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#soil-orders
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What are the soil orders in the soil taxonomy system?
Cosmas
Jan 2
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Jan 2
The soil taxonomy system, developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), recognizes 12 soil orders. These soil orders are:
1. Alfisols: These soils are characterized by a medium to high fertility level and a clay-rich subsurface horizon (known as an argillic horizon).
2. Andisols: These soils are formed from volcanic ash and have unique properties such as high water-holding capacity and fertility.
3. Aridisols: These soils are found in arid and semi-arid regions and are characterized by low organic matter content and limited leaching.
4. Entisols: These soils have minimal development and lack well-defined horizons. They are often found in areas with recent geological activity or where erosion is prevalent.
5. Gelisols: These soils are found in cold regions with permafrost or seasonally frozen ground. They often have a high organic matter content and unique cryogenic features.
6. Histosols: These soils are predominantly composed of organic materials, such as peat or muck. They are typically found in wetland areas.
7. Inceptisols: These soils have limited development, with weakly developed horizons. They are often found in areas with young or recently deposited parent materials.
8. Mollisols: These soils are characterized by a thick, dark surface horizon rich in organic matter. They are highly fertile and commonly used for agriculture.
9. Oxisols: These highly weathered soils are found in tropical and subtropical regions. They have a low fertility level and are often rich in iron and aluminum oxides.
10. Spodosols: These soils are found in cool, humid regions and are characterized by a subsurface horizon rich in organic matter and iron and aluminum oxides.
11. Ultisols: These soils are highly weathered and typically found in warm, humid regions. They have a clay-rich subsurface horizon and are often acidic.
12. Vertisols: These soils have a high clay content and exhibit significant shrink-swell properties. They are often found in areas with seasonally dry and wet climates.
These soil orders are further divided into suborders, great groups, subgroups, families, and series, providing a hierarchical classification system for soils.
1. Alfisols: These soils are characterized by a medium to high fertility level and a clay-rich subsurface horizon (known as an argillic horizon).
2. Andisols: These soils are formed from volcanic ash and have unique properties such as high water-holding capacity and fertility.
3. Aridisols: These soils are found in arid and semi-arid regions and are characterized by low organic matter content and limited leaching.
4. Entisols: These soils have minimal development and lack well-defined horizons. They are often found in areas with recent geological activity or where erosion is prevalent.
5. Gelisols: These soils are found in cold regions with permafrost or seasonally frozen ground. They often have a high organic matter content and unique cryogenic features.
6. Histosols: These soils are predominantly composed of organic materials, such as peat or muck. They are typically found in wetland areas.
7. Inceptisols: These soils have limited development, with weakly developed horizons. They are often found in areas with young or recently deposited parent materials.
8. Mollisols: These soils are characterized by a thick, dark surface horizon rich in organic matter. They are highly fertile and commonly used for agriculture.
9. Oxisols: These highly weathered soils are found in tropical and subtropical regions. They have a low fertility level and are often rich in iron and aluminum oxides.
10. Spodosols: These soils are found in cool, humid regions and are characterized by a subsurface horizon rich in organic matter and iron and aluminum oxides.
11. Ultisols: These soils are highly weathered and typically found in warm, humid regions. They have a clay-rich subsurface horizon and are often acidic.
12. Vertisols: These soils have a high clay content and exhibit significant shrink-swell properties. They are often found in areas with seasonally dry and wet climates.
These soil orders are further divided into suborders, great groups, subgroups, families, and series, providing a hierarchical classification system for soils.
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