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Surface mantle of new soil material.—A technical phrase used to describe a particular kind of recent surface deposit. The deposit is composed of mineral soil material at least 50 cm thick, has a zone at least 7.5 cm thick at its base that fails the criteria for any diagnostic horizon, and is underlain by an older soil with a sequence of one or more pedogenically developed horizons. The presence of a surface mantle of new soil material is a requirement for recognizing a buried soil for purposes of soil classification. Where a surface mantle of new soil material overlies a buried soil, the soil profile essentially contains two soils, a newer one overlying an older one. Special care is needed to correctly classify such soils. Specific rules are provided in chapter 4 of the Keys to Soil Taxonomy. See buried soil and buried horizon.
Figure 114.—In his profile, the surface mantle of new soil 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.
A representative soil profile of a Nitisol from Italy. (Photo provided by Yakov Kuzyakov, revised.)
Nitisols are deep, well-drained, red tropical soils with diffuse horizon boundaries and a subsurface horizon with at least 30 percent clay and moderate to strong angular blocky structure breaking into polyhedral or flat-edged or nut-shaped elements with, in moist
state, shiny aggregate faces. Weathering is relatively advanced but Nitisols are far more productive than most other red tropical soils. Many Nitisols correlate with Nitossolos (Brazil), Kandic Great Groups of Alfisols and Ultisols and different Great Groups of Inceptisols and Oxisols (United States of America), Sols fersialitiques or Ferrisols (France) and Ferrosols (Australia).
Haplic (from Greek haplous, simple): having a typical expression of certain features (typical in the sense that there is no further or meaningful characterization) and only used if none of the preceding qualifiers applies. (WRB)
For more information, visit;
wwwuser.gwdg.de/~kuzyakov/soils/WRB-2006_Keys.htm
For more information about Dr. Kuzyakov, visit;
www.uni-goettingen.de/de/212970.html
For more information about soil classification using the WRB system, visit:
A representative soil profile of the Castletown series in an area of improved grassland from Ireland. These soils formed in decalcified loamy material over lithoskeletal limestone.
For detailed information about this soil, visit;
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/rep_profile_sheet.php?series_code=04...
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 Lithosols. Typical Lithosols have a 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...
This soil has more than 5 cm of mucky sand, starting at the surface.
These soils have a layer of mucky modified mineral soil material 5 cm (2 inches) or more thick, starting at a depth ≤15 cm (6 inches) from the soil surface.
User Notes: “Mucky” is a USDA texture modifier for mineral soils. The content of organic carbon is at least 5 percent and ranges to as high as 18 percent. The percentage required depends on the clay content of the soil; the higher the clay content, the higher the content of organic carbon required. For example, a mucky fine sand soil contains between 5 and 12 percent organic carbon. When the amount of clay is increased as in a mucky sandy loam, the organic carbon content increases to between 7 and 14 percent.
Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States; A Guide for Identifying and Delineating Hydric Soils, Version 9.0, 2024.
A soil profile of a Georgeville soil. Georgeville soils formed from felsic volcanic rocks within the Carolina Slate Belt. They are very erosive because of their high silt content. Depth to bedrock is more than 150 centimeters (Soil Survey of Randolph County, North Carolina; by Perry W. Wyatt, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources)
The Georgeville series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils that formed in material mostly weathered from fine-grained metavolcanic rocks of the Carolina Slate Belt. Slopes are 2 to 50 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults
Thickness of the clayey part of the Bt horizon ranges from 24 to 48 inches. Depth to the bottom of the clayey Bt horizon exceeds 30 inches. Depth to a lithic contact is more than 60 inches. The soil is very strongly acid to neutral in the A horizon and very strongly acid or strongly acid throughout the rest of the profile. Content of rock fragments ranges 0 to 20 percent in the A and E horizons, and 0 to 10 percent in the Bt, BC and C horizons. Few fine flakes of mica are in the lower part of the solum of some pedons, and some pedons may have few fine manganese concretions in the surface and upper subsoil horizons.
USE AND VEGETATION: Cleared areas are used for cotton, small grains, tobacco, corn, hay, and pasture. Forested areas are in mixed hardwood and pines.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Piedmont of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The series is extensive.
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/G/GEORGEVILLE.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Dothan soils consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in thick beds of unconsolidated, medium to fine-textured marine sediments that contain 5 percent or more plinthite in the subsoil. This pedon contains about 5 percent nodular plinthite. Individual components within the map unit range from 3 to 10 percent plinthite. Soils with less than 5 percent plinthite are within the range in characteristics of the Barnwell soil series.
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/B/BARNWELL.html
Plinthite commonly occurs as reddish redox concentrations if a nodular, platy, or blocky form. it irreversibly hardens upon exposure to repeated wetting and drying, especially if exposed to heat from the sun.
The upper soil is commonly underlain by a dense compact layer. This horizon exhibits very weak very coarse blocky structure with very thick clay coating on internal seams or cracks. Clay coating is common in the very deep layers (3-4 meters or more below the soil surface) where pedogenesis is thought to be minimal or not present. The red area has a sandy loam to sandy clay loam texture, whereas the gray area has texture of clay loam or clay.
These tubes or channels are thought to be formed by biological activity at a time when the sediments were being deposited. In the current environment, they commonly contain coarse roots within elongated macropores. The macropores may be completed filled with soil material or they be open (areas that once contained live roots but currently void of roots due to decomposition), allowing for the transmission of air and water within the channel.
Some soil scientists have described these layers as BCd horizons and as densic materials (see Barnwell soil series); however, densic properties by definition cannot be pedogenic. Densic materials are relatively unaltered materials (do not meet the requirements for any other named diagnostic horizons or any other diagnostic soil characteristic). The bulk density or the organization is such that roots cannot enter, except in cracks.
Densic materials slake when an air-dry sample is placed in water and thus differ from paralithic materials and the material below a lithic contact, neither of which slake due to their degree of coherence. Densic materials have, at their upper boundary, a densic contact if they have no cracks or if the spacing of cracks that roots can enter is 10 cm or more. These materials can be used to differentiate soil series if the materials are within the series control section.
Because of the dark red color and dense characteristics, these layers are referred to by the local soil scientists as the "brick" layer. Additional investigation is needed to distinguish these aquitard layers (or brick layers) from those with fragic soil properties.
For a detailed description of the soil, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/D/DOTHAN.html
For acreage and geographic distribution of the soil series, visit:
casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/see/#dothan
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 Ferric Kandosol. These soils formed in ironstone gravels (Albany to Esperance). They are white, grey or pale yellow sands overlying gravelly sands and clays. Gravel content greater than 20% and is a dominant feature of the profile. (Notes and photo provided by Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Agriculture and Food, Government of Western Australia with revision.)
For more information about these soils, visit;
www.agric.wa.gov.au/mycrop/mysoil-ironstone-gravels-alban...
For more information about the Australian Soil Classification System, visit;
www.clw.csiro.au/aclep/asc_re_on_line_V2/soilhome.htm
For more information about Soil Taxonomy, visit:
This photo accompanies Figure 19.—Indicator A14 (Alaska Redox). [Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States].
A typical landscape of the Piledriver soil series (Aquic Cryofluvents). The Piledriver series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained, moderately permeable soils on floodplains. They formed in stratified silty and sandy alluvium overlying sand and gravel. The climate is subarctic continental with long, cold winters and short, warm summers. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent.
Runoff is slow. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high to high in the upper part and high to very high in underlying material. These soils are subject to rare or occasional flooding. A water table is present at a depth of 3 to 6 feet for some period in most summers, allowing capillary rise of water into the soil profile. They have low chroma redoximorphic depletions from 3 to 33 inches and irregular decrease in organic carbon with depth.
The series is of minor extent in the Interior Alaska Lowlands. Most areas are in native forest consisting of white spruce, cottonwood and quaking aspen with alder shrubs.
A representative soil profile of the Clonroche series in an area of improved grassland from Ireland. These soils formed in fine loamy drift with siliceous stones.
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 of the Curracitty series in an area of improved grassland from Ireland. These soils formed in clayey material over shale 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 Stagnic Brown Earths. These soils display stagnic properties as a result of the presence of a slowly permeable sub-surface horizon. Stagnic soils have a subsurface horizon that is at least 15 cm thick, which displays evidence of reduced iron and manganese as a result of a perched watertable, from a significant barrier to water movement for a period long enough to allow reducing conditions to occur.
For more information about describing and classifying soils using the Irish Soils Classification System, visit:
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/downloads/SIS_Final_Technical_Report...
EXCAVATION DIFFICULTY—The relative force or energy required to dig soil out of place. Excavation Difficulty Class and the moisture condition (moist or dry, but not wet) are described. Estimates can be made for either the most limiting layer or for each horizon.
"Moderate" excavation difficulty by tile spade requires impact energy or foot pressure; arm pressure is insufficient.
"High" excavation difficulty by tile spade is difficult but easily done by pick using over-the-head swing.
The layer being examined required overhead impact energy--both foot pressure or arm pressure was insufficient and an over head swing with a tile spade was difficult--indicating a "high" excavation difficulty. This degree of difficulty is common for root limiting layers such as soils high in plinthite, fragipans, densic materials, or paralithic materials.
The massive root limiting layer being tested was not cemented.
www.flickr.com/photos/jakelley/51836600265/in/album-72157...
www.flickr.com/photos/jakelley/51835707726/in/album-72157...
Soil profile: A typical profile of a Gilpin soil. Gilpin soils have a moderate available water capacity and have soft shale bedrock at a depth of 50 to 100 centimeters. (Soil Survey of Overton County, Tennessee; by Carlie McCowan, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: Gilpin, Bouldin, and Petros soils are on the Cumberland Mountains in Anderson County in the background. (Soil Survey of Roane County, Tennessee; by Harry C. Davis and Jennifer R. Yaeger, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: Upland
Landform: Ridge, hill, and hillslope
Geomorphic Component: Interfluve, head slope, nose slope, or side slope
Hillslope Profile Position: Summit, shoulder, or backslope
Parent Material Origin: Nearly horizontal, interbedded gray and brown acid siltstone, shale, and sandstone
Parent Material Kind: Residuum
Slope: 0 to 70 percent
Elevation: 91 to 1097 meters (300 to 3600 feet)
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Typic Hapludults
Depth to the top of the Argillic: 13 to 38 cm (5 to 15 inches)
Depth to the base of the Argillic: 53 to 94 cm (21 to 37 inches)
Solum Thickness: 45 to 91 cm (18 to 36 inches)
Depth to Bedrock: 51 to 102 cm (20 to 40 inches)
Depth Class: Moderately deep
Rock Fragment content: 5 to 40 percent, by volume, in the solum and 30 to 90 percent, by volume, in the C horizon. The rock fragment content is less than 35 percent, by volume, in the upper 20 inches of the argillic horizon. Rock fragments are mostly angular to subangular channers of shale, siltstone, and sandstone.
Soil Reaction: Extremely acid through strongly acid throughout, except where limed
USE AND VEGETATION:
Major Uses: Hayland, pasture, cropland, and woodland
Dominant Vegetation: Where cultivated--Grass-legume hay, corn, soybeans, wheat, or oats. Where wooded--Oaks, maple, hickory, and yellow-poplar.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
Distribution: Pennsylvania, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia
Extent: Large, over 6 million acres, at the time of this revision
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/G/GILPIN.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
A representative soil profile of a Duric Red Kandosol in a map shallow loams from Mullewa to Morawa Australia. (Notes and photo provided by Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Agriculture and Food, Government of Western Australia with revision.)
Topsoil:
Brown or red loams
Stones may be present on the surface
Acidic pH to neutral (521) pH
Subsoil:
Loam to loamy sand grading to clays at depth above hardpan/rock
Neutral pH to alkaline pH
Rock, hardpan or cemented layer within 80cm
Calcrete or limestone maybe present at depth.
In the Australian soil classification system, the soils in this unit include:
Mesotrophic Red Kandosols
Paralithic or Lithic Calcic Calcarosols
Duric Red Kandosols
For more information about these soils including common management constraints, visit:
www.agric.wa.gov.au/mycrop/mysoil-shallow-loams-mullewa-m...
Kandosols are non texture contrast soils (with little or gradual increase in clay content with depth) that have massive (i.e. weakly to non structured) subsoils (B horizons). They are found mainly in the upland areas, often in association with Dermosols, Chromosols and Kurosols. These soils can vary from stony hardsetting soils to deeper friable soils. Some may almost be texture contrast and have a bleached subsurface (A2) horizon. Using the Australian Soil Classification,
Kandosols can be grouped further (into Suborders) 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 such as nutrient level capacities and ratios and the presence of carbonate or lime.
For more information about the soils of Western Australia, visit;
www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/soils
In soil taxonomy, these soils are commonly Alfisols or Aridisols. For more information about Soil Taxonomy, visit;
Soil profile: A representative soil profile of Unbong soil in Korea.
Landscape: An area of Unbong soil growing peppers and corn in a footslope position.
The Unbong series are members of the fine-loamy, mixed, mesic family of Typic Haplohumults [Cutanic Alisols (Alumic Hyperdystric) classified by WRB].
These soils have umbric epipedons and argillic horizons. The solum thickness ranges from 100 to 150 cm and depth to hard rock is more than 3 meters. Base saturation is less than 35 percent. Reaction is strongly to medium acid. Ap horizons are very dark brown or very dark grayish brown gravelly loam. Bt horizons are dark grayish brown loam or clay loam. These soils have 10 to 35 percent of gravels and cobbles throughout the profiles.
The Unbong soils are on mountain foot slopes in high mountainous areas. The slope range is 2 to 30 percent and the dominant slope is 7 to 15 percent. Most of these soils are used for uplands, and the vegetations are buck- wheat, tobacco and sweet potato. Few areas are grass land.
For more information about soils in Korea, visit:
Plate 19: Typical soil profile and associated landscape for the Ghayathi series, saline phase (soil AD219).
Taxonomic classification: Typic Haplogypsids, sandy, mixed, hyperthermic
The Ghayathi series saline phase is a very deep sandy soil. It is a phase of the Ghayathi 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 well to excessively drained. They occur on flats and gentle slopes within level to gently undulating deflation plains and occasionally within stable sand sheets. 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 are Haloxylon salicornicum with occasional Zygophyllum spp. and Stipagrostis plumosa.
This soil is widespread and has been recorded from all sub-areas except Madinat Zayed.
The main feature of this soil is the presence of gypsum in the profile below 18cm. The soil material is sandy contains and has slightly elevated EC1:1 levels. The presence of gypsum is the main issue for irrigated agriculture. Under irrigation subsidence may occur as gypsum is leached from the soil. The presence of gypsum and the slightly elevated EC1:1 value also suggests that salinity could become a problem under irrigation. The sandy soils have a low moisture retention and nutrient storage capacity. The soil is unsuitable for irrigated agriculture.
Often you can learn a lot about soils by simply observing exposed materials as these ortstein aggregates and plinthite nodules exposed on an eroded soil surface.
Ortstein is part of a spodic horizon. When moist, it is at least weakly cemented into a massive horizon that is present in more than half of each pedon. Ortstein forms in acid sandy soils where pines are the dominant vegetation. The acidity puts organic acids, aluminum and sometimes iron into solution. A high water table prevents the downward movement of the dissolved chemicals, which then cement the soil particles together.
Plinthite is an iron-rich, humus-poor mixture of clay with quartz and other minerals. Plinthite is a redoximorphic feature in highly weathered soil. The product of pedogenesis, it commonly occurs as reddish redox concretions that usually form platy, polygonal, or reticulate patterns in the soil. Plinthite changes irreversibly to an ironstone or to irregular soil aggregates on exposure to repeated wetting and drying, especially if it is exposed to heat from the sun.
For more information about a plinthic horizon, visit;
www.researchgate.net/publication/242649722_Rationale_for_...
or;
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S00167061220043...
Profile of Monwebb clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes, occasionally flooded. The presence of slickensides (starting at at depth of about 25 cm) indicates the high shrink-swell potential of this soil. Other soil features influencing soil properties are the presence of secondary calcium carbonates, gypsum crystals, and salt crystals. (Soil Survey of Duval County, Texas; by John L. Sackett III, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Monwebb series consists of very deep, moderately well drained, very slowly permeable soils that formed in saline, clayey alluvium derived from the tertiary aged sediments. These nearly level to very gently sloping, occasionally flooded soils are on floodplains. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 22 degrees (72 degrees F) and mean annual precipitation is about 584 mm (23 in).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, hyperthermic Sodic Haplusterts
Soil Moisture: An aridic ustic moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is moist in some or all parts for less than 90 consecutive days in normal years. June to August and December to February are the driest months, while September to November and March to May are the wettest months.
Mean annual soil temperature: 22 to 23 degrees C (72 to 74 degrees F)
Particle size control section (weighted average)
Clay content: 40 to 55 percent
Rock Fragments: 0 to 5 percent
USE AND VEGETATION: Used primarily for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. The grasses consist primarily of buffalograss, sideoats grama, curlymesquite, hairy tridens, Southwestern bristlegrass, and threeawn. Woody vegetation is mostly acacia, condalia, prickly pear, mesquite, Texas persimmon, and huisache.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Western Rio Grande Plain, Texas; LRR I, MLRA 83B; moderate extent. These soils were previously included with the Montell series. Montell soils are not flooded.
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/M/MONWEBB.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Soil profile: A Vertic, Mottled-Subnatric, Brown Sodosol. Original notes and photos provided by the State of Victoria (Agriculture Victoria) with revision.
Landscape: A lower midslope of down hill (10% slope). The soils formed in sediments weathered from Tertiary basalt.
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/portregn.nsf/pages/ppw...
In soil taxonomy, these soils are commonly Alfisols or Ultisols. For more information about Soil Taxonomy, visit;
A representative soil profile of the Tonka series. The Tonka series consists of very deep, poorly drained, slowly permeable soils that formed in local alluvium over till or glaciolacustrine deposits. These soils are in closed basins and depressions on till and glacial lake plains and have slopes of 0 to 1 percent. Mean annual air temperature is 42 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation is 20 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, frigid Argiaquic Argialbolls
Depth to carbonates commonly is 28 to 40 inches but ranges from 20 to more than 60 inches. The depth to the Bt horizon ranges from 12 to 28 inches. The soil commonly is free of rock fragments, but in some pedons the lower part of the solum and the substratum contain pebbles. Some pedons have surface stones.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for small grains, hay and pasture. Native vegetation is tall grasses, sedges and rushes.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Widely distributed on the glaciated plains of North Dakota, northeastern South Dakota, and western Minnesota. The series is extensive.
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/T/TONKA.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
A representative soil profile of the Bree series in an area of improved grassland from Ireland. These soils formed in coarse loamy drift igenous and metamorphic stones.
For detailed information about this soil, visit;
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/rep_profile_sheet.php?series_code=06...
For information about the soil series of Ireland, visit;
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/soilguide.php
In the Irish soil classification system these soils are Humic Undifferentiated Gleys. These soils have evidence of gleying within 40 cm and humose topsoil
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 of the Brosna series in an area of improved grassland from Ireland. These soils formed in fine loamy over sandstone bedrock.
For detailed information about this soil, visit;
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/soilguide.php
For information about the soil series of Ireland, visit;
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/soilguide.php
In the Irish soil classification system these soils are Gleyic Brown Earths. These soils display gleyic features due to the presence of a shallow fluctuating groundwater table.
For more information about describing and classifying soils using the Irish Soils Classification System, visit:
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/downloads/SIS_Final_Technical_Report...
An Unltic Hapludalf from south-west Poland--lower Silesia region and the Sudetes Mountains formed in granodiorite eolian silt (loess) over granodiorite saprolite. (Photo provided by Cezary Kabala, Institute of Soil Science, University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland.)
Ultic Hapludalfs have a base saturation (by sum of cations) that is less than 60 percent at a depth of 125 cm below the top of the argillic horizon, at a depth of 180 cm below the soil surface, or directly above a densic, lithic, or paralithic contact, whichever is shallowest. In addition, the Ap horizon or the surface soil to a depth of 18 cm after mixing is permitted, but not required, to have a color value, moist, of 3 or less. Commonly, the argillic horizon has hue of 7.5YR or redder or has chroma of more than 4. Some Typic Hapludalfs have these same colors. Ultic Hapludalfs are intergrades between Hapludults and Hapludalfs. They are moderately extensive in the United States. Most of them developed from weathered country rocks but not from acid rocks. Ultic Hapludalfs are mostly in highly dissected areas where the landscape is hilly or mountainous. Their slopes range from gentle to strong. Where slopes are suitable, most of the soils have been cleared and are used as cropland or pasture. Some of the soils, mostly the most sloping ones, are used as forest.
These soils are classified as Albic Leptic Alisols (Neocambic, Cutanic, Siltic) by the World Reference Base (WRB).
For more information about this soil, visit:
karnet.up.wroc.pl/~kabala/Plowe.html
For more information on the World Reference Base soil classification system, visit:
www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf
For additional information about the US Soil Taxonomy soil classification system, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/cla...
Soil profile: A representative soil profile of the Casino soil series. (Soil Survey of Pinnacles National Monument, California; by Ken Oster, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Casino series consists of moderately deep, moderately well drained soils that formed in residuum weathered from andesite. The Casino soils are on hills. Slopes range from 20 to 70 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 17 inches (432 millimeters) and the mean annual air temperature is about 61 degrees F (16 degrees C).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, thermic Pachic Argixerolls
Depth to bedrock: 20 to 40 inches (50 to 100 centimeters).
Mean annual soil temperature: 61 to 63 degrees F (16 to 17 degrees C).
Soil moisture control section: dry in all parts from about June 15 to November 15 (90 days), and moist in all parts from about January 15 to April 15 (105 days).
Particle size control section: 38 to 60 percent clay, 0 to 35 percent rock fragments from andesite.
Base Saturation by ammonium acetate: 93 to 100%
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for watershed, wildlife habitat and recreation. Vegetation is blue oak with an understory of grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: San Benito and Monterey Counties, California in MLRA 15 -- Central California Coast Range. These soils are of small extent.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/california/CA7...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/C/CASINO.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
A representative soil profile of the Poquonock series. (Photo provided by Mark Stolt University of Rhode Island's Dept. of Natural Resources Science; New England Soil Profiles)
The Poquonock series consists of very deep, well drained, soils formed in sandy eolian or glaciofluvial material over loamy or sandy lodgement till on uplands. They are moderately deep to a densic contact and very deep to bedrock. They are nearly level through moderately steep soils on till plains, moraines and drumlins. Slope ranges from 0 through 25 percent. Saturated hydraulic conductivity ranges from high or very high in the solum and low or moderately low in the substratum. Mean annual temperature is about 51 degrees F. (11 degrees C.) and mean annual precipitation about 46 inches (1168 millimeters).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, mesic Typic Udipsamments
Thickness of the solum and depth to the densic contact ranges from 20 through 39 inches (50 through 100 centimeters). Depth to bedrock is commonly more than 6 feet (1.8 meters). Rock fragments range from 0 through 25 percent in the surface layer, 0 through 15 percent in the subsoil, and from 10 through 34 percent in the substratum. Stones and boulders range from 0 through 20 percent in the surface layer and from 0 through 5 percent in the subsoil and substratum. Cobbles range from 0 through 10 percent in the surface layer, 0 through 5 percent in the subsoil, and 0 through 15 percent in the substratum. Gravel ranges from 0 through 10 percent in the solum and from 5 through 30 percent in the substratum. Unless limed, the soil is moderately acid through extremely acid.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cleared and used for cultivated crops, tobacco, vegetables, nursery stock, hay or pasture. Some areas are used for community development. A few areas are idle or wooded. Common trees are northern red, white, and black oak, hickory, gray birch, aspen, white ash, and eastern white pine.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Eastern Massachusetts and eastern Rhode Island. MLRA 144A. 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/P/POQUONOCK.html
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The Houston Black soil series is found only in Texas, and was first described in 1902, the third year of the National Soil Survey program, in Brazoria County, TX. The Professional Soil Scientists Association of Texas chose Houston Black as the state soil of Texas. While the Houston Black has not been officially declared the state soil of Texas, it is considered a soil of state-wide importance, and thus is the unofficial state soil.
Most Houston Black soil is used as farmland, with the majority growing cotton, sorghum, and corn, but hay and pastureland are also common. It is one of the highest agricultural producing soils in Texas. Houston Black occurs in the area where millions of people live and work, including three of the largest metropolitan areas in Texas. While the soil and the landscape make the Blackland prairie very fertile agriculturally; the high clay content causes the soil to be very hard when dry and very sticky when wet, and it tends to shrink when dry and swell when wet. These properties pose limitations to how the land is worked for farming and construction. There are special management issues associated with the soil due
to these properties.
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 Medoc soil series. (Soil Survey of Jasper County, Missouri; by Alan C. Peer, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Medoc series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in a thin mantle of silty loess over residuum of the Cherokee Prairies (MLRA 112). Medoc soils are on uplands and the slope ranges from 0 to 1 percent. Mean annual precipitation is 40 inches and the mean annual temperature is 57 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, active, thermic Aeric Albaqualfs
Soil moisture control section: aquic
Depth to abrupt textural change: 12 to 20 inches
Depth to albic horizon: 6 to 10 inches
Depth to argillic horizon: 12 to 20 inches
Depth to redox concentrations: 6 to 10 inches
Depth to redox depletions: 14 to 32 inches
Depth to episaturation: 12 to 18 inches from February to April
Particle-size control section (weighted average):
Clay content: 35 to 60 percent
Sand content: 6 to 20 percent
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are used for cropland. A few areas are used for native hayland or pasture. Principal crops are wheat, corn, milo, and soybeans. Native vegetation is prairie grasses, mainly big and little bluestem.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwest Missouri and possibly Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma. The soils are of minor extent.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/missouri/MO097...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/M/MEDOC.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
The Khatt series is a very deep soil formed in loamy alluvial deposits. (UAE (NE018).
Taxonomic classification: Sodic Haplocambids, coarse-loamy, mixed, active, hyperthermic
Diagnostic subsurface horizon described in this profile is: Cambic horizon 15 to 110 cm.
The pH (1:1) ranges from 7.0 to 8.8 throughout the profile. The EC (1:1) is generally less than 2.5 dS/m in all horizons, but ranges to 10 in some areas that have been irrigated. The lower pH values are generally associated with the higher EC (1:1) values. SAR ranges mostly from 2 to 60 throughout the profile and is 13 or more in one or more layers within a depth of 100 cm. Some pedons have a deflation gravel lag on the surface covering 2 to 10% of the area. Gravel content is mostly 0 to 5% throughout the profile, but some pedons have layers with up to 55% gravel below depths of 100 cm.
The A horizon ranges from about 10 to 25 cm thick. It has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 5 to 7, and chroma of 3 or 4. Texture is fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, or loam.
The B horizon commonly extends to between 100 and 170 cm in most pedons, but may extend to more than 200 cm. Hue is 7.5YR or 10YR, value is 4 to 7, and chroma is 3 or 4. Texture is sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, or loam. In some pedons there is a 2Bkb horizon below 100 cm with 5 percent or more secondary calcium carbonate. It has color and texture similar to the B horizon.
The C horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value 5 or 6, and chroma 3 or 4. It is very fine sandy loam, or loam, including gravelly or very gravelly texture modifiers. The C horizon is massive and generally contains some very fine stratification. It may be extremely weakly cemented to moderately cemented with carbonates. However, roots appear to be able to penetrate with a spacing of less than 10 cm. Some pedons do not have a C horizon within 200 cm.
A representative soil profile of a Red Kandosol (DARWIN DISTRICT, NORTHERN TERRITORY) (Photo by Alan Stewart, 1966). Kandosols are non texture contrast soils (with little or gradual increase in clay content with depth) that have massive (i.e. weakly to non structured) subsoils (B horizons). They are found mainly in the upland areas, often in association with Dermosols, Chromosols and Kurosols. These soils can vary from stony hardsetting soils to deeper friable soils. Some may almost be texture contrast and have a bleached subsurface (A2) horizon. Using the Australian Soil Classification, Kandosols can be grouped further (into Suborders) based on the color 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 such as nutrient level capacities and ratios and the presence of carbonate or lime.
For more information about these soils, visit;
www.scienceimage.csiro.au/tag/soils/i/4311/red-kandosol-s...
For more information about the Australian Soil Classification System, visit;
www.clw.csiro.au/aclep/asc_re_on_line_V2/soilhome.htm
For more information about Soil Taxonomy, visit:
A representative soil profile of Leakey silty clay loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes. The petrocalcic layer begins at a depth of 80 centimeters,.(Soil Survey of Edwards and Real Counties, Texas; by Wayne J. Gabriel, Dr. Lynn E. Loomis, and James A. Douglass II Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Leakey series consists of well drained, very slowly permeable soils that formed in Pleistocene alluvium. They are moderately deep over a petrocalcic horizon. The soils are on nearly level to gently sloping terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 5 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Very-fine, smectitic, thermic Petrocalcic Calciusterts
Depth to cemented caliche ranges from 20 to 40 inches. Gilgai microrelief is indistinct but slickensides are few to common. When dry the soil has cracks ranging from 0.5 to 2 inches wide that stay open for 90 or more cumulative days in most years. Coarse fragments consist of chert, limestone, and caliche pebbles and cobbles. Surface fragments of chert range from 1 to 10 percent.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for rangeland and pasture. Native grasses include curly mesquite, Texas wintergrass, little bluestem, and Indiangrass. Woody plants include live oak, ashe juniper, post oak, agarito, and persimmon. Some areas are seeded to KR bluestem.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Eastern Edwards Plateau of Central Texas. The series is moderately extensive. The Leakey series was formerly included in the Topia and Anhalt series.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/texas/TX607/0/...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/L/LEAKEY.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Soil profile: (Soil Survey of Joshua Tree National Park, California; by Carrie-Ann Houdeshell, Peter Fahnestock, Stephen Roecker, and Emily Meirik, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Marchel Munnecke and Alice Miller, Pyramid Botanical Consultants)
Landscape: Cool Shallow Fans Over Pediment. This ecological site occurs on fan aprons over a pediment with very shallow or shallow soils. Elevations range from 3,200 to 5,130 feet. Slopes range from 2 to 15 percent. This site is dominated by blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) and creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) covers a low amount of the site. This pediment is relatively buried with alluvium and is flat and undissected. This provides a surface in which creosote bush can establish and be competitive with blackbrush. The production reference value (RV) is 460 pounds per acre but may range from 335 to 750 pounds per acre, depending on annual precipitation and annual species production.
The Pinecity series consists of very shallow and shallow, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in colluvium and/or alluvium over residuum derived from granite, granitoid, or gneissic rocks. Pinecity soils are on hills, mountains or fan aprons over pediments. Slopes range from 2 to 75 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 125 millimeters (5 inches) and the mean annual temperature is about 15.5 degrees C (60 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, thermic, shallow Typic Torripsamments
Soil moisture control section - Usually dry, moist in some parts for short periods during winter and early spring and for 10 to 20 days cumulative between July and September following summer convection storms. The soils have a typic-aridic moisture regime.
Soil temperature: 15 to 19 degrees C.
Surface rock fragments: ranges from 25 to 80 percent, dominated by medium and coarse gravel.
Control section-
Clay content: 1 to 9 percent.
Rock fragments: 5 to 34 percent, typically dominated by gravel.
Organic matter: 0 to 0.50 percent.
Effervescence: noneffervescent throughout.
Depth to paralithic contact: 5 to 36 centimeters (2 to 14 inches).
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for recreation, rangeland and wildlife habitat. Vegetation is mainly blackbrush, California juniper and California jointfir.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern Mojave Desert of Southeastern California. MLRA 30. These soils are of moderate extent.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/california/Jos...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/P/PINECITY.html
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A representative soil profile of the Lurganboy series in an area of cropland from Ireland. These soils formed in loamy marine alluvium.
For detailed information about this soil, visit;
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/rep_profile_sheet.php?series_code=05...
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 Alluvial Gleys (soils influenced by water).
For more information about describing and classifying soils using the Irish Soils Classification System, visit:
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/downloads/SIS_Final_Technical_Report...
Black-Lithomophic Isohumosol and landscape. These soils are widely but oddly distribute in the subtropical karst areas. With limited coverage, they coexist alternately with other types of limestone soils, and present on the top of karst hill, in cracks of rocks, as well as in depressions with poor drainage at hill foot or valley bottom. In addition to limestone, parent rocks include mostly dolomite and dolomitic limestone. Isolated rocks and hill tops are usually covered by trees and shrubs, leaving much litters, while depressions are covered by tall grasses. With fairly good coverage, vegetation is mostly composed of herbaceous plants and shrubs, with some scattering trees. Owing to the accommodation of rock cracks, a thick soil solum may be developed, with a thickness over 100cm. Some weakly weathered rock debris may be found in each layer. The whole soil profile presents a black color, with lower value and chroma. (Photos and notes courtesy of China Soils Museum, Guangdong Institute of World Soil Resources; with revision.)
In Chinese Soil Taxonomy, Isohumosols have deep accumulation of humus under cool temperature. In Soil Taxonomy these soils are Mollisols.
For additional information about this soil and the Soils Museum, visit:
www.giwsr.com/en/article/index/211
For additional information about Soil Taxonomy, visit:
A representative soil profile of a Typic Udivitrand near Mt Tarawera, North Island, New Zealand. (Photo provided by Richard MacEwan.)
Udivitrands are the more or less well drained Vitrands that have a udic moisture regime. Characteristically, these soils have an ochric epipedon and a cambic horizon. Some have an argillic horizon. Most of the Udivitrands in the United States developed in Holocene deposits under coniferous forest vegetation.
Vitrands are the more or less well drained, coarse textured Andisols. These are relatively young soils that occur mostly near volcanoes. Most of the Vitrands in the United States are in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Vitrands formed mainly under coniferous forest vegetation. Characteristically, Vitrands have an ochric or mollic epipedon and a cambic horizon. Most of the Vitrands in the United States developed in Holocene deposits.
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 Kells series in an area of unimproved grassland from Ireland. These soils formed in coarse loamy material over hard shale 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 (relatively young soils or soils with little profile development).
For more information about describing and classifying soils using the Irish Soils Classification System, visit:
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/downloads/SIS_Final_Technical_Report...
The dense, red layer underlying the plinthic zone (Btv) is referred to by local soil scientists as the "brick" due to its brick-like characteristics.
This zone is particularity perplexing. Determining the correct horizon nomenclature requires numerous considerations---
B horizons must have evidence of pedogenesis. This would commonly include soil structure, development of plinthite, and/or translocation of clay in the form of clay films or clay bridging or formation of other diagnostic features. Soil structure in this layer (if observable) is very weak and very to extremely coarse. Weak coarse subangular blocky aggregates can rarely be identified and lack clearly formed ped faces. Plinthite is absent or is less than 5 percent (by volume). Ironstone, if present, is most commonly in an elongated cylindrical pattern encompassing old root channels/animal borrowings, rarely as ironstone concretions. Clay films in the traditional form are very rare or absent; however, thick continuous clay flows or coatings greater than 1mm thick are common in old abandoned root channels or along randomly spaced internal vertical cracks. Clay bridging of sand grains is common, but weakly expressed. If pedogenesis has been concluded, the layer may also have fragic soil properties.
Fragic soil properties (FSPs) are principally based on slaking characteristics (non-cemented material) as well as field criteria including evidence of pedogenesis, a rupture resistance class that is firm or firmer, brittle manner of failure, and the ability to restrict the entry of roots. Note: Although thought to characteristically have prismatic structure, a fragipan horizon may be dominantly massive. The properties required for FSPs are common and observable.
With the striking visual difference between the overlying Btv horizon and the brick layer, is there a lithologic discontinuity? "Not everyone agrees on the degree of change required for a lithologic discontinuity. No attempt is made to quantify lithologic discontinuities" (KST). Abrupt changes in color that are not the result of pedogenic processes can be used as indicators of a discontinuity.
Although the transition between the plinthic horizon (Btv) and the brick layer (2BCtx) is most commonly abrupt and very striking, it has been observed to be more gradual is other pedons. This is thought to be the result of the intensity of the flow patterns at the time of deposition or subsequent erosion on the base layer prior to secondary deposition. The brick layer is considered to be of a much greater age than the overlying materials in which the contemporary pedon formed. If the abrupt transition is absent, the materials may be of a single origin to the depth observed in this layer.
For more information about Describing and Sampling soils, visit;
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_052523...
For more information about Soil Taxonomy, visit;
A representative soil profile of the Mayalls series in England. (Cranfield University 2022. The Soils Guide. Available: www.landis.org.uk. Cranfield University, UK.)
These are non-alluvial, with non-calcareous loamy or clayey subsoils without significant clay enrichment. They 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 at elevations below about 300 m.0.D. Most are in agricultural use.
For more information on the World Reference Base soil classification system, visit:
www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf
For more information about this soil, visit:
Shiny clay films coat the surface of this ped. (Photo courtesy of John Kelley)
Clay films are thin layers of oriented, translocated clay; also called clay skins or argillans.
In this soil, clay has been leached from the upper 15 to 25 cm, resulting in a loamy, predominantly gray horizon with a wavy lower boundary. Below this is a thick, reddish, clay-enriched argillic horizon that extends below the base of the photo.
Illustrated Guide to Soil Taxonomy (p. 4-54)
A Histic Epiaquod from south-west Poland--lower Silesia region and the Sudetes Mountains formed in materials wreatered from granite..(Photo provided by Cezary Kabala, Institute of Soil Science, University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland.)
These are the wet Spodosols that have a histic epipedon. They tend to be saturated during most of the growing season. They do not have a lithic contact within 50 cm of the soil surface. In the US, these soils occur in Michigan.
The histic epipedon is a layer (one or more horizons) greater than 20 cm thick that is characterized by saturation (for 30 days or more, cumulative) and reduction for some time during normal years (or is artificially drained) and consists mostly of organic soil material. A histic epipedon consisting of mineral soil material can also be part of a mollic or umbric epipedon.
These soils are classified as Skeletic Epistagnic Histic Albic Podzols (Densic, Loamic) by the World Reference Base (WRB).
For more information about this soil, visit:
karnet.up.wroc.pl/~kabala/Bielice.html
For more information on the World Reference Base soil classification system, visit:
www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf
For additional information about the US Soil Taxonomy soil classification system, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/cla...
A representative soil profile of a Pachic Melanudand near Sendai (Tohuku), Japan. (Photo provided by D.J. Lowe.)
Pachic Melanudands are like Typic Melanudands, but they have both more than 6.0 percent organic carbon and the colors of a mollic epipedon throughout at least 50 cm of the upper 60 cm of the andic materials and have, on undried samples, a 1500 kPa water retention of 70 percent or more throughout a layer 35 cm or more thick within 100 cm either of the mineral soil surface or of the top of an organic layer with andic soil properties, whichever is shallower. These soils have not been recognized in the United States. They are established for use in other countries.
Melanudands are the Udands that have a melanic epipedon. They can have a lithic contact but do not have, in 75 percent or more of each pedon, a placic horizon or any other cemented horizon with its upper boundary within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface or of the upper boundary of an organic layer with andic soil properties, whichever is shallower. Characteristically, Melanudands have a melanic epipedon and a cambic horizon. The Melanudands in the United States generally developed in late-Pleistocene deposits. Most formed under forest or savanna vegetation.
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 soil profile of a moderately well drained, loamy Plinthustult in Malaysia. This soil has an ochric epipedon about 25 cm thick underlain by a reddish brown argillic horizon. The lower half of the profile is firm and restricts the movement of water. Water tends to periodically perch above this layer and move laterally, resulting in the gray colors in the middle part of the profile. The dark red areas in the lower part of the profile are plinthite. The depth of this profile is about 150 cm. (Soil Survey Staff. 2015. Illustrated guide to Soil Taxonomy. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, Nebraska)
Plinthustults have a large amount of plinthite (firm, iron oxide rich concentration) in the subsoil. Plinthite occurs in a continuous layer or makes up > 50% of a layer within a depth of 150 cm. Plinthite irreversibly hardens after exposure to repeated wet-dry cycles. Slopes are mostly gentle or moderate. These soils are not known to occur in the United States or in Puerto Rico. The great group is provided for use in other parts of the world.
For additional information about soil classification, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/cla...
Current faculty, staff and alumni gathered at the Plant and Soil Science Reunion in the Plant Science Plaza during Roundup week.
A representative soil profile of the Heathtown series in an area of unimproved grassland from Ireland. These soils formed in fine loamy drift with siliceous stones.
For detailed information about this soil, visit;
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/rep_profile_sheet.php?series_code=06...
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 Undifferentiated Gleys. These soils have gleyed sub-surface horizons, displayed by prominent mottling or uniformly grey subsoils within 40 cm depth.
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 of the Carrigvahanagh series in an area of scrub from Ireland. These soils formed in peat over lithoskeletal acid igneous rock.
For detailed information about this soil, visit;
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/rep_profile_sheet.php?series_code=04...
For information about the soil series of Ireland, visit;
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/soilguide.php
In the Irish soil classification system these soils are Histic Lithosols. Histic Lithosols have a peaty surface horizon (> 20% organic carbon) less than 40 cm thick.
For more information about describing and classifying soils using the Irish Soils Classification System, visit:
gis.teagasc.ie/soils/downloads/SIS_Final_Technical_Report...
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Soil profile: A Hypercalcic, Subnatric, Red Sodosol. Original notes and photos provided by the State of Victoria (Agriculture Victoria), Mark Imhof and Sonia Thompson (October 1994), with revision.
Landscape: Mid slope of an East-West dune.
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/malregn.nsf/pages/mall...
In soil taxonomy, these soils are commonly Alfisols or Aridisols. For more information about Soil Taxonomy, visit;
A soil profile of Peaks soil. Bedrock is at a depth of about 80 centimeters. Rock fragments exceed 35 percent throughout the profile. (Soil Survey of Grayson County, Virginia; by Robert K. Conner, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The Peaks series consists of moderately deep, somewhat excessively drained, rapidly permeable soils on ridge tops and convex side slopes in the Blue Ridge province. Slopes range from 0 to 90 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 42 inches, and mean annual temperature is about 55 degrees F near the type location.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, active, mesic Typic Dystrudepts
Thickness: Solum ranges from 14 to 38 inches
Depth to rock: 20 to 40 inches
Rock fragments: 15 to 55 percent in the A and E, 35 to 60 percent in the Bw, 35 to 75 percent in the C horizons. Granite, gneiss, and schist gravel and channers.
Reaction: Very strongly acid through moderately acid, unless limed.
USE AND VEGETATION: Native vegetation is mixed hardwoods and pines.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Blue Ridge province in Virginia and North Carolina, and possibly Georgia and Tennessee. The series is of moderate extent. Peaks soils have been included in the Ashe series in the past.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/virginia/VA077...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/P/PEAKS.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit: