Soil Science Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards related to soil science lecture notes.

World Reference Base (FAO 2015)

A system for soil classification based on diagnostic horizons, properties, and materials.

Diagnostic Horizons

Specific soil layers with distinct characteristics used for soil classification.

Diagnostic Properties

Measurable characteristics of soil horizons used for soil classification.

Diagnostic Materials

Specific soil components or substances used for soil classification.

Leptosols

Shallow soils limited in depth by hard rock within 25cm of the surface, often in mountainous regions.

Regosols

Soils with weak development, often found on eroding sites with soft rock.

Fluvisols

Soils developed from recent alluvial deposits, often found in floodplains.

Cambisols

Soils with a cambic horizon (Bw), indicating moderate weathering.

Gleysols

Soils with hydromorphic properties due to a water table, exhibiting mottling.

Stagnosols

Soils with stagnic properties (waterlogging) and strong reduction.

Planosols

Soils with an abrupt textural change and stagnic properties.

Luvisols

Soils with an argic horizon (Bt) and high base saturation, indicating clay illuviation.

Alisols

Similar to Luvisols but with a desaturated argic horizon and acidic pH.

Acrisols

Soils with an argic horizon in tropical/subtropical climates, low activity clays.

Lixisols

Soils that present an argic horizon (Bt), has a tropical and subtropical climate, and the clays that constitute them are of low activity.

Chernozems

Soils with a thick, dark mollic horizon and high base saturation.

Phaeozems

Soils with a thick, dark chernic horizon without carbonates.

Kastanozems

Soils with a chernic horizon and V ≥ 50% in all cases.

Umbrisols

Soils with a dark umbric horizon and low base saturation.

Calcisoils

Soils of arid/semi-arid regions with accumulation of carbonates and a calcic or petrocalcic horizon.

Gypsisols

Soils of arid/semi-arid regions with accumulation of gypsum and a gypsic horizon.

Solonchak

Soils of arid/semi-arid regions with high soluble salt content and a salic horizon.

Solonetz

Soils of arid/semi-arid regions with columnar structure, high sodium and a natric horizon.

Ferralsols

Tropical soils with a ferralic horizon, rich in Fe/Al oxides.

Plinthosols

Tropical soils with a plinthic horizon, rich in Fe oxides that hardens with exposure.

Histosols

Soils of polar/boreal regions with organic horizons (peat).

Podzols

Soils of polar/boreal regions with an eluvial horizon and a spodic horizon.

Cryosols

Soils of polar/boreal regions with a cryic horizon (permafrost).

Arenosols

Soils with sandy texture.

Andosols

Soils with andic properties and volcanic materials.

Vertisols

Soils with a high clay content (>30%), shrink-swell properties, grietas, and vertic horizon.

Anthroposols

Soils influenced by human activity.

Technosols

Soils dominated by human-made materials.

Cútanes de iluviación

Clay films coating soil aggregates and pore walls in the argic horizon.

Ilimerización

The process of clay eluviation from upper horizons and illuviation in lower horizons.

Propiedades gléyicas

Soil properties associated with waterlogging and reduction processes.

Horizonte árgico

A subsurface horizon with accumulated clay.

Horizonte vértico

A subsurface horizon with slickensides and shrink-swell clays.

Material flúvico

Alluvial deposits in recent floodplains.

Slickensides

Polished and striated surfaces in clayey soils due to shear movement.

Plintita

Iron-rich, mottled material that hardens irreversibly upon exposure.

Horizonte sálico

A soil horizon with high salt content.