Geoscience Reference
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Fig. 20.1 Landform and soil with a salic horizon, White Sands Missile area, New Mexico (Photo
by Dr. C. Monger)
EC and thickness of
450. In other national soil taxonomic systems, these soils are
referred to as Solonchaks, halomorphic soils, and saline soils. An example of a soil
(Typic Aquisalids) with a salic horizon is given in Fig. 20.1 .
20.2 Properties of Salic Horizons
Salic horizons are designated with the symbol z , which refers to the pedogenic
accumulation of salts more soluble than gypsum. Since the salic horizon is pedo-
genic, these symbols are applied to the A, B, and BC horizons. Soils with salic
horizons in the USA contain a variety of structures, including granules, subangular
blocks, plates, and massive, structureless conditions. Masses of Fe or Mn and redox
features are common in the soils. The water table is present at depths of 40-100 cm
for periods ranging from 1 to 12 months of the year in many of the soils. Fine,
tubular pores are common in soils with a salic horizon.
From an examination of 96 OSDs with a reported salic horizon, the average
depth to the salic horizon was 5 cm, and the depth ranged from 0 to 53 cm. The
average thickness of the salic horizon was 83 cm, with a range of 15 (minimum
required) to 203 cm.
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