are used for cranberry production in southeastern Massachusetts. Other areas are idle abandoned gravel pits and replicated wetlands. Most areas are vegetated with Hardhack, Threeleaf Goldenrod, Pussywillow, Cranberry, Sheeplaurel, Bayberry, Red Maple, Sphagnum moss, Sweet Pepper Bush, and sedges.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeastern Massachusetts. MLRA's 144A and 149B. The series is of small extent.
For additional information about New England soils, visit:
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/T/TIHONET.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
The Korea National Arboretum (KNA) is situated in Gwangneung forest and contains the Forest Museum where all the information on forestry is exhibited. The construction of the arboretum and museum took place on October 25, 1985 and opened on April 5, 1987.
In order to preserve the forests, weekends and holiday entrance may be restricted and advance reservations required.
Soil profile: Typical profile of Dellwood gravelly fine sandy loam. Dellwood soils formed formed from material deposited by streams and consist mainly of sand, gravel, and cobbles. They occur predominantly at the upper end of flood plains throughout Buncombe County. (Soil Survey of Buncombe County, North Carolina; by Mark S. Hudson, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: Burley tobacco in an area of Dellwood-Reddies complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes, occasionally flooded, produces high crop yields when properly managed.
Setting
Landscape: Mountain valleys of low and intermediate mountains throughout the county
Elevation range: 2,100 to 2,800 feet
Landform: Flood plains dominantly at the upper end of mountain valleys
Landform position: Planar to slightly convex bottomland slopes
Shape of areas: Long and narrow
Size of areas: Up to 197 acres
Composition
Dellwood soil and similar inclusions: 60 percent
Land Use
Dominant Uses: Cropland and ornamental crops
Other Uses: Pasture, hayland, recreation, woodland, and wildlife habitat
Agricultural Development
Cropland
Suitability: Suited
Management concerns: Flooding, droughtiness, pesticide retention, soil fertility,
nutrient leaching, and climate
Management measures and considerations:
• The Dellwood soil is limited for crop production because of the high content of rock fragments.
• While most flooding occurs during the winter months, there is a risk of crop loss during the growing season.
• These soils have a low available water capacity and become droughty during periods of low rainfall.
• Using conservation tillage, winter cover crops, crop residue management, and crop rotations which include grasses and legumes helps to increase the available water capacity and improve soil fertility.
• These soils may retain soil-applied herbicides and other pesticides due to the high content of organic matter in the surface layer. The concentration of pesticides may be damaging to future crops.
• Using plant-applied pesticides rather than soil-applied ones may increase their effectiveness.
• Following lime and fertilizer recommendations from soil tests helps to increase the availability of plant nutrients and maximizes crop productivity.
• Using split applications of lime and fertilizer helps to increase their effectiveness and helps to avoid the leaching of plant nutrients below the rooting zone and into the water table.
• Using frequent and light applications of irrigation water helps to avoid the leaching of plant nutrients below the rooting zone.
• Slow air drainage and frost pockets may allow late spring frost to damage new growth in some years.
• The Dellwood soil is limited for crop production due to the high content of rock fragments.
Pasture and hayland
Suitability: Suited
Management concerns: Flooding, droughtiness, pesticide retention, soil fertility, nutrient leaching, and erodibility
Management measures and considerations:
• While most flooding occurs during the winter months, there is a risk of crop loss during the growing season.
• These soils have a low available water capacity and become droughty during periods of low rainfall.
• Using supplemental irrigation and crop varieties adapted to droughty conditions helps to increase crop production.
• These soils may retain soil-applied herbicides and other pesticides due to the high content of organic matter in the surface layer. The concentration of pesticides may be damaging to future crops.
• Using plant-applied pesticides rather than soil-applied ones may increase their effectiveness.
• Following lime and fertilizer recommendations from soil tests helps to increase the availability of plant nutrients and maximizes productivity when establishing, maintaining, or renovating pasture and hayland.
• Using split applications of lime and fertilizer helps to increase their effectiveness and helps to avoid the leaching of plant nutrients below the rooting zone and into the water table.
• Using rotational grazing, implementing a well planned harvesting schedule, and removing livestock in time to allow forage plants to recover before winter dormancy help to maintain pastures and increase productivity.
• Fencing livestock from creeks and streams helps to prevent streambank erosion and sedimentation.
Orchard and ornamental crops
Suitability for orchards: Unsuited
Suitability for ornamental crops: Dellwood—poorly suited; Reddies—suited
Management concerns: Dellwood—flooding, droughtiness, root disease, climate, soil fertility, nutrient leaching, pesticide retention, and ball and burlap harvesting; Reddies—flooding, droughtiness, root disease, climate, soil fertility, nutrient
leaching, and pesticide retention
Management measures and considerations:
• Because of the potential for flooding, these soils can be difficult to manage for orchard or ornamental crops.
• These soils have a low available water capacity and become droughty during periods of low rainfall.
• Due to the seasonal high water table and flooding, phytophthora root disease is a potential limitation affecting Fraser fir and other susceptible ornamentals.
• In areas where water concentrates, such as toeslopes and drainageways, Fraser fir and other ornamentals are susceptible to phytophthora root disease. These areas should be avoided.
• Slow air drainage and frost pockets may allow late spring frost to damage new growth in some years.
• Following lime and fertilizer recommendations from soil tests helps to increase the availability of plant nutrients and maximize productivity.
• Using split applications of lime and fertilizer helps to increase their effectiveness and helps to avoid the leaching of plant nutrients below the rooting zone and into the water table.
• Using frequent and light applications of irrigation water helps to avoid the leaching of plant nutrients below the rooting zone.
• These soils may retain soil-applied herbicides and other pesticides due to the high content of organic matter in the surface layer. The concentration of pesticides may be damaging to future crops.
• Using plant-applied pesticides rather than soil-applied ones may increase their effectiveness.
• Avoiding ball and burlap harvesting during dry periods helps to prevent the fracture of the ball and the separation of the soil from the roots caused by the low moisture and minimal clay contents of the Reddies soil.
• Ball and burlap harvesting is severely limited in areas of the Dellwood soil due to the high content of rock fragments.
Woodland Management and Productivity
Potential for commercial species: Moderately high for cove hardwoods
Suitability: Well suited
Management concerns: Flooding and pesticide retention
Management measures and considerations:
• The potential for flooding is a consideration in the placement of haul roads and log landings.
• Soil-applied herbicides are retained due to herbicide-organic matter bonding, which may damage tree seedlings when cropland is converted to woodland.
Urban Development
Dwellings
Suitability: Unsuited
Management concerns:
• This map unit is severely limited for dwellings because of flooding and wetness. A site should be selected on better suited soils.
Septic tank absorption fields
Suitability: Unsuited
Management concerns:
• This map unit is severely limited for septic tank absorption fields because of wetness and a poor filtering capacity. The local Health Department should be contacted for additional guidance.
Local roads and streets
Suitability: Unsuited
Management concerns:
• This map unit is severely limited for roads and streets because of flooding. A site should be selected on better suited soils.
Lawns and landscaping
Suitability: Suited
Management concerns: Dellwood—flooding, droughtiness, pesticide retention, soil fertility, nutrient leaching, root disease, climate, and high content of rock fragments; Reddies—flooding, droughtiness, pesticide retention, soil fertility, nutrient leaching, root disease, and climate
Management measures and considerations:
• Because of the flooding, these soils are difficult to manage and have severe limitations during periods of inundation.
• Using lime, fertilizer, mulch, irrigation, and varieties adapted to droughty conditions helps to establish lawns and landscape plants. Using split applications of lime and fertilizer helps to increase their effectiveness.
• Using frequent and light applications of irrigation water helps to avoid the leaching of plant nutrients below the rooting zone.
• These soils may retain soil-applied herbicides and other pesticides due to the high content of organic matter in the surface layer. The concentration of pesticides may be damaging to landscape plants.
• Using plant-applied pesticides rather than soil-applied ones may increase their effectiveness.
• Due to the seasonal high water table and flooding, phytophthora root disease is a potential limitation affecting Fraser fir and other susceptible ornamentals.
• In areas where water concentrates, such as toeslopes and drainageways, Fraser fir and other ornamentals are susceptible to phytophthora root disease. These areas should be avoided.
• Slow air drainage and frost pockets may allow late spring frost to damage new growth in some years.
• The Dellwood soil is severely limited for lawns and landscaping due to the high content of rock fragments.
Interpretive Groups
Land capability classification: Dellwood—3s; Reddies—2w
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/north_carolina...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/D/DELLWOOD.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Soil profile: A representative soil profile of the Holdredge series; the State Soil of Nebraska.
The Holdrege series consists of deep, nearly level to gently sloping, well-drained soils on uplands. These soils formed in silty, calcareous loess. The average annual precipitation is about 22 inches, and the annual average snowfall is about 22 inches. The average annual air temperature is about 50 degrees. (Soil Survey of Sherman County, Nebraska; by Frank E. Wahl and Larry G. Ragon, Soil Conservation Service)
Landscape: Holdrege soils are extensive, making up about 1.8 million acres in south-central Nebraska. Slopes typically range from 0 to 6 percent, but they are as much as 15 percent in some areas. Most areas of these soils are used for crops, pasture, or rangeland. Corn, soybeans, and small grain are the main crops grown under dryland conditions. Many areas are irrigated.
The Holdrege series was established in Phelps County, Nebraska, in 1917. it is named after a community in the county. It was selected as the Nebraska State soil in 1979.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/nebraska/NE163...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/H/HOLDREGE.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Never enough time to do everything! We were sampling soils on the coastal sabkha west of Abu Dhabi, UAE.
For more information about soil classification using the UAE Keys to Soil Taxonomy, visit:
agrifs.ir/sites/default/files/United%20Arab%20Emirates%20...
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...
A buried soil is a sequence of genetic horizons in a pedon that is covered with a surface mantle of new soil material that is 50 cm or more thick. In his profile, the surface mantle is about 60 cm thick over a buried soil with well-expressed genetic horizons (an ochric epipedon and an argillic horizon). The buried soil is a soil profile of the Helena soil series located at the head of a drainageway that is receiving overwash (local alluvium) from the surrounding eroding sideslopes. Note the uneven surface of the Ab horizon formed by fast moving water at the time of initial overwash/deposition.
The rules for the taxonomic classification of pedons that include a buried soil are given in Chapter 4, Keys to Soil Taxonomy.
This soil classifies as an Oxyaquic Udifluvent. These soils are like Typic Udifluvents, but they are saturated with water in one or more layers within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface for either or both 20 or more consecutive days or 30 or more cumulative days in normal years. Some of these soils have redox depletions with low chroma (2 or less) at a depth below 100 cm from the mineral soil surface. Oxyaquic Udifluvents are considered intergrades to Aquents.
If a soil has a surface mantle and is not a buried soil, the top of the original surface layer is considered the “soil surface” for determining depth to and thickness of diagnostic horizons and most other diagnostic soil characteristics. The only properties of the surface mantle that are considered are soil temperature, soil moisture (including aquic conditions), and any andic or vitrandic properties and family.
The Icknuun series (a hydric soil) consists of very deep, very poorly drained soils that formed in organic material interlayered with thin strata of mineral material. Icknuun soils are in depressions on till plains. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent.
Hydric soils are formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part (Federal Register, 1994). Most hydric soils exhibit characteristic morphologies that result from repeated periods of saturation or inundation that last more than a few days.
To download the latest version of "Field Indicators of Hydric Soils" and additional technical references, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=s...
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Euic Fluvaquentic Cryohemists
USE AND VEGETATION: Wildlife habitat and recreation. The natural vegetation is mainly sedges, sphagnum moss, bog birch, Labrador tea, and other low-growing shrubs and forbs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Cook Inlet-Susitna Lowlands. The series is of small extent.
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/I/ICKNUUN.html
For geographic distribution, visit:
Peanuts growing in an area of Norfolk loamy sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes. High yields of peanuts can be produced in areas of this soil under good management (Soil Survey of Lee County, South Carolina by Charles M. Ogg, Natural Resources Conservation Service).
Setting
Major land resource area: Southern Coastal Plain
Landform: Marine terraces
Position on the landform: Shoulders and backslopes
Elevation: 138 to 298 feet
Map Unit Composition
Norfolk and similar soils: Typically 83 percent; ranging from about 72 to 95 percent
Typical Profile
Surface layer:
0 to 7 inches—grayish brown loamy sand
Subsurface layer:
7 to 15 inches—light yellowish brown loamy sand
Subsoil layer:
15 to 63 inches—yellowish brown sandy clay loam
63 to 80 inches—brownish yellow sandy clay loam; gray iron depletions and red
masses of oxidized iron
Minor Components
• Noboco soils
• Wagram soils
• Dothan soils
Soil Properties and Qualities
Available water capacity: Moderate (about 7.6 inches)
Slowest saturated hydraulic conductivity: Moderately high (about 0.57 in/hr)
Drainage class: Well drained
Depth to seasonal high water table: About 4.0 to 5.7 feet
Water table kind: Apparent
Flooding hazard: None
Ponding hazard: None
Lee County, South Carolina 85
Shrink-swell potential: Low
Runoff class: Low
Parent material: Fluviomarine deposits
Use and Management Considerations
Cropland
Suitability: Moderately suited to corn, soybeans, and wheat and well suited to cotton
• The slope increases surface runoff, the hazard of erosion, and nutrient loss.
• Soil crusting decreases water infiltration and interferes with the emergence of seedlings.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/south_carolina...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/N/NORFOLK.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
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.
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 information about Hydric Soils and their Field Indicators, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/field...
Center-pivot irrigation (sometimes called central pivot irrigation), also called waterwheel and circle irrigation, is a method of crop irrigation in which equipment rotates around a pivot and crops are watered with sprinklers. A circular area centered on the pivot is irrigated, often creating a circular pattern in crops when viewed from above (sometimes referred to as crop circles).
Soil profile: Benchley clay loam. An accumulation of organic matter is evident in the thick, dark surface layer. (Soil Survey of Robertson County, Texas; by Harold W. Hyde, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: Soybeans on an area of Benchley clay loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes. (Soil Survey of Lee County, Texas; by Maurice R. Jurena, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service)
These nearly level to moderately sloping soils are on ridges on dissected plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 8 percent but are dominantly 1 to 3 percent. Typically cultivated crops are cotton, grain sorghum, corn, soybeans and small grain. Bermudagrass pastures are common. Native vegetation includes little bluestem, big bluestem, Indiangrass, brownseed paspalum and various forbes.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, thermic Udertic Argiustolls
Soil Moisture: An ustic soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is dry in some or all parts for more than 90 days in normal years.
Soil Depth: 152 to more than 203 cm (60 to more than 80 in).
Rock fragments: amount-0 to 5 percent; kind-ironstone nodules, or sandstone; roundness-rounded or angular; cementation-indurated; size-gravel.
Thickness of mollic epipedon: 33 to 48 cm (13 to 19 in)
Depth to argillic horizon: 15 to 33 cm (6 to 13 in)
Depth to slickensides: 38 to 74 cm (15 to 29 in)
Depth to secondary carbonates: 124 to 203 cm (49 to 80 in)
Depth to redox features (when present): 15 to 23 cm (6 to 9 in)
Depth to gypsic horizon (when present): 157 to 203 cm (62 to 80 in)
Depth to densic material (when present): 152 to 203 cm (60 to 80 in)
Particle size control section: 35 to 55 percent
Clay content: 25 to 100 cm (10 to 40 in)
Surface features: When dry, cracks about 1 cm (1/2 in) wide are in the argillic horizon and extend to a depth of 30 cm or more (12 in or more).
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Blackland Prairies of East Central Texas (MLRA 86B). The series is of moderate extent.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/texas/TX395/0/...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/B/BENCHLEY.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Ghaf (Prosopis cineraria) a flowering tree, holds great promise for combating desertification and improving soil fertility in arid environments thanks to its unique qualities, long-term research by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) suggests.
The Rub' al Khali is the largest contiguous sand desert in the world, encompassing most of the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula. The desert covers some 650,000 square kilometres including parts of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. It is part of the larger Arabian Desert. One very large pile of sand!!!
For more photos related to soils and landscapes visit:
Soil profile: A representative soil profile of the Vay series. The Vay series consists of deep and very deep, well drained soils that formed in material derived from granite, gneiss, or schist with a thick mantle of volcanic ash.
Landscape: Vay soils are on mountains and ridgetops. They formed in material derived dominantly from granite, gneiss, and schist with a thick mantle of volcanic ash. Slopes are 15 to 75 percent. Elevations are 3,200 to 6,500 feet. The climate is cold, humid with cool, moist summers and cold, wet winters.
The Vay series consists of deep and very deep, well drained soils on mountains and ridgetops. They formed in material derived from granite, gneiss, or schist with a thick mantle of volcanic ash. Permeability is moderate in the solum and moderately rapid to rapid in the substratum. Slopes are 15 to 75 percent. The average annual precipitation is about 40 inches and the average annual air temperature is about 42 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Medial over loamy-skeletal, amorphic over isotic Vitric Haplocryands
Soil moisture - usually dry for 25 to 45 consecutive days late July to mid-September, moist in the fall through early summer
Average annual soil temperature - 39 to 43 degrees F
Average summer soil temperature - 44 to 46 degrees F with an O horizon Depth to soft bedrock - 40 to 60 inches or more
Volcanic ash mantle - 14 to 24 inches thick
Volcanic glass content in the 0.02 to 2.0 mm fraction - 25 to 65 percent
Acid-oxalate extractable Al + 1/2 Fe - 2.0 to 4.0 percent
Phosphate retention - 80 to 100 percent
15-bar water retention on air dried samples - 15 to 18 percent
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for timber production, wildlife habitat, livestock grazing, recreation, and watershed. Potential natural vegetation is mainly western redcedar, grand fir, Douglas-fir, western white pine, western larch, and western hemlock, with an understory of myrtle pachystima, northern twinflower, goldthread, and queencup beadlily. At higher elevations, the potential natural vegetation is subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce, and mountain larch, with an understory of rustyleaf menziesia, big blueberry, western thimbleberry, Utah honeysuckle, Scouler willow, Sitka mountain ash, elk sedge, and common beargrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern Idaho and eastern Washington. This soil is moderately extensive.
For additional information about Idaho soils, please visit:
storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/97d01af9d4554b9097cb0a477e04...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/V/VAY.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Sand pit from Wadi Bih, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. Note the major cracking of the fines at the bottom of the pit due to the extreme weather conditions. A recent flood had filled the pit with fine textured materials that cracked when dried.
Chernozem (from Russian: chernozyom, is a black-colored soil containing a high percentage of humus (4% to 16%) and high percentages of phosphoric acids, phosphorus, and ammonia. Chernozem is very fertile and can produce high agricultural yields with its high moisture storage capacity. Chernozems are a Reference Soil Group of the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB).
Russian soil scientists rank the deep, central Chernozems among the best soils in the world. With less than half of all Chernozems in Eurasia being used for arable cropping, these soils constitute a formidable resource for the future. Preservation of the favorable soil structure through timely cultivation and careful irrigation at low watering rates prevent wind and water erosion. Application of P fertilizers is required for high yields.
Wheat, barley and maize are the principal crops grown, alongside other food crops and vegetables. Part of the Chernozem area is used for livestock rearing. In the northern temperate belt, the possible growing period is short and the principal crops grown are wheat and barley, in places in rotation with vegetables. Maize and sunflower are widely grown in the warm temperate belt. Maize production tends to stagnate in drier years unless the crop is irrigated adequately (WRB, 2016)
Soil profile: (Photo courtesy of Yakov Kuzyakov, revised.)
For more information about this soil, visit;
wwwuser.gwdg.de/~kuzyakov/soils/WRB-2006_Keys.htm
Landscape: Chernozems are relict soils in Poland, covering only small patches of our country. In recent years, discussions on genesis, transformation and relations of Chernozems with other soil types have been revived. Interdisciplinary research conducted jointly with archaeologists broadened knowledge and verified scenarios of Cherznozems evolution in selected regions of Poland. On the other hand, there are reports of significant degradation or even disappearance of Chernozems due to intensive cultivation and soil erosion. It indicates the great importance to protect these fertile soils. Therefore, despite the fact that Chernozem is “the first among soils”, from recognizing the genesis of which modern soil science has begun, we still see exciting research challenges and practical needs regarding these soils in Poland, as well as in Central and Eastern Europe. (Cezary Kabała)
For more information about "Chernozem – Soil of the Year 2019", visit;
Kentucky State Soil
Soil profile: A representative soil profile of the Crider series. (Soil Survey of Floyd County, Indiana; by Steven W. Neyhouse, Byron G. Nagel, and Dena L. Marshall, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
archive.org/details/FloydIN2007
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.
Landscape: Wheat in an area of Crider silt loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes. These soils are on nearly level to sloping uplands. Slopes commonly range from 0 to 12 percent. Many areas are undulating to rolling karst topography. The upper 50 to 100 centimeters of the solum formed in loess and the lower part formed in limestone residuum or old alluvium. (Soil Survey of Christian County, Kentucky, by Ronald D. Froedge, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Crider series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils on uplands. They formed in a loess mantle and the underlying residuum from limestone. Slopes range from 0 to 30 percent. Near the type location, the mean annual precipitation is 48 inches and the mean annual temperature is 57 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, active, mesic Typic Paleudalfs
Thickness of the solum ranges from 60 to more than 100 inches. Depth to bedrock ranges from 60 to more than 160 inches; commonly more than 100 inches. Fragments of chert ranges from 0 to about 15 percent; in some pedons it ranges 0 to 35 percent below the lithologic discontinuity. Reaction is from neutral to strongly acid to a depth of 40 inches, and from moderately acid to very strongly acid below 40 inches.
USE AND VEGETATION: Nearly all of the soil is used for growing crops and pasture. The chief crops are corn, small grains, soybeans, tobacco,and hay; truck crops are grown in a few places. The original vegetation was mixed hardwood forest, chiefly of oaks, maple, hickory, elm, ash, and hackberry.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Pennyroyal and the western Outer Bluegrass of Kentucky; the northern part of the Highland Rim of Tennessee, and Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. The soil is of large extent, about 1 million acres.
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/C/CRIDER.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
A representative soil profile and landscape of the Ford End soil series from England. (Photos and information provided by LandIS, Land Information System: Cranfield University 2022. The Soils Guide. Available: www.landis.org.uk. Cranfield University, UK. Last accessed 14/01/2022). (Photos revised.)
These and associated soils are moderately permeable calcareous loamy soils over chalky gravel variably affected by groundwater.
They are classified as Calcaric Gleysols by the WRB soil classification system. (www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf)
For more information about this soil, visit:
This photo accompanies Figure 8.—Indicator A1, Histosol or Histel. [Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States].
(Foreground): These are very deep, very poorly drained soils that formed in partially decomposed organic material (Typic Cryohemists). See Keys to Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff) for a complete definition.
They are on depressional bench-like areas associated with drumlinoid hills and the toeslope, lower backslopes, and floors of valleys. They have moderately rapid permeability and slow runoff. The water table is near or at the surface year-round. Mean annual temperature is about 45 degrees F, and the mean annual precipitation is about 100 to 130 inches.
The thickness of the organic material is greater than 52 inches. The surface tier is dominantly hemic material (mucky peat) with the uppermost layer typically fibric material (peat).
Vegetation is dominantly sedges, Sphagnum sp., and hydrophytic forbs, along with stunted lodgepole pine, western hemlock, and Alaska yellow cedar. These soils are used primarily for wildlife habitat, recreation, and watershed protection. The soils are extensive in Southeast Alaska.
General setting: White Rim region of The Maze and Island in the Sky Districts, Canyonlands National Park
Elevation: 3,980 to 5,210 feet (1,214 to 1,587 meters)
Mean annual precipitation: 5 to 9 inches (127 to 229 millimeters)
Mean annual air temperature: 53 to 59 degrees F (11.7 to 15.0 degrees C)
Mean annual soil temperature: 55 to 61 degrees F (12.8 to 16.1 degrees C)
Frost-free period: 175 to 195 days
Major Land Resource Area: 35–Colorado Plateau
Map Unit Composition
Goblin and similar soils: 90 percent
Minor Components:
• Rock outcrop (Moenkopie Formation sandstone, Schnabkaib Member)
• Moderately deep gypsic soils–Desert Gypsum Loam (Torrey Mormon tea)
Taxonomic classification: Loamy-skeletal, gypsic, mesic Lithic Haplogypsids
Landform: Hills
Geology: Moenkopie Formation Sandstone, Schnabkaib Member (Triassic)
Parent material: gypsiferous residuum weathered from sandstone
Slope: 6 to 45 percent, north to northwest aspects
Ground Cover: (% Cover) (fig. 42)
Plant Canopy: 25-30
Litter <5mm: 3-8
Rock Fragments: 12-20
Bare Soil: 0-5
Cyanobacteria Crust: 8-12
Lichen Crust: 30-40
Moss Crust: 0-5
Salt Crust: 0
Gypsum Crust: 5-10
Depth to restrictive feature(s): 6 to 16 inches to bedrock, lithic
Drainage class: somewhat excessively drained
Slowest permeability: 2.0 to 6.0 in/hr (moderately rapid)
Available water capacity total inches: about 0.5 (very low)
Shrink-swell potential: about 1.5 LEP (low)
Flooding hazard: none
Ponding hazard: none
Seasonal water table minimum depth: greater than 60 inches
Runoff class: very high
Hydrologic group: D
Calcium carbonate maximum: about 5 percent
Gypsum maximum: about 40 percent
Salinity maximum: about 8 mmhos/cm (slightly saline)
Sodium adsorption ratio maximum: about 0 SAR (nonsodic)
Ecological site name: Desert Very Shallow Gypsum (Torrey’s Jointfir)
Ecological site number: R035XY142UT
Present vegetation (in most areas): shadscale saltbush, rubber rabbitbrush, galleta,
Torrey Mormon tea, scarlet globemallow, buckwheat
Land capability (non irrigated): 7s
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/G/GOBLIN.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Soils are critical to life on Earth. Indeed, they are as essential as water for the sustenance of humans and a multitude of other species. They serve many crucial functions - from food production to groundwater storage to carbon sequestration. It might not seem obvious, but soils store more carbon than is contained in all aboveground vegetation and regulate emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Unfortunately, soils have been in decline over the past decades. Studies show that some 33% of the world’s soils suffer from moderate to severe degradation. From erosion to salinization to nutrient depletion to loss of soil biodiversity, soils are under threat from man-made and natural factors.
So it is very important to ensure their sustainable use for food production and other purposes. And building awareness is a first step in this direction.
There are a number of dedicated soil museums in different countries, including the UAE. They serve to spread knowledge about the importance of soils and promote efforts on environmental protection and sustainable development.
However, until recently, there was no up-to-date, comprehensive information about the status of soil museums worldwide.
So a major study published recently in Advances in Agronomy sought to fill this gap. The study collected the latest information about soil museums and museums with permanent exhibitions on soils around the world, including the Emirates Soil Museum hosted by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA).
Conducted by an international team of soil experts, the study identified 38 soil museums specifically dedicated to soils, 34 permanent soil exhibitions, and 32 collections of soils that are accessible by appointment. It also analyzed the number of soil museums since the early 1900s, as well as information about their locations, contents, and visitors.
According to the study, the number of soil museums has increased since the early 1900s, and there was a noticeable growth between 2015 and 2019. It shows that Europe, East and South-East Asia have the highest concentration of soil museums and permanent exhibitions related to soils, with Russia having the largest number of soil monoliths exhibited and the International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC) - World Soil Museum having the richest and most diverse collection of soil monoliths.
The study also notes that various soil museums are increasingly offering fun activities, including interactive animations for children and adults, guided tours, and conferences. Some museums are also using advanced technologies to attract more visitors, including augmented reality applications, videos, animations, 3D models, and interactive games.
Speaking of the study, Ms. Mai Shalaby, Curator of the Emirates Soil Museum and co-author of the study, said: “Soil museums play a huge role when it comes to building awareness about soils and their link to sustainable development. At the Emirates Soil Museum - a unique facility in the Gulf region established in 2016 - we have been continuously making efforts to disseminate information about soils and threats facing them. Over the years, our museum has become a knowledge hub and has benefitted thousands of students, researchers, professionals, environmentalists, decision- and policy-makers.”
According to the authors, soil museums play a significant role in educating the general public about environmental protection and sustainable development. Therefore, it is important to support them in every way possible. Moreover, the study concludes that, though relatively numerous overall, soil museums and exhibitions still remain sparse in some parts of the world.
Posted Monday, November 30, 2020