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Soil Orders
Soil Orders with Formative element and Description
12
Science
Undergraduate 3
11/16/2010

Additional Science Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term

Alfisols


alf

Definition

argillic with moderate or high base status

at least 35% CEC occupied by bases

not much organic matter

subsurface accumulation of illuvial clay often brownish colors

moderate weathering and leaching

moderate to high fertility

Term

Andisols


and

Definition

volcanic ash and high phosphorus retention

dark surface horizons

 

low bulk density

young and not highly weathered

Term

Aridisols


id

Definition

aridic moisture regime and argillic, natric, calcic, petrocalcic, salic, or cambic

 

arid (dry) regions → frequently accumulation of salts

ochric epipedon

Term

Entisols


ent

Definition

ochric epipedon with little or no soil development


young soils that are actively eroding on slopes or floodplains and recieve deposits of alluvium


sandy parent material


found under almost any vegetation in all climates

 


Term

Gelisols


el

Definition

permafrost

 

cold climates where upper profile thaws during warm periods

 

frost mixing (cyroturbation) is important process in these soils

Term

Histosols


ist

Definition

greater than 20% organic matter and greater than 16 in thick

 

black much or peat

Term

Inceptisols


ept

Definition

cambic (horizon of physical and chemical alternation) within 40 in of surface

bright colors


no subsurface horizons of diagnostic of other orders


occur in cool to very warm, semiarid to humid regions


 

Term

Mollisols


oll

Definition

mollic

thick very dark colored, base-rich surface horizon

 

>50% base saturation

 

high base status thoughout profile 

 

high fertility

 

Term

Oxisols


ox

Definition

oxic

reddish colors

 

highly weathered of low fertility

 

subtropical and tropical regions

 

consist of iron and aluminum oxyhydroxides, kaolinite, quartz, and organic matter

Term

Spodosols


od

Definition

spodic

black or very dark brown illuvial accumulation of humus and aluminum (w or w/o iron)

 

often overlying light colored E horizon

 

occur in humid regions

 

developed on coarse-textured parent materials

Term

Ultisols


ult

Definition

argillic or kandic with low base status

 

accumulation of iluvial clays: often reddish or yellowish colors


base saturation less than 35% in lower part of profile


highly weathered and leached: humid regions


low in natural fertility

Term

Vertisols


ert

Definition

high clay content with montmorillonite clay and deep, wide cracks at some time each year

 

shrink and swell

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