Classifications: International WRB and U.S. Soil Taxonomy - Major Soil Groups of the World - page 141

Table 4.15 Contd...

hem Incomplete decomposition hist Organic material

hum Presence of organic matter orth Classic type

per Perudic moisture regime psamm Sandy texture

rend Appearance of Rendzina sal With salic horizon

sapr Strong decomposition of OM torr Torric moisture regime

turb Cryoturbated ud Udic moisture regime

ust Ustic moisture regime xer Xeric moisture regime

At the level of Great Group, as in the preceding one, the properties
considered are heterogeneous; they pertain to the horizons or the
climate (Table 4.16).

Great Group

Table 4.16 Rules for composing names at Great Group level (according to McSweeney
and Grunwald 2001, updated).

Prefix Significance Prefix Significance

acr(o) Extreme weathering al Much exchangeable aluminium

alb With an albic horizon anthr(a) With an anthropic horizon

aqu(i) Obvious wet conditions arg(i) With an argillic horizon

calc(i) With a calcic horizon cry(o) Cold

dur(i) With a duripan dys(tr) Low base saturation

endo Wet at depth epi Wet from the surface

eu(tr) High base saturation ferr Presence of iron

fluv Linked to a fluviatile plain frag(i) Presence of a fragipan, MUCH

USED TERM

gel Soil temperature < 0° C glac Containing ice

fol Presence of plant material fragloss See frag and gloss

gloss With tongues gyps With gypsic horizon

hal Saline hap(l)(o) Minimally developed horizon

hem Partly decomposed plant fibres hist Undecomposed plant fibres

hum Presence of humus hydr(a) Presence of water

kand Presence of low-activity clay luvi Illuvial

melan(o) Black, high carbon content, natr(i) With a natric horizon

poorly crystallized minerals

pale ( palaeo ) ancient development petr(o) Indurated calcic or gypsic horizon

plac(o) With thin cemented horizon plagg With a plaggen horizon

plinth With a plinthite psamm Sandy texture

Table 4.16 Contd...