Twelve Soil Orders Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What are alfisols?

Soils with high-base-content B horizon rich in eluviated clay, found from low to subarctic latitudes.

What are aridisols?

Soils in dry climates that are low in organic matter and frequently have subsurface horizons rich in calcium carbonate or soluble salts.

What are mollisols?

Soils in semi-arid/subhumid grasslands in midlatitudes that have humus-rich A horizon and a B horizon that has a high base status.

What are oxisols?

Highly weathered soils in tropical environments that have low base status and a subsurface horizon that has a high oxide concentration. Signup and view all the answers

What are ultisols?

Highly weathered soils in tropical and subtropical environments that have low base content and a subsurface horizon rich in eluviated clay. Signup and view all the answers

What are spodosols?

Soils in cool, moist environments that have a B horizon rich in eluviated sesquioxides. Signup and view all the answers

What are vertisols?

Tropical and subtropical soils with high base status that contain an abundant amount of expandable clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry. Signup and view all the answers

What are gelisols?

Largely organic soils that form in extremely cold environments where permafrost is thick. Signup and view all the answers

What are histosols?

Very dark soils consisting mostly of organic matter, typically found in cool/moist environments. Signup and view all the answers

What are andisols?

Weakly developed soils formed within glassy volcanic sediments ejected by active volcanoes. Signup and view all the answers

What are entisols?

Horizonless soils usually formed within recently deposited sediments. Signup and view all the answers

What are inceptisols?

Soils with poorly developed horizons, but which may evolve further. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these are classified as well-developed mineral soils?

Oxisols Signup and view all the answers

Which of these are classified as organic soils?

Histosols Signup and view all the answers

Which of these are classified as weakly developed soils?

Andisols Signup and view all the answers

Which of these soil types are characterized by maturity?

Alfisols Signup and view all the answers

Which of these soil types are characterized by climate?

Aridisols Signup and view all the answers

Which of these soil types are characterized by parent material?

Vertisols Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Soil Orders Overview

Alfisols: High base content in B horizon; rich in eluviated clay; typically found from low to subarctic latitudes.
Aridisols: Present in dry climates; low organic matter; subsurface horizons may be rich in calcium carbonate or soluble salts.
Mollisols: Found in semi-arid/subhumid grasslands of midlatitudes; characterized by a humus-rich A horizon and high base status B horizon.
Oxisols: Highly weathered soils of tropics; low base status; notable for high oxide concentration in the subsurface horizon.
Ultisols: Similar to oxisols; highly weathered in tropical/subtropical areas; low base content; rich in eluviated clay in the subsurface.
Spodosols: Located in cool, moist environments; features a B horizon rich in eluviated sesquioxides.
Vertisols: Found in tropical/subtropical regions; high base status with abundant expandable clay; experiences notable swelling when wet and shrinking when dry.
Gelisols: Organic soils from extremely cold environments; typically have chaotic horizons due to permafrost and freeze-thaw cycles.
Histosols: Very dark, organic matter-heavy soils; found in cool/moist areas where organic decomposition occurs slowly.
Andisols: Formed from volcanic glass sediments; weakly developed soils often associated with active volcanoes.
Entisols: Horizonless soils typically arising from recent sediment deposits; characterized by minimal soil profile development.
Inceptisols: Exhibit poorly developed horizons but indicate a potential for further evolution.

Categories of Soil Types

Well-developed mineral soils: Includes alfisols, aridisols, mollisols, oxisols, ultisols, spodosols, and vertisols.
Organic soils: Comprises gelisols and histosols, rich in organic material.
Weakly developed soils: Encompasses andisols, entisols, and inceptisols which show limited profile development.

Characteristics Based on Maturity and Climate

Maturity: Entisols, inceptisols, alfisols, ultisols, spodosols, and oxisols exhibit varying degrees of soil maturity.
Climate Influence: Mollisols, aridisols, and gelisols are strongly influenced by their climatic contexts.
Parent Material Influence: Vertisols, andisols, and histosols are characterized by their specific parent material properties.

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Description

Explore the twelve soil orders with these informative flashcards. Each card presents a different soil order, including definitions and key characteristics. Ideal for students studying soil science and agronomy.