soul taxonomy

Entisols taxonomy

ent

Inceptisols taxonomy

ept

Mollisols taxonomy

oll

Alfisols taxonomy

alf

Ultisols taxonomy

ult

Oxisols taxonomy

ox

Vertisols taxonomy

ert

Aridisols taxonomy

id

Spodosols taxonomy

od

Histisols taxonomy

ist

Andisols taxonomy

and

Gelisols taxonomy

el

Entisols

Little or no horizon development. Inert parent material, poor climate conditions or landscapes with little time.

Inceptisols

Weak development. Recent deposits, tundra, mountain, erosion.

Alfisols

Well developed. Usually forest soils, very productive.

Ultisols

Well developed, can be productive if managed well.

Oxisols

Very highly weathered. Tropical soils, productive with high management levels.

Spodosols

High sand content. Heavily leached E horizon, very acidic, very infertile.

Andisols

Volcanic ash soil, high porosity, wind erosion problems, amorphous clay, highly productive.

Aridisols

Short wet periods. Salty, low OM, productive if irrigated.

Mollisols

The good shit. Grassland soil, >50% base saturation.

Vertisols

High expansion and contraction. Self mixing, at least 30% expanding clays, very difficult.

Histosols

Organic soils, low bulk density, high water holding, nutrient holding

Gelisols

Soils that are frozen for a significant part of the year

Ochric Epipedon

light colored, low OM, too thin to be mollic or umbric

Mollic Epipedon

dark colored, high OM, greater than 10 inches thick, greater than 50% base cation saturation

Umbric Epipedon

dark colored, high OM, greater than 10 inches thick, greater than 50% base cation saturation, ACIDIC

Histic Epipedon

saturated at some time of the year (waterlogged), 20-30% OM

Melanic Epipedon

Volcanic soils, greater than 10% OM, very low density, light and fluffy

Anthropic Epipedon

dark colored, high OM, greater than 10 inches thick, greater than 50% base cation saturation, MAN MADE, high P levels

Plaggen Epipedon

dark colored, high OM, greater than 10 inches thick, greater than 50% base cation saturation, LONG-TERM MANURING

Albic horizon

E horizon leached of clays, oxides, and OM. Common in Spodosols.

Argillic horizon

Illuvial accumulation of high activity silicate clays. Designated as Bt

Cambic horizon

weakly developed B horizon. designated as Bw.

Fragipan horizon

Dense horizon. Restricts movement of water and roots. Common in West TN. Designated as Bx.

Kandic horizon

Illuvial accumulation of low activity silicate clays. Common in the south. Designated as Kandic Bt.

Natric horizon

Illuvial accumulation of high activity silicate clays. High in Na. Common in arid regions with little leaching. Designated as Btn.

Oxic horizon

Highly weathered B horizon. Very high in low activity clays. Very infertile, tropical. Designated as Bo.

Spodic horizon

Illuvial accumulation of Al oxides and humus. Coarse texture in cool climates. Designated as Bhs

5 soil forming factors

Parent Material, Topography, Biota, Climate, Time