1. Soil formation begins with weathering of bedrock

2. Factors Influencing Soil Formation (Ch 2)
Parent material (geological [~inorganic] and organic precursor)
Climate (temperature, precipitation)
Biota (vegetation, microorganisms, earthworms, humans)
Topography (slope, aspect, landscape position)
Time (period since formation began)
~ if all the soil forming factors are the same, then will similar soils be formed in different locations?
Brady and Weil, 2004

3. Four basic processes of soil formation
Additions: organic matter input, soil from wind erosion…
Losses: leaching, erosion
Transformations: weathering of primary particles
Translocations: movement of inorganic and organic material

4. Family Subgroup Great group Classification Suborder Order

5. Soil Classification and Taxonomy
A system to describe and classify soils
Based on properties of soils observed in the field
Includes diagnostic surface horizons (epipedons) and subsurface horizons, moisture and temperature regimes, and other properties.

6. A group of similar pedons is known as a polypedon
Soil Classification
Pedon: the smallest volume of soil that displays the full range of characteristic soil properties (or lateral dimensions large enough to permit the study of horizons)
Area ranges from 1 to 10 m2
A group of similar pedons is known as a polypedon
Several pedons or polypedons having similar soil profile properties and horizons are classified as a soil series
Brady and Weil, 2004

8. Soil Taxonomy Surface and subsurface diagnostic horizons
Comprehensive soil classification system
System is based on measured or observed soil properties
Surface and subsurface diagnostic horizons
Moisture and temperature regime
Color, texture, structure
Organic matter, clay, iron, aluminum oxides, silicate clays, salts, pH, base saturation
Soil depth

9. Epipedons: Surface horizon
Epi- over; pedon- soil
Epipedons: Surface horizon
Forms near the soil surface and can include B-horizon
Mollic (dark color, thick, soft, usually developed under grass)
Umbric (similar to mollic, low base saturation, high rainfall area, parent material has lower Ca, Mg)
Ochric (thin, light colored, low in OM, hard and massive when dry)
Melanic (black, organic matter rich, developed from volcanic ash)
Histic (OM overlying mineral soil, formed in wet areas, black to dark brown peat or muck with low bulk density)
Brady and Weil, 2004

10. Fig 3.3
Pg. 62
18 subsurface
horizons

11. Diagnostic horizons are based on the presence of materials and their properties

12. Note some common horizons in arid and semi-arid regions due to low leaching

13. “commonly encountered” Diagnostic horizons below the soil surface (subsurface)
Argillic (clay accumulation: coatings, bridges, shiny skins)
Natric (clay accumulation plus 15% ESP)
Kandic (Fe, Al oxides and low activity silicate clays)
Oxic (highly weathered, high in Fe, Al oxides, kaolinite; not sticky even though it contains clay)
Spodic (accumulation of colloidal organic matter and Al oxide; found in highly leached forest soil in cool humid areas)
Albic (light colored; low in clay and Al, Fe oxides)
Calcic (carbonates), Gypsic (gypsum), Salic (salts), or Petrocalcic, petrogypsic if cemented

14. Five Soil Moisture Regimes
Refers to the presence or absence of water
affects plant growth, leaching, weathering, soil development, land use, …
Related to climate (mostly precipitation and temperature)
Timing and amount of rainfall is important
More weathering and soil development during summer rains than winter rains

15. Five Soil Moisture Regimes
Aquic – waterlogged conditions which cause gleying and mottles
Udic – high moisture (no plant stress, excessive leaching of soil profile)
Ustic – some plant available water, but also periods of drought
Aridic – dry conditions, salt build-up, slow plant growth, low OM
Xeric – cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers with drought (Mediterranean climate)

17. Soil temperature regimes
(At 50 cm depth)
Permafrost
present