Soil Horizons & Suffixes :)

A horizon

A surface mineral horizon with organic matter accumulation or eluviation.

B horizon

A subsurface horizon where materials like clay, Fe, Al, or OM accumulate (illuviation zone).

C horizon

Unconsolidated material with little soil development; similar to parent material.

R horizon

Consolidated bedrock.

W horizon

Water layer found in Organic, Gleysolic, or Cryosolic soils.

Ah

A horizon enriched with humified organic matter.

Ae

An eluviated horizon that has lost clay, Fe, or Al oxides.

Ap

A ploughed or mechanically disturbed horizon (e.g., agriculture).

Ahe

A horizon both enriched with OM and eluviated.

Aej

A thin, weakly developed eluviated horizon.

Bt

A horizon with clay illuviation (accumulation of clay).

Bf

Illuviation of Fe and/or Al oxides.

Bh

Illuviation of organic matter.

Bm

A minimally altered horizon; slight change in color or structure.

Bg

A gleyed horizon—gray colors/mottles indicating poor drainage.

Bca

Accumulation of secondary carbonates.

Bmk

Slight development + calcium carbonate presence.

Bn

High sodium content; often has prismatic structure.

Ck

Presence of carbonates in the parent material.

Cs

Presence of soluble salts.

Cg

A gleyed C horizon (wet, grayish color).

Cy

Horizon affected by cryoturbation (frost churning).

Cz

A perennially frozen horizon (permafrost).

L horizon

Fresh, undecomposed organic litter.

F horizon

Partially decomposed organic material.

H horizon

Humified, well-decomposed organic matter (no recognizable structures).

Of horizon

Fibric horizon—largely undecomposed, fibrous.

Om horizon

Mesic—intermediate level of decomposition.

Oh horizon

Humic—well decomposed, dark, no visible plant structures.

b suffix

Buried soil horizon.

c suffix

Cemented irreversibly.

ss suffix

Multiple slickensides (Vertisol indicator).

v suffix

Horizon affected by agrillipedoturbation (clay shrink/swell).