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A soil profile of a poorly drained Sulfaquept in Korea. This soil is used to grow rice. The left side of the profile exhibits natural soil structure; the right side of the profile has been smoothed. Draining the soil has caused sulfur within the soil to oxidize, thereby forming sulfuric acid. The yellow streaks below a depth of about 30 cm are concentrations of the mineral jarosite, which is produced as the sulfur is oxidized. (Soil Survey Staff. 2015. Illustrated guide to Soil Taxonomy. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, Nebraska)
Sulfaquepts are acid sulfate soils that have been drained and oxidized at some time. They are extremely acid and toxic to most plants. They are mostly dark gray and have straw-colored mottles of iron sulfate (jarosite) within a depth of 50 cm. They are mainly in drained coastal marshes near the mouths of rivers that carry sediments that are free of carbonates or have a low content of carbonates. They can have any texture, but most are loamy or clayey. These soils contain an appreciable amount of organic carbon (of Holocene age). They are rare in the United States but occur elsewhere in a few areas that have been used mainly for the production of rice.
For additional information about soil classification, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/cla...
Typic Aquisalids, sandy, mixed, hyperthermic (Soil AD129) are very deep, sands with a surface salt crust. They usually occur in slight depressions, or on coastal flats above the tidal zone. They are formed on alluvial sands. They are poorly drained or very poorly drained and are slowly permeable. Water table fluctuates between 40 and 90cm depth. Ferruginous red sand is commonly observed in the subsoil.
The high salt concentration and the shallow water table prevent vegetation growth. The soils typically remain unused and devoid of vegetation. The soils occur throughout the coastline of Abu Dhabi Emirate and throughout Sabkha Matti.
Scattered occurrences have been recorded from the eastern areas and from deflation plains within the Liwa dunes. The soil has been identified as a map unit component in numerous map units across the Emirate.
Plate 27: Typical soil profile and associated landscape for Typic Aquisalids sandy, mixed, hyperthermic (Soil AD129).
A representative soil profile of the Rabun soil series on the farm of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in Virginia.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, kaolinitic, mesic Typic Rhodudults
The Rabun series consists of deep, well drained permeable soils that formed in residuum weathered from dark colored rock high in ferromagnesium minerals. These soils are on gently sloping to steep ridges and mountain slopes. The slope is dominantly 25 to 45 percent but ranges from 2 to 50 percent.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most of the sloping and much of the
moderately steep soils have been cleared and used for corn, hay, and pasture. Concave forested areas are mostly in yellow-poplar ridges and long slopes are mostly in upland oaks, eastern white pine, pitch pine, shortleaf pine, pignut hickory, and mockernut hickory.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Appalachian Mountains of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The series is of moderate extent.
For a detailed description, please visit:
A representative soil profile of the Paroa series from New Zealand. (Photo provided by NZ Soils.co.nz and Waikato Regional Council.) For more information about New Zealand soils, visit;
Paroa soils from 0 - 18 cm; Very dark brown silt loam with coarse sand (Tarawera Tephra) in the upper 5 cm. In the New Zealand Soil Classification system these soils Acid Recent Gley Soils. For more information about the New Zealand Soil Classification system, visit;
soils.landcareresearch.co.nz/describing-soils/nzsc/
In U.S. Soil Taxonomy, these soils are Andic or Aquic Humic Dystrudepts. Andic Dystrudepts have some andic soil properties in a layer in the upper part that is 18 cm or more thick. Some of the soils contain a significant amount of volcanic ash. Some have an umbric epipedon. Andic are moderately extensive in the Northwestern United States. The native vegetation consists mostly of coniferous forest. Most of these soils support their native vegetation and are used as forest. A few of the less sloping soils have been cleared and are used as cropland or pasture.
Aquic Humic Dystrudepts have redox depletions with low chroma in a brownish or reddish matrix in the subsoil and have an umbric or mollic epipedon. Most also have redox concentrations with high chroma. Most of the Aquic Humic Dystrudepts in the United States formed in late- Pleistocene sediments and have gentle slopes. Ground water commonly is present only during wet periods unless the soils are artificially drained. The native vegetation consists mostly of mixed forest. Many of these soils are used as forest, and many have been cleared and are used as cropland or pasture.
For additional information about U.S. Soil Taxonomy, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/cla...
The Dothan series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in thick beds of unconsolidated, medium to fine-textured marine sediments. Dothan soils are on interfluves. Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 18 degrees C (65 degrees F), and the mean annual precipitation is about 1360 millimeters (53 inches).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Plinthic Kandiudults*
For the latest information on soil classification, visit the Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Thirteenth Edition, 2022.
*Classification considerations for this and similar pedons:
Ochric epipedon--YES
Argillic (Kandic) horizon--YES
Pale clay curve--YES
Places the soil as a Kandiudult
Possible subgroups:
Plinthic (plinthite)--YES
The pedon has 20 percent cemented plinthite within 150 cm of mineral soil surface.
Oxyaquic moisture regime (subgroup)--MARGINAL
The pedon has evidence of episaturation (common masses of oxidized iron and areas of iron depletions) starting at a depth of 90 cm (<100 cm) with 10 percent 2 chroma depletions starting at a depth of 105 cm.
Fragic soil properties--YES
The pedon has a >60 percent dense, brittle horizon starting at 137cm that is root limiting (zones that roots can enter are >10cm apart).
Conclusions:
The current classification of Plinthic Kandiudults is correct, but less than accurate. If the pedon meets the traditional subgroup criteria for Plinthic, Oxyaquic, and Fragic, it can only be recognized as a Plinthic Kandiudult as the Plinthic subgroup keys-out before Oxyaquic and a Plinthic Oxyaquic or Fragic subgroup is not recognized in the great group of Kandiudults. A more accurate classification for the pedon is a "Plinthic Oxyaquic Fragic Kandiudult".
In addition, in ST the severity of the subgroup limitation is the basis for the listed subgroup order. Where soils are in adjacent Great Groups (with similar properties) the subgroup order should most likely be the same as in the following:
Selected Subgroups key in the following order:
Kanhapludult: Oxyaquic > Plinthic > Fragic
Hapludults: Fragic .> Oxyaquic > NO Plinthic
Kandiudults: Plinthic > Oxyaquic > NO Fragic
Paleudults: Oxyaquic> Plinthic > Fragic
The standard argument for missing subgroups, is no one has proposed the subgroup be added. This may explain missing subgroups, but not the change in the order of the Key. For example, if the presence of a water table (Oxyaquic) is the more limiting restriction, it should key before the less restrictive Plinthic or Fragic properties regardless of the Great Group.
ST would be better served if:
1) once criteria has been met for an established subgroup, the subgroup is to be named, (as with the World Reference Base taxonomy system), and
2) the order listed for subgroups be in the same sequence in all relevant Great groups.
_____________________________
Ap--0 to 19 centimeters (0 to 8 inches); brown (10YR 4/3) loamy sand; weak fine granular structure; very friable; about 2 percent, by volume, ironstone nodules; many fine roots; strongly acid; abrupt smooth boundary.
E--19 to 37 centimeters (8 to 15 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) loamy sand; single grain; loose; few medium roots; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bt--37 to 90 centimeters (15 to 35 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) sandy clay loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine roots; common faint clay films on ped faces; about 1 to 3 percent by volume, (5 to 15mm in diameter) plinthite nodules; few medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Btv1--90 to 105 centimeters (35 to 41 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) sandy clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine roots; common faint clay films on ped faces; about 10 percent by volume, weakly cemented platy plinthite; common medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/8), red (2.5YR 4/8), yellow (10YR 7/8) masses of oxidized iron and common medium distinct light yellowish brown (10YR 6/3) areas of iron depletions; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Btv2--105 to 137 centimeters (41 to 54 inches); about 30 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8), 20 percent strong brown (7.5YR 5/8), 20 percent red (2.5YR 4/8), 20 percent yellow (10YR 7/8) and 10 percent very pale brown (10YR 8/2) parachannery sandy clay loam in a polygonal/vesicular pattern; weak medium subangular blocky structure; firm; compact in place; few fine roots on vertical faces of peds; common faint clay films on ped faces; about 20 percent by volume, weakly cemented platy plinthite; the areas of yellowish brown, strong brown, red, and yellow are oxidized iron masses; the areas of very pale brown are iron depletions; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
BCtvx--137 to 150+ centimeters (54 to more than 60 inches); about 50 percent red (2.5YR 4/8); 35 strong brown (7.5YR 5/8), 10 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8), and 5 percent very pale brown (10YR 8/2) sandy clay loam in a polygonal/vesicular pattern; weak medium subangular blocky structure; firm; 60 to 75 brittle and compact in place; very few fine roots spaced greater than 10 cm apart; common faint clay films on ped faces; about 5 percent by volume, weakly cemented platy plinthite; the areas of yellowish brown, strong brown, red, and yellow are oxidized iron masses; the areas of very pale brown are iron depletions; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Plinthite: Depth to horizons that contain 5 percent or more plinthite ranges from 60 to 152 centimeters (24 to 60 inches).
Silt content is less than 20 percent.
Clay content is between 18 to 35 percent in the upper 51 centimeters (20 inches) of the Bt horizon.
Depth to Redox features: Predominantly greater than 102 centimeters (40 inches), but some pedons have iron depletions below a depth of 76 centimeters (30 inches).
USE AND VEGETATION:
Most areas of Dothan soils have been cleared and are used for the production of corn, cotton, peanuts, vegetable crops, hay, and pasture. Forested areas are in longleaf pine, loblolly pine, sweetgum, southern red oak, and hickory.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
Major Land Resource Areas (MLRA): The series occurs primarily in the Southern Coastal Plain (MLRA 133A), but it also occurs to a lesser extent in the Atlantic Coast Flatwoods (MLRA 153A).
Extent: large extent.
For additional site specific information visit the "Soil Survey of Lee County. South Carolina."
Additional information can also be accessed by using Soil Web or Web Soil Survey.
Gypsic Aquisalids, sandy, gypsic, hyperthermic (Soil AD126) are moderately deep, sandy soils that contain high levels of gypsum and a water table within the upper 100cm. The surface is crusted with salts more soluble than gypsum. The crust is uplifted to a height of 10cm and erupted. The soils are without vegetation and gravels. These soils are very slippery and heavy machinery can become stuck easily. The soils occur throughout the coastal plain and some inland sabkha. The soils are poorly drained and slowly permeable.
The high salt concentration and the shallow water table prevent vegetation growth, soils are without any vegetation. The soils occur on the supratidal flat of the coastline of Abu Dhabi Emirate in small to large patches.
Plate 24: Typical soil profile and associated landscape for Gypsic Aquisalids sandy, gypsic, hyperthermic (Soil AD126).
Below the A or Ap horizon, these soils have chroma that is too high for the Typic subgroup, but they are otherwise like Typic Endoaqualfs in their defined properties and in most other properties. The high chroma commonly occurs in the matrix of the peds in the argillic horizon. Aeric Endoaqualfs are moderately extensive in the north-central part of the United States. Nearly all of the soils have been cleared and are used as cropland.
Left: Soil profile of an Aeric Endoaqualf (Guangdong Province of China).
Center: Typical landscape associated with the soil profile.
Right: (upper part) Thick silt coats on ped face; (lower part) gray translocated silt lining pores.
For more information about the soil profile, see photo"Endoaqualf CN"
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".
A representative soil profile of the Ballyglass series in an area of improved grassland from Ireland. These soils formed in coarse loamy over sandstone bedrock.
For detailed information about this soil, visit;
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/rep_profile_sheet.php?series_code=11...
For information about the soil series of Ireland, visit;
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/soilguide.php
In the Irish soil classification system these soils are Typical Brown Earths. These soils have distinct topsoil, without any distinguishing features.
For more information about describing and classifying soils using the Irish Soils Classification System, visit:
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/downloads/SIS_Final_Technical_Report...
A representative soil profile and landscape of the Bearsted 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 dominantly brownish or reddish subsoils and no prominent mottling or greyish colours (gleying) above 40 cm depth. They are developed mainly on permeable materials at elevations below about 300 m.0.D. Most are in agricultural use.
They are non-alluvial, with non-calcareous loamy or clayey subsoils without significant clay enrichment. They formed in light loamy material passing to sand or soft sandstone.
They are classified as Eutric Cambisols by the WRB soil classification system. (www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf)
For more information about this soil, visit:
The Lofton series consists of very deep, moderately well drained, very slowly permeable soils that formed in clayey lacustrine deposits from the Blackwater Draw Formation of Pleistocene age. These nearly level soils are on playa steps or shallow depressions. Slope ranges from 0 to 1 percent. Mean annual precipitation is 483 mm (19 in), and mean annual temperature is 16 degrees C (61 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, superactive, thermic Vertic Argiustolls
Soil moisture: A typic-ustic moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is dry in some or all parts more than 90 but less than 180 cumulative days in normal years. July through August and November through March are the driest months. These soils are intermittently moist in September through October and April through June. The soil receives runoff from surrounding soils and the soil moisture control section is moist for longer periods than that of the surrounding soils.
Mean annual soil temperature: 15 to 18 degrees C (59 to 64 degrees F).
Depth to argillic horizon: 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 in).
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: 50 to 100 cm (20 to 40 in).
Depth to calcic horizon: 100 to 150 cm (40 to 60 in).
Vertic properties: COLE is more than 0.06 within 100 cm (40 in) of the soil surface.
Solum thickness: more than 203 cm (80 in).
Particle-size control section: 35 to 50 percent silicate clay.
USE AND VEGETATION: Mainly cultivated to cotton, grain sorghum, corn, and winter wheat. Native vegetation varies according to amount of water available. It includes western wheatgrass, vine-mesquite, buffalograss, blue grama, knotgrass, and bur ragweed. Sedges, spike rushes, and curly dock occur in wetter areas.
This soil has been correlated to the Deep Hardland 16-21"PZ (R077CY022TX) ecological site in MLRA-77C.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern High Plains, Southern Part (MLRA 77C in LRR H) of western Texas and eastern New Mexico. The series is moderately extensive.
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/L/LOFTON.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
The Pomona series consists of very deep, poorly and very poorly drained soils that formed in sandy and loamy marine sediments. Pomona soils are on flats and flatwoods on marine terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Ultic Alaquods
USE AND VEGETATION:
Under natural conditions Pomona soils are used for water quality and wildlife habitat. Cultivated areas are used for truck crops and tame pasture. Potential native vegetation consists of slash pine, longleaf pine, and south Florida slash pine with an understory of sawpalmetto, waxmyrtle, gallberry, creeping bluestem, chalky bluestem, indiangrass, and pineland threeawn.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): Southern Florida Flatwoods (MLRA 155), South Central Florida Ridge (MLRA 154), and Southern Florida Lowlands (MLRA 156B)
Extent: Moderate
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/P/POMONA.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
A soil profile of Gertrudis fine sandy loam, in area of Gertrudis fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes. Calcium carbonate masses and concretions begin at a depth of about 130 cm. (Survey of Kenedy and Kleberg Counties, Texas)
The Gertrudis series consists of very deep, moderately permeable, well drained soils that have formed in loamy eolian deposits over calcareous loamy alluvium of Quaternary age. These nearly level to gently sloping soils are on erosional terrace remnants. Slope ranges from 0 to 3 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 22.2 degrees C (72 degrees F), and the mean annual precipitation is about 660 millimeters (26 in).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, active, hyperthermic Typic Calciustolls
Soil Moisture: An ustic moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is dry in some or all parts for more than 90 but less than 180 cumulative days in normal years. June through August and December through February are the driest months. These soils are intermittently moist in September through November and March through May.
Mean annual soil temperature: 22.2 to 23.4 degrees C (72 to 74 degrees F).
Depth to secondary calcium carbonates: 15 to 43 cm (6 to 17 in).
Particle-size control section (weighted average) clay content: 19 to 27 percent.
USE AND VEGETATION: The major uses are crop production, livestock grazing, and wildlife habitat. Grasses present include false rhodesgrass, Kleberg bluestem, plains bristlegrass, shortspike windmillgrass, and guineagrass. Woody vegetation consists of mesquite, catclaw, elbowbush, limepricklyash, pricklypear, granjeno, and tassajillo. Crops grown include grain sorghum, watermelons and cotton. The ecological site is Gray Sandy Loam, P-E 19-31 (RO83AY388TX).
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern Rio Grande Plain (MLRA 83A in LRR I) and Central Rio Grande Plain (MLRA 83C in LRR I) along the margins of the Sandsheet Prairie of South Texas. The series is of moderate extent. These soils were previously included in the Hildalgo series.
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/G/GERTRUDIS.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Ar Riwedah soil series.
www.flickr.com/photos/jakelley/50698546203/in/album-72157...
Most of the UAE's cultivated land is taken up by date palms, which in the early 1990s numbered about 4 million. They are cultivated in the arc of small oases that constitute the Al Liwa Oasis. Both federal and amirate governments provide incentives to farmers. For example, the government offers a 50 percent subsidy on fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides. It also provides loans for machinery and technical assistance. The amirates have forty-one agricultural extension units as well as several experimental farms and agricultural research stations. The number of farmers rose from about 4,000 in the early 1970s to 18,265 in 1988.
Lack of arable land, intense heat, periodic locust swarms, and limited water supplies are the main obstacles to agriculture. The drive to increase the area under cultivation has resulted in the rapid depletion of underground aquifers, resulting in precipitous drops in water tables and serious increases in soil and water salinity in some areas.
Soil profile: A Epihypersodic, Pedal, Hypercalcic, Calcarosol. Original notes and photos provided by the State of Victoria (Agriculture Victoria) with revision.
Landscape: These upland soils formed in Quaternary aeolian and alluvial deposits.
Calcarosols lack strong texture contrast between surface (A) and subsoil (B) horizons. These soils are also calcareous throughout and often have accumulations of calcium carbonate (lime) in the soil profile. These soils form on calcareous, aeolian sediments of variable texture.
Some Calcarosols have a small, gradual increase in clay content with depth. Lime is abundant in the subsoils, either in soft form, in nodules or as blocks, and it may extend to the surface of medium to heavy textured soils. The pH tends to be highly alkaline. However, the upper horizons in sands may only be weakly alkaline. Sodicity and salinity levels are usually high in the heavier subsoils.
For more information about these soils, visit;
vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/malregn.nsf/pages/mall...
In soil taxonomy, these soils are commonly Alfisols or Aridisols. For more information about Soil Taxonomy, visit;
A representative soil profile of a Typic Haplocryalf in Idaho.
The Haplocryalfs of the United States are in the mountains of the Western States and have a cryic temperature regime. Most support coniferous forest vegetation. Virtually none of them are cultivated because their slopes are steep and the growing season is short and cool. In other countries, Haplocryalfs occur on mountains and also on plains nearly as far north as the line of continuous permafrost. Some of the associated soils on these landscapes are Gelisols on northfacing slopes and Histosols.
The central concept or Typic subgroup of Haplocryalfs is fixed on freely drained soils that are deep or moderately deep to hard rock. These soils have a high color value in an Ap horizon or in a layer of comparable depth after mixing and have a loamy or finer textured argillic horizon. Most of them are under a coniferous forest. Slopes generally are moderately steep to very steep.
For additional information about Idaho soils, please visit:
storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/97d01af9d4554b9097cb0a477e04...
The Houk series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils on low terraces and bottomlands. They formed in mixed alluvium weathered from andesite, granite, rhyolite, and basalt. Permeability is slow. Slopes are 0 to 2 percent. The average annual precipitation is about 14 inches and the average annual air temperature is about 41 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, frigid Argiaquic Xeric Argialbolls
Average annual soil temperature - 41 to 45 degrees F
Depth to water table - 30 to 60 inches; April through September
Depth to mottles - 30 to 46 inches
Clay content in control section - 35 to 60 percent
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for pasture, dry cropland, and some irrigated cropland. Crops are small grain and hay. Vegetation is silver sagebrush, foxtail barley, water tolerant grasses, common camas and willows.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern and south-central Idaho. The soils are moderately extensive.
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/H/HOUK.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
A representative soil profile of the Port series, the Oklahoma State Soil. (Soil Survey of Noble County, Oklahoma; by Gregory F. Scott, Troy L. Collier, Jim E. Henley, R. Dwaine Gelnar, and Karen B. Stevenson, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Port series consist of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable flood plain soils that formed in calcareous loamy alluvium of Recent age. These nearly level to very gently sloping soils are on narrow flood plains in the Central Rolling Red Prairies (MLRA-80A) and the Central Rolling Red Prairies (MLRA 78C). Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent. Mean annual precipitation is 32 inches. Mean annual temperature is 63 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, thermic Cumulic Haplustolls
Depth of secondary calcium carbonates ranges from 20 to 60 inches. Thickness of the mollic epipedon ranges from 20 to 40 inches. The A, Bk/Bw, and C horizons are silt loam, loam, silty clay loam, or clay loam.
USE AND VEGETATION: Mainly cultivated to alfalfa, small grains, grain sorghum, and cotton. Some areas are used for tame pasture or rangeland for grazing beef cattle. Native vegetation is tall grasses with an overstory of pecan, black walnut, bur oak, and eastern cottonwood trees.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Eastern part of the Central Rolling Red Plains (MLRA-78C) and the Central Rolling Red Prairies (MLRA-80A) of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. The series is extensive.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/oklahoma/OK103...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/P/PORT.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
The Ramsdell series consists of very deep, very poorly drained soils on level or nearly level low stream terraces and depressions on floodplains and valley floors. They formed in silty alluvium. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-silty, mixed, superactive, nonacid, frigid Aquandic Endoaquepts
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mostly for non-irrigated oats, pasture, hay, and grass seed production. Natural vegetation is Pacific willow, black cottonwood, western river alder, and western redcedar, with an understory of grass, and sedge, and forbs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern Idaho. This soil is not extensive.
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/R/RAMSDELL.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Soil profile: A representative soil profile of the Minehart series. (Soil Survey of Clark Mountain, Jean Lake, and Crescent Park Grazing Allotments, California; by Carrie-Ann Houdeshell, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Minehart series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium derived from volcanic and metamorphic rocks. Minehart soils are on fan remnants. Slope ranges from 2 to 8 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 200 millimeters and the mean annual temperature is about 18 degrees C. The frost-free season is 180 to 240 days.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Ustic Paleargids
Soil moisture - Usually dry, moist in some part from December to March and intermittently moist for 10 to 20 days during July to October following summer convection storms; aridic moisture regime bordering on ustic.
Soil temperature: 15 to 18 degrees C.
Depth to argillic horizon: 5 to 10 centimeters.
Clay content: Averages 18 to 27 percent.
Control section - Rock fragments: Averages 5 to 20 percent, mainly gravel.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat. The present vegetation is mainly galleta, bush muhly, black grama, Coopers goldenbush and banana yucca.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mojave Desert of southeastern California; MLRA 30. These soils are not extensive.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/california/cla...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/M/MINEHART.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
A representative soil profile and landscape of a Luvisol from Luxembourg. (Photos courtesy of Stefaan Dondeyne, revised.)
Luvisols have a higher clay content in the subsoil than in the topsoil, as a result of pedogenetic processes (especially clay migration) leading to an argic subsoil horizon. Luvisols have high-activity clays throughout the argic horizon and a high base saturation in the 50–100 cm depth. Many Luvisols are known as Texturally-differentiated soils and part of Metamorphic soils (Russia), Sols lessivés (France), Parabraunerden (Germany), Chromosols (Australia) and Luvissolos (Brazil). In the United States of America, they were formerly named Grey-brown podzolic soils and belong now to the Alfisols with high-activity clays.
Cutanic (from Latin cutis, skin): having an argic or natric horizon that meets diagnostic criterion 2b (evidence of illuvial clay) for the respective horizon.
An argic horizon (from Latin argilla, white clay) is a subsurface horizon with distinctly higher clay content than the overlying horizon. The textural differentiation may be caused by:
• an illuvial accumulation of clay,
• predominant pedogenetic formation of clay in the subsoil,
• destruction of clay in the surface horizon,
• selective surface erosion of clay,
• upward movement of coarser particles due to swelling and shrinking,
• biological activity, or
• a combination of two or more of these different processes.
Stagnic (from Latin stagnare, to stagnate): are soils having a layer ≥ 25 cm thick, and starting ≤ 75 cm from the mineral soil surface, that does not form part of a hydragric horizon and that has stagnic properties in which the area of reductimorphic colours plus the area of oximorphic colours is ≥ 25% of the layer's total area, and reducing conditions for some time during the year in the major part of the layer's volume that has the reductimorphic colours.
Stagnic soil materials develop stagnic properties (from Latin stagnare, to stagnate) if they are, at least temporarily, saturated with surface water (or were saturated in the past, if now drained) for a period long enough that allows reducing conditions to occur (this may range from a few days in the tropics to a few weeks in other areas). In some soils with stagnic properties, the reducing conditions are caused by the intrusion of other liquids such as gasoline. (WRB)
For more information about soil classification using the WRB system, visit:
A representative soil profile and landscape of the Manod 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 black, dark brown or ochreous humus and iron-enriched subsoils formed as a result of acid weathering conditions. Under natural or semi-natural vegetation, they have an unincorporated acid organic layer at the surface. They formed in medium loamy material over lithoskeletal mudstone and sandstone or slate.
They are classified as Chromic Mollic Endoskeletic Umbrisols by the WRB soil classification system. (www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf)
For more information about this soil, visit:
Plate 32: Typical soil profile and associated landscape for the Al Ashtan series (soil AD231).
Taxonomic classification: Gypsic Haplosalids, sandy, mixed, hyperthermic, shallow
The Al Ashtan series is a shallow sandy soil overlying bedrock (typically siltstone or claystone). The soils are typically moderately well to excessively drained. They occur on flats and gentle slopes within level to gently undulating deflation and sabkha plains. They are formed from eolian sands that overlie Tertiary sediments.
These soils may be used for rangeland grazing of camels though vegetation cover is frequently less than 5% and often absent. Vegetation species recorded are Haloxylon salicornicum and occasional and occasional Zygophyllum spp.
This soil is common within the coastal flats and deflation plains of the Ghayathi sub-area and also from the As Sila’ sub-area. Occasional occurrences have been described from the Al Ain sub-area.
The main features of this soil are the shallow depth (<50cm) to a lithic contact and the high salinity levels within the soil. The soil material above the hardpan is sandy and contains a gypsic horizon. The shallow depth to the hardpan layer and the high salt levels are the main restriction for this soil. This soil is considered unsuitable for irrigated agriculture.
Plate 16: Typical soil profile and associated landscape for the Al Daghar series, saline phase (soil AD216).
Taxonomic classification: Lithic Haplogypsids, sandy, mixed, hyperthermic
The Al Daghar series saline phase is a shallow sandy soil overlying bedrock (typically calcareous sandstone). It is a phase of the Al Daghar series in that at least one soil horizon presents slightly elevated EC1:1 values suggesting some limited accumulation of secondary salts. The soils are typically moderately well to excessively drained. They occur on flats and gentle slopes within level to gently undulating deflation plains. They are formed from eolian sands and occur in older landscapes.
These soils are used for rangeland grazing of camels though vegetation cover is frequently less than 5%. Common vegetation species recorded include Haloxylon salicornicum, Zygophyllum spp. and Stipagrostis plumosa.
This soil has predominantly been described from the Ghayathi sub-area. Occasional sites were also described in the As Sila and Al Ain sub-areas.
The main feature of this soil is the shallow depth (<50cm) to a lithic contact. The soil material above the hardpan is sandy, contains a gypsic horizon, and has slightly elevated EC1:1 levels. The shallow depth to the hardpan layer is the main restriction for this soil. This restricts water movement, moisture retention and presents a barrier to root development further restricting the availability of nutrients. The presence of gypsum and slightly elevated EC readings also suggest that salinity might be a problem under irrigation. Soil subsidence may also be an issue as gypsum is leached from the soil under irrigation. This soil is considered unsuitable for irrigated agriculture.
A representative soil profile and landscape of the Fyfield 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 have dominantly brownish or reddish subsoils and no prominent mottling or greyish colours (gleying) above 40 cm depth. They are developed mainly on permeable materials. Most are in agricultural use.
They are classified as Chromic Luvisols by the WRB soil classification system. (www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf)
For more information about this soil, visit:
A hydric soil is a soil that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part.
Most hydric soil occur in non-sloping wetlands (swamps, marshes, depressions, etc.). This hydric soil occurs on a moderately steep seepy hillside in Alaska developed by very high rainfall.
For more information about Hydric Soils and their Field Indicators, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/field...
Soil profile: A Vertic, Subnatric, Grey Sodosol. Original notes and photos provided by the State of Victoria (Agriculture Victoria) with revision.
Landscape: Active flood plain of Avoca River. Original vegetation included River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis).
Sodosols have a strong texture contrast between surface (A) horizons and subsoil (B) horizons and the subsoil horizons are sodic. Using the Australian Soil Classification, Sodosols can be grouped further (Suborder) based on the colour of the upper 20 cm of the subsoil i.e. red, brown, yellow, grey and black. These can be further differentiated based on subsoil characteristics (Great Groups) such as the level of sodicity (in the upper B horizon) and the presence of carbonate or lime (Subgroup).
For more information about these soils, visit;
vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/nthcenregn.nsf/pages/s...
In soil taxonomy, these soils are commonly Alfisols or Aridisols. For more information about Soil Taxonomy, visit;
Note: The left side of the photo exhibits natural soil structure. The right side has been smoothed.
A representative soil profile of the Grenada series. (Kentucky Soil Atlas; by Anastasios D. Karathanasis, University of Kentucky)
The Grenada series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils that formed in thick loess. These soils are shallow or moderately deep to a fragipan that perches water during wet seasons in late winter and early in spring. Permeability is moderate above the fragipan and slow in the fragipan. These nearly level to strongly sloping soils are in the Southern Mississippi Valley Silty Uplands. Slopes range from 0 to 12 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, active, thermic Oxyaquic Fraglossudalfs
Note: The Grenada series classification was changed from a Glossic Fragiudalf to an Oxyaquic Fraglossudalf in 2001 because the former classification was removed from taxonomy. The depth to saturated zone that the series has been interpreted with, and the amount of albic intrusions observed in the upper part of the fragipan near the type location support this new classification.
Thickness of the solum is more than 80 inches. Depth to the fragipan generally ranges from 18 to 36 inches, however an eroded phase is recognized that has a fragipan as shallow as 12 inches. Combined thickness of horizons having less than 10 percent sand is more than 48 inches. The A, Bw, E, and upper part of the Btx/E horizons are very strongly acid to moderately acid except for the surface layer in areas that have been limed; the lower part of the Btx/E horizon and the Btx horizon range from strongly acid to neutral.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most of the acreage is used for row crops and pasture. Cotton, corn, and soybeans are principal crops. A small acreage is in mixed hardwoods including oaks, beech, hickory, elm, and tulip poplar. Shortleaf and loblolly pines are in the southern part of the range.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. This series is of large extent.
For additional information about Kentucky soils, visit:
uknowledge.uky.edu/pss_book/4/
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/G/GRENADA.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Plate 33: Typical soil profile and associated landscape for the Bida Hazza’a series (soil AD232).
Taxonomic classification: Gypsic Haplosalids, sandy, mixed, hyperthermic
The Bida Hazza’a series is a very deep sandy soil. The soils are typically moderately well to excessively drained. They occur on flats and gentle slopes within level to gently undulating deflation and sabkha plains. They are formed from eolian sands.
These soils may be used for rangeland grazing of camels though vegetation cover is frequently less than 5% and often absent. Common vegetation species recorded are Haloxylon salicornicum and Zygophyllum spp.
This soil is common in northern parts of the Ghayathi sub-area and has also been described from the As Sila’ sub-area and the Al Ain sub-area.
The main feature of this soil is the high salinity levels within the soil. The soil is a deep sandy profile and contains a gypsic horizon. The high salt levels are the main restriction for the use of this soil. It is considered unsuitable for irrigated agriculture.
Soil profile: A representative soil profile of Olmedo very gravelly sandy loam, 1 to 8 percent slopes. The dominant feature of this soil is the layer of indurated or strongly cemented secondary calcium carbonate known as a petrocalcic layer. The petrocalcic layer starts at about 46 cm. The petrocalcic layer reduces the water holding capacity and severely restricts roots. (Soil Survey of Duval County, Texas; by John L. Sackett III, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Olmedo series consists of soils that are very shallow and shallow over a petrocalcic horizon. These well drained, moderately permeable soils formed in calcareous, loamy residuum of the Goliad Formation of Miocene-Pliocene age. These nearly level to undulating soils are on summits on interfluves or ridges. Slope ranges from 1 to 8 percent. Mean annual air temperature is about 22 degrees C (72 degrees F) and mean annual precipitation is about 711 mm (28 in).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, carbonatic, hyperthermic, shallow Petrocalcic Calciustolls
Soil moisture: An ustic moisture regime bordering on aridic. The soil moisture control section remains moist in some or all parts for less than 90 consecutive days in normal years. The soil is driest during the months June through August and December through February. These soils are intermittently moist in September through November and March through May.
Mean annual soil temperature: 21 to 23 degrees C (70 to 73 degrees F)
Depth to petrocalcic horizon: 30 to 46 cm (12 to 18 in)
Particle size control section (weighted average)
Clay content: 12 to 24 percent
Rock Fragments: 35 to 85 percent
USE AND VEGETATION: The major uses are livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of Arizona cottontop, pinhole bluestem, plains bristlegrass, sideoats grama, cenizo, guajillo, elbowbush, mescalbean, vine ephedra, and Texas Kidneywood. The ecological site is Shallow Ridge, PE 19-31 (RO83CY485TX)
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern Rio Grande Plain (MLRA 83A in LRR I) and Central Rio Grande Plain (MLRA 83C in LRR I) of southern Texas. The series is of moderate extent.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/texas/TX131/Du...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/O/OLMEDO.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
The relatively harsh production environment of Abu Dhabi Emirate allows only a limited range of rural production possibilities. Crop production is largely confined to fresh vegetables, fodder and dates.
Most of the UAE's cultivated land is taken up by date palms, which in the early 1990s numbered about 4 million. They are cultivated in the arc of small oases that constitute the Al Liwa Oasis. Both federal and emirate governments provide incentives to farmers. For example, the government offers a 50 percent subsidy on fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides. It also provides loans for machinery and technical assistance. The emirates have forty-one agricultural extension units as well as several experimental farms and agricultural research stations. The number of farmers rose from about 4,000 in the early 1970s to 18,265 in 1988.
For more information about soil classification in the UAE, visit:
vdocument.in/united-arab-emirates-keys-to-soil-taxonomy.h...
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:
A representative soil profile of a Typic Durorthod from Eastern Upper Michigan. (Photo provided by R. Schaetzl.)
Typic Durorthods are centered on soils without andic soil properties in a layer 25 cm or more thick within 75 cm of the soil surface. The cemented layer in these soils commonly is ortstein. The soils occur in Michigan and New York. Most are forested, but some areas have been cleared and are used for hay and pasture.
Durorthods are the Orthods that have a cemented soil layer. These soils formed in sandy and loamy deposits. The cemented soil layer commonly is composed of spodic materials and in many areas is within 50 cm of the mineral soil surface. The cementing agents commonly are combinations of iron, aluminum, and organic matter, but silica may be an important cementing agent in some of these soils.
Orthods are the relatively freely drained Spodosols that have a horizon of accumulation containing aluminum, or aluminum and iron, and organic carbon. These are the most common Spodosols in the northern parts of Europe and in the United States. They formed predominantly in coarse, acid Pleistocene or Holocene deposits under a mostly coniferous forest vegetation. If undisturbed, Orthods normally have an O horizon, an albic horizon, and a spodic horizon and may have a fragipan. Some of these soils, however, have been mixed by the roots of falling trees or by animals and have a very thin albic horizon or no albic horizon. In cultivated areas the albic horizon is very commonly mixed with part of the spodic horizon. In the United States, the moisture regime of Orthods is predominantly udic, but a few have a xeric regime. The soil temperature regimes range from frigid to hyperthermic. Orthods are extensive in the southeastern part of the United States, the Northeast, the Great Lakes States, and the mountains of the West.
For more information about soils and the Michigan State University-Department of Geography, visit:
project.geo.msu.edu/soilprofiles/
For additional information about soil classification, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/cla...
A representative soil profile of the Combs soil series. (Soil Survey of New River Gorge National River, West Virginia; by Wendy Noll and James Bell, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Combs series consists of very deep, well drained, alluvial soils on flood plains and terrace treads along rivers and major streams. Most areas are nearly level or gently sloping with slopes of 0 to 4 percent, but range to as much as 25 percent on riverbanks and risers.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Fluventic Hapludolls
USE AND VEGETATION: Nearly all areas are cleared and used for growing cultivated crops and pasture. Crops include corn, small grains, tobacco, hay, and garden or truck crops. Native vegetation was a mixed mesophytic hardwood forest interspaced with cane breaks.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Cumberland-Allegheny Plateau in the Northern and Southern Appalachian Ridges and Valleys, and the Blue Ridge in Kentucky, Virginia, and possibly West Virginia.
Solum thickness is more than 40 inches. Thickness of the mollic epipedon ranges from 10 to 24 inches. The soil ranges from moderately acid to neutral throughout. Coarse fragments are commonly lacking but range up to 15 percent.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/west_virginia/...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/C/COMBS.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
The Threebear soil series was established in 2003 in Clearwater County, Idaho making it one of the newer soils recognized in the state and in the US. Because of its remote location in the mountains of northern Idaho, it took a long time to identify Threebear soil. It is named after Threebear Creek, which flows in the area. Because of the abundant wildlife (including bears) in this area, you can probably imagine how the name Threebear came about. Threebear was chosen as the state soil because of its unique character and its importance to Idaho’s $1.5 billion forest products industry.
Threebear soils are found in the forested mountains of northern Idaho. It has been mapped on over 55,000 acres but is probably more extensive because many of the areas where this soil likely occurs have not been surveyed in detail. Threebear soils support some of the most productive forests in the inland Pacific Northwest region and is used mainly for timber production. The volcanic ash is a very important part of Threebear soils because it increases the amount of water that the soil is able to provide to trees over the dry summer months. Threebear soil also provides habitat for a variety of wildlife including bear, moose, elk, cougar, and wolves. It also helps supply water for the region’s streams and rivers and is used extensively for outdoor recreation.
For more information about this and other State Soils, visit the Soil Science Society of America "Around the World-State Soils" website.
A representative soil profile of the Cedron series. (Soil Survey of Teton Area, Idaho and Wyoming; by Carla B. Rebernak, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Cedron series consists of very deep, poorly drained soils on flood plains and oxbows adjacent to rivers. These soils formed in silty alluvium. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. The mean annual precipitation is 406 millimeters and the mean annual air temperature is 5 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, carbonatic Calcic Cryaquolls
USE AND VEGETATION:
Major uses: pasture, cultivation (minimal acres primarily in barley production), wildlife habitat
Range/ecological site: R013XY039ID
Dominant native vegetation: Baltic rush, beaked sedge, red top, and willows
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
Distribution: Eastern Idaho, MLRA 13
Extent: The series is not extensive.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/wyoming/TetonI...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/C/CEDRON.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
John A. Kelley is a retired soil scientist previously with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), United States Department of Agriculture and Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, UAE. John is a soil survey quality assurance expert and a specialist in soil mapping, soil classification, and correlation of soil survey projects. He has extensive experience in soil survey procedures and documentation including digital soil photography. The most recent publication is "United Arab Emirates Keys to Soil Taxonomy".
www.researchgate.net/profile/John-Kelley
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.
For more photos related to soils and landscapes visit:
The upper meter of the subsoil horizon from a Dothan soil located in South Carolina, exhibiting an increasing amount of plinthite with depth. The reddish areas are very firm, dense and brittle, and are weakly cemented with iron. The area below the knife is root limiting in that zones that roots can enter are 10 or more centimeters apart (continuous phase plinthite).
This pedon would be classified as a "Plinthudult" if determined to have one or more horizons within 150 cm of the mineral soil surface in which plinthite either forms a continuous phase or constitutes one-half or more of the volume. Currently, there is not an established method for determining the quantity of plinthite nor an agree-to definition for "continuous phase" for plinthic materials. This layer would qualify as a "plinthic horizon" as proposed.
A water emersion disaggregation method (or slake test) has been developed to quantify plinthite, however, this method only identifies those plinthic materials that are cemented. Due to past application (primarily in Texas and California) the cementation requirement has not received unanimous acceptance in the soil science community. A proposed definition for "continuous phase" plinthite has been submitted. It is essentially the same as for other materials requiring a continuous phase in Soil Taxonomy.
For more information about Slake Tests, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/SSIR51.pdf
Soil Survey Field and Laboratory Methods Manual; Soil Survey Investigations Report No. 51, Version 2; Issued 2014 (pp. 148-157)
3.7 Soil Stability, Dispersion, and Slaking
3.7.5 Slaking (Disaggregation) for Identification and Semiquantification of Cemented Materials
John Kelley and Michael A. Wilson, United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation
Service, Soil Survey Staff
According to USDA-Soil Taxonomy, Plinthudults are the more or less freely drained Udults that have a large amount of plinthite in the argillic or kandic horizon. They are mainly in intertropical regions and in some areas are extensive. Historically, they have not been identified in the United States and the great group has been provided for use in other parts of the world. As indicated by this image, this concept should be revisited.
For more information about describing soils, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/field...
For additional information about soil classification using Soil Taxonomy, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/keys-...
For more information about a plinthic horizon, visit;
www.researchgate.net/publication/242649722_Rationale_for_...
or:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S00167061220043...
or:
Photo courtesy of EAD-Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi. www.ead.gov.ae/
Shabbir and Mahmoud discussing soil survey process with interested Emirati.
Shabbir Shahid has more than 32 years of experience as a soil scientist in Pakistan, the UK, Kuwait, and the UAE. He served as lead soil taxonomist, technical coordinator, and quality assurance expert. He is a prolific author with over 150 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals and books and was a pioneer in soil survey on the Arabian Peninsula.
Mahmoud Abdelfattah served as mapping crew leader and deputy technical coordinator for the soil survey of Abu Dhabi Emirate and project manager for the Northern Emirates Soil Survey. He has over 25 years experience in teaching and research participating in numerous international conferences. He has authored over 50 published scientific papers and book chapters.
For more information about soil classification in the UAE, visit:
vdocument.in/united-arab-emirates-keys-to-soil-taxonomy.h...
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:
It aint much but it's honest work meme by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Wikimedia Commons w.wiki/4t7Z
Image derived an original picture of Ohio farmer David Brandt by Dianne Johnson on Wikimedia Commons w.wiki/4t7c
The “Unlock the Secrets in the Soil" campaign was launched at the farm farm of David Brandt in Ohio
The Gratiot series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils on moraines. These soils formed in cobbly and gravelly loamy material over loamy and sandy till. They are shallow or moderately deep to a fragipan. Permeability is moderate above the fragipan, very slow in the fragipan, and moderately rapid or moderate below the fragipan. Slope ranges from 0 to 4 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 34 inches and mean annual air temperature is about 41 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Fragiaquods
Thickness of the solum is 25 to 52 inches. Depth to the fragipan ranges from 15 to 30 inches. The solum ranges from very strongly acid to slightly acid and the C horizon ranges from slightly acid to strongly alkaline. Gravel content ranges from 10 to 30 percent in the A horizon, 15 to 45 percent in the E, Bhs, and Bs horizons and 5 to 35 percent throughout the remainder of the pedon. Cobbles and stones range from 5 to 30 percent above the fragipan and 0 to 20 percent in the remainder of the pedon. The particle-size control section averages more than 35 percent rock fragments.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are forested with red maple, balsam fir, yellow birch, northern white cedar, and white spruce being the major species. Other areas were formerly pastured and are now idle.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwestern part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, primarily on the Keweenaw Peninsula. The series is of small extent.
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/G/GRATIOT.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
A representative soil profile of Palobia loamy fine sand, in an area of Palobia loamy fine sand, 1 to 3 percent slopes. The natric horizon with coarse columnar and prismatic structure, are common in soils high in sodium, begins at a depth of 30 centimeters. (Soil Survey of Kenedy and Kleberg Counties, Texas; by Nathan I. Haile, and Dennis N. Brezina, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Palobia series consists of very deep, moderately well drained, moderately slow permeable soils that formed in sandy eolian deposits over loamy sediments of Pleistocene age. These nearly level to gently sloping soils are on the Sandsheet Prairie of the South Texas Coastal Plain. Slope ranges from 0 to 3 percent. Mean annual air temperature is about 22 degrees C (72 degrees F) and mean annual precipitation is about 640 mm (25 in).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, active, hyperthermic Typic Natrustalfs
Soil Moisture: An ustic soil moisture regime. Precipitation pattern: moist spring and fall months and dry summer and winter months. The soil moisture control section is dry in some or all parts for more than 90 but less than 180 cumulative days in normal years. June through August and December through February are the driest months. These soils are intermittently moist in September through November and March through May.
Solum thickness: more than 203 cm (80 in)
Depth to secondary carbonates: 51 to 91 cm (20 to 36 in)
Clay content of the control section: 21 to 35 percent
Electrical conductivity: ranges to as much as 16 dS/m within 203 cm (80 in)
Lithologic discontinuities: One or more occur in most pedons
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for crop production, forage production, livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. The principal crops are grain sorghum, forage sorghum, and watermelons. Coastal bermudagrass is the principal pasture grass. Native climax vegetation in excellent condition is composed of 90 percent grasses, 5 percent woody plants and 5 percent forbs. The ecological site is Tight Sandy Loam, (R083EY727TX).
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Sandsheet Prairie (MLRA 83E in LRR I) of southern Texas. The series is of moderate extent.
This is a Benchmark Series. A benchmark soil is one of large extent within one or more major land resource areas (MLRAs), one that holds a key position in the soil classification system, one for which there is a large amount of data, one that has special importance to one or more significant land uses, or one that is of significant ecological importance.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/texas/kenedykl...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/P/PALOBIA.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
A representative soil profile of the Lucien soil series. (Soil Survey of Noble County, Oklahoma; by Gregory F. Scott, Troy L. Collier, Jim E. Henley, R. Dwaine Gelnar, and Karen B. Stevenson, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Lucien series consists of shallow, well drained soils on the summits and shoulders of low hills that formed in material weathered from sandstone, interbedded with clay, siltstone, or sandy shale of Permian age. These soils are in the Central Rolling Red Prairies (MLRA-80A). Slopes are 1 to 30 percent. Mean annual precipitation is 840 mm (33 in), and mean annual temperature is 15.6 degrees C (60 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic, shallow Udic Haplustolls
Depth of soil: 25 to 51 cm (10 to 20 in)
Thickness of the mollic epipedon: 18 cm (7 in) or more thick
Rock fragments: sandstone fragments, 0 to 30 percent by volume. About 0 to 10 percent by volume is less than 76 mm (3 in) in diameter and 0 to 20 percent by volume is more than 76 mm (3 in) in diameter in all horizons
Effervescence: noneffervescent in all horizons
USE AND VEGETATION: Mainly in rangeland and used for grazing for livestock. Some of the less sloping areas in complexes with deeper soils are cultivated to small grains or tame pasture. Native vegetation consists of mid and tall prairie grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas; Land Resource Region H; Central Rolling Red Prairies, MLRA 80A; moderately extensive.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/oklahoma/OK103...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/L/LUCIEN.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
The presence of mica in soils in significant amounts has traditionally been thought to affect soil performance. In mountainous areas such as western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, Virginia, and other parts of the U.S. where high-mica soils exist, slope stability is a concern. Soils high in mica and other platy minerals have low soil strength and are susceptible to accelerated erosion, soil piping, and landslides.
A description of the soils is essential in any soil survey. Standard technical terms and their definitions for soil properties and features are necessary for accurate soil descriptions. For some soils, standard terms are not adequate and must be supplemented by a narrative. Some soil properties change through time. Many properties must be observed over time and summarized if one is to fully understand the soil being described and its response to short-term environmental changes. Examples are the length of time that cracks remain open, the patterns of soil temperature and moisture, and the variations in size, shape, and hardness of clods in the surface layer of tilled soils.
For more information about these soils, visit;
www.researchgate.net/publication/363254375_Report_of_the_...
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 Hapli-Perudic Cambosol and landscape. These soils distribute oddly in southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and mountainous area of western Hubei. They cover upper and middle slopes of middle mountains and alluvial fans. Parent materials are weathered residual-slope deposits derived from granite or Mesozoic or Paleozoic metamorphic rocks, such as silico-carbonaneous shale. The vegetation is mixed coniferous and deciduous forests or sparse weeds and shrubs. Hapli-Perudic Cambosols do not have severe loss of base elements due to strong resistance of parent rock to weathering or high base element content in their parent rocks, or due to shorter soil formation duration resulted from severe erosion. (Photos and notes courtesy of China Soils Museum, Guangdong Institute of World Soil Resources; with revision.)
In Chinese Soil Taxonomy, Cambosols have low-grade soil development with formation of horizon of alteration or weak expression of other diagnostic horizons. In Soil Taxonomy these soils are commonly Inceptisols, Mollisols, or Gelisols.
For additional information about this soil and the Soils Museum, visit:
www.giwsr.com/en/article/index/245
For additional information about Soil Taxonomy, visit:
This photo accompanies Figure 16.—Indicator A11 (Depleted Below Dark Surface). [Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States].
Typical landscape, soil profile, and redox features of the Hegne soil. The Hegne series (Typic Calciaquerts) consists of very deep, poorly drained soils that formed in clayey calcareous lacustrine sediments on glacial lake plains. These soils have slow or very slow permeability. They have slopes of 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 20 inches. Mean annual air temperature is about 42 degrees F.
The Hegne soils have slightly convex to slightly concave slopes of less than 2 percent on glacial lake plains and in a few places these soils are on flood plains. These soils commonly are on the higher lying positions of microrelief topography. They formed in clayey lacustrine sediments of Late Wisconsin age. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 38 to 45 degrees F. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 15 to 27 inches. Frost-free days range from 90 to 140. Elevation above sea level ranges from 650 to 1800 feet.
Nearly all of these soils are cultivated. Principal crops are small grains and sugar beets. Native vegetation is tall grass prairie. Hegne soils are of large extent principally in the Red River Valley of northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota, also in smaller glacial lake basins in western Minnesota and north-central North Dakota.
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A, E, and calcic horizons may have low chromas and high values and may therefore be mistaken for a depleted matrix. They are excluded from the concept of depleted matrix unless the soil has common or many distinct or prominent redox concentrations occurring as soft masses or pore linings.
Soil profile and features:
This indicator often occurs in Mollisols (mollic epipedon) but also applies to soils with umbric epipedons and dark colored ochric epipedons. For soils with dark colored epipedons more than 30 cm (12 inches) thick, use indicator A12.
Note: A depleted matrix requires value of 4 or more and chroma of 2 or less. Redox concentrations, including soft iron-manganese masses and/or pore linings, are required in soils with matrix colors of 4/1, 4/2, or 5/2.
This soil has a depleted matrix directly under the surface horizon: (10YR 4/2) in the upper part (Bkssg1) and (10YR 5/2) in the lower part (Bkssg2) with common to many distinct or prominent redox concentrations (soft masses of iron accumulation) and redox depletions (iron depletions), increasing with depth.
A representative soil profile of a Typic Endoaquent from the National Nature Reserve Zofinsky, Czech Republic. (Photo provided by P. Samonil.)
Typic Endoaquents are centered on moderately deep or deeper soils with low chroma throughout the layer at a depth between 25 and 75 cm below the mineral soil surface. These soils have an Ap horizon that has a color value, moist, of 4 or more or a color value, dry, of 6 or more (crushed and smoothed) or have materials in the upper 15 cm that have these colors after mixing.
Endoaquents are the Aquents that have an isofrigid, frigid, or warmer temperature regime and endoaquic saturation. The ground water fluctuates from a level near or above the soil surface to about 100 cm below the soil surface and is sometimes below 200 cm. Many Endoaquents support either a deciduous or coniferous forest. Some have been cleared and are used as cropland or pasture. Generally, Endoaquents are nearly level, and their parent materials are typically late-Pleistocene or Holocene sediments.
Aquents are the wet Entisols. They may be in tidal marshes, on deltas, on the margins of lakes where the soils are continuously saturated with water, on flood plains along streams where the soils are saturated at some time of the year, or in areas of wet, sandy deposits. Many Aquents have bluish or grayish colors and redoximorphic features. They may have any temperature regime. Most of them formed in recent sediments, and they support vegetation that tolerates permanent or periodic wetness.
For more information about soils and the Michigan State University-Department of Geography, visit:
project.geo.msu.edu/soilprofiles/
For additional information about soil classification, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/cla...
Depth Class: Moderately deep to soft bedrock
Drainage Class (Agricultural): Well drained
Internal Free Water Occurrence: Very deep
Flooding Frequency and Duration: None
Ponding Frequency and Duration: None
Slowest Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity: Moderately high (4.23 to 14.11 micrometers per second)
Landscape: Piedmont uplands
Landform: Hills, ridges, interfluves
Geomorphic Component: Crests, side slopes, head slopes, nose slopes
Hillslope Profile Position: Summits, shoulders, backslopes
Parent Material: Residuum from felsic or immediate crystalline rock
Slope: 2 to 80 percent
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, kaolinitic, mesic Typic Kanhapludults
USE AND VEGETATION:
Major Uses: Cultivated crops, pasture, and woodland.
Dominant Vegetation: Where cultivated--corn, tobacco, small grain, hay, and apples. Where forested--Eastern white pine, Virginia pine, red oak, white oak, post oak, hickory, blackgum, red maple, yellow poplar, and dogwood.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
Distribution: North Carolina and Virginia
Extent: Moderate
The Woolwine series is a mesic counterpart of the Bethlehem series. The 04/1997 relocation of the mesic/thermic line in North Carolina and Virginia placed the original Bethlehem type location within the mesic area. Type location moved 11/1998 to Alexander County, NC.
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/W/WOOLWINE.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
A representative soil profile of Sengtown gravelly silt loam. Gravelly clay textures are below a depth of about 45 centimeters. (Soil Survey of Hickman County, Tennessee; by Douglas F. Clendenon, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Sengtown series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils on uplands. They formed in residuum weathered from cherty limestone. Slopes are 2 to 60 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, semiactive, thermic Typic Paleudalfs
Solum thickness and depth to limestone bedrock are greater than 60 inches. Reaction is very strongly acid to moderately acid except where limed. Average content of coarse fragments ranges between l5 and 35 percent in the solum. Transition horizons have colors and texture similar to adjacent horizons.
USE AND VEGETATION: Cleared areas are used for pasture, hay, small grain, tobacco, and corn. The remaining areas are in oak-hickory forest.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Highland Rim of Tennessee. The area is of large extent. Sengtown soils were formerly mapped in the Fullerton and Baxter series.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/tennessee/TN08...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/S/SENGTOWN.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit: