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Annex 3
Qualifiers (formative elements for naming soil units)

General rules

Definitions of qualifiers

Abruptic

having an abrupt textural change.

Aceric

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a pH (1:1 in water) between 3.5 and 5 and jarosite mottles (in Solonchaks only).

Acric

having, in at least part of the subsurface horizon within 100 cm from the soil urface, a ferralic horizon, which meets the clay increase requirements of an argic horizon, and has less than 50 percent base saturation (in 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0) (in Ferralsols only).

Acroxic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, less than 2 cmol(+) kg-1 of (exchangeable bases plus 1 M KCl exchangeable Al3+) in the fine earth fraction of one or more horizons with a combined thickness of 30 cm or more (in Andosols only).

Albic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, an albic horizon.

 

Hyperalbic

having an albic horizon within 50 cm from the soil surface and the lower boundary at a depth of 100 cm or more from the soil surface.

 

Glossalbic

having tonguing of an albic into an argic or natric horizon.

Alcalic

having, within 50 cm from the surface, soil material, which has in a 1:1 aqueous solution, a pH of 8.5 or more.

Alic

having an argic horizon, which has a cation exchange capacity (in 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0) equal to or greater than 24 cmol(+) kg-1 clay throughout, a silt/clay ratio of less than 0.6, and 50 percent or more Al-saturation.

Alumic

having, in at least some part of the subsurface horizon between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface, 50 percent or more Al-saturation.

Andic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, an andic horizon.

 

Aluandic

Andic with less than 0.6 percent acid oxalate (pH 3) extractable silica, or an Alpy1/Alox2 ratio of 0.5 or greater.

 

Silandic

Andic with 0.6 percent or more acid oxalate (pH 3) extractable silica, or an Alpy/Alox ratio of less than 0.5.

Anthraquic

having an anthraquic horizon.

Anthric

showing evidence of alteration by cultivation practices.

Anthropic

showing evidence of profound modification of the soil by human activity other than cultivation (in Regosols only).

Aric

having remnants of diagnostic horizons disturbed by repeated deep ploughing.

Arenic

having, throughout the upper 50 cm soil layer, a texture of loamy fine sand or coarser.

Aridic

having aridic properties and not having a takyric or yermic horizon.

Arzic

having, within 50 cm from the soil surface, sulphate-rich groundwater at some period in most years and having, averaged over a depth of 100 cm, 15 percent or more gypsum (in Gypsisols only).

Calcaric

calcareous at least between 20 and 50 cm from the soil surface.

Calcic

having, between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface, a calcic horizon or concentrations of secondary carbonates.

 

Hypercalcic

having a hypercalcic horizon, which contains 50 percent or more calcium carbonate equivalent.

 

Hypocalcic

having only concentrations of secondary carbonates within 100 cm from the soil surface.

 

Orthicalcic

having a calcic horizon within 100 cm from the soil surface.

Carbic

having a cemented spodic horizon, which does not contain sufficient amorphous iron to turn redder on ignition (in Podzols only).

Carbonatic

having, in a 1:1 aqueous solution, a soil-pH > 8.5 and HCO3 > SO4 >> Cl (in Solonchaks only).

Chernic

having a chernic horizon (in Chernozems only).

Chloridic

having, in a 1:1 aqueous solution, Cl >> SO4 > HCO3 (in Solonchaks only).

Chromic

having a subsurface horizon, which in the major part has a Munsell hue of 7.5YR and a chroma (moist) greater 4, or a hue (moist) redder than 7.5YR.

Cryic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a cryic horizon.

Cutanic

having clay skins in the argic horizon.

Densic

having a cemented spodic horizon ("Ortstein") (in Podzols only).

Duric

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a duric horizon.

 

Hyperduric

having a duric horizon containing more than 50 percent silica.

Dystric

having, in at least some part between 20 and 100 cm from the soil surface, or in a layer 5 cm thick directly above a lithic contact in Leptosols, a base saturation (in 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0) of less than 50 percent.

 

Epidystric

Dystric, having a base saturation (in 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0) of less than 50 percent at least between 20 and 50 cm from the soil surface.

 

Hyperdystric

Dystric, having a base saturation (in 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0) of less than 50 percent in all parts between 20 and100 cm from the soil surface, and less than 20 percent in some part within 100 cm from the soil surface.

 

Orthidystric

Dystric, having a base saturation (in 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0) of less than 50 percent in all parts between 20 and 100 cm from the soil surface.

Entic

having no albic horizon and having a loose spodic horizon (in Podzols only).

Eutric

having, at least between 20 and 100 cm from the soil surface, or in a layer 5cm thick directly above a lithic contact in Leptosols, a base saturation (in 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0) of 50 percent or more.

 

Endoeutric

Eutric, having a base saturation (in 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0) of 50 percent or more in all parts between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface.

 

Hypereutric

Eutric, having a base saturation (in 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0) of 80 percent or more in all parts between 20 and 100 cm from the soil surface.

 

Orthieutric

Eutric, having a base saturation (in 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0) of 50 to 80 percent in all parts between 20 and 100 cm from the soil surface.

Eutrisilic

having a silandic horizon and a sum of exchangeable bases equal to or than 25 cmol(+) kg-1 fine earth within 30 cm from the soil surface.

Ferralic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, ferralic properties.

 

Hyperferralic

Ferralic, having a cation exchange capacity (in 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0) of less than 16 cmol(+) kg-1 clay in at least some part within 100 cm from the soil surface.

 

Hypoferralic

Ferralic, having a cation exchange capacity (in 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0) of less than 4 cmol(+) kg-1 fine earth in at least 30 cm of the upper 100 cm of the soil, and a Munsell colour chroma (moist) of 5 or more and/or hues redder than 10YR (in Arenosols only).

Ferric

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a ferric horizon.

 

Hyperferric

Ferric, having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, one or more layers with a total thickness of 25 cm or more consisting of 40 percent or more iron/manganese-oxide nodules.

Fibric

having more than two-thirds (by volume) of the organic soil material consisting of recognisable plant tissue (in Histosols only).

Folic

having a folic horizon (in Histosols only).

Fluvic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, fluvic soil material.

Fragic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a fragic horizon.

Fulvic

having, within 30 cm from the soil surface, a fulvic horizon.

Garbic

having soil material containing more than 35 percent (by volume) organic waste materials (in Anthropic Regosols only).

Gelic

having, within 200 cm from the soil surface, permafrost.

Gelistagnic

having temporary water saturation at the surface caused by frozen subsoil.

Geric

having, in at least some horizon within 100 cm from the soil surface, geric properties.

Gibbsic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a layer more than 30 cm thick containing more than 25 percent gibbsite in the fine earth fraction.

Glacic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a layer more than 30 cm thick and containing 95 percent or more ice (by volume).

Gleyic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, gleyic properties.

 

Endogleyic

having gleyic properties between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface.

Epigleyic

having gleyic properties within 50 cm from the soil surface.

Glossic

having tonguing of a mollic or umbric horizon into an underlying subsurface horizon or into the saprolite.

 

Molliglossic

having tonguing of a mollic horizon into an underlying subsurface horizon or into the saprolite.

 

Umbriglossic

having tonguing of an umbric horizon into an underlying subsurface horizon or into the saprolite.

Greyic

having uncoated silt and sand grains on structural ped faces in a mollic horizon (in Phaeozems only).

Grumic

having a surface layer with a thickness of 3 cm or more with a strong structure finer than very coarse granular (in Vertisols only).

Gypsic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a gypsic horizon.

 

Hypergypsic

having a gypsic horizon, which has 60 percent or more gypsum.

 

Hypogypsic

having a gypsic horizon, which has 25 percent or less gypsum.

Gypsiric

having, at least between 20 and 50 cm from the soil surface, gypsiric soil material.

Haplic

having the typical expression of the Soil Reference Group in the sense that there is no further or meaningful characterisation.

Histic

having, within 40 cm from the soil surface, a histic horizon.

 

Fibrihistic

having, within 40 cm from the soil surface, a histic horizon, in which more than two-thirds (by volume) of the organic soil material consist of recognisable plant tissue.

 

Saprihistic

having, within 40 cm from the soil surface, a histic horizon, in which less than one-sixth (by volume) of the organic soil material consists of recognisable plant tissue.

 

Thaptohistic

having a buried histic horizon between 40 and 100 cm from the soil surface.

Hortic

having a hortic horizon, which is 50 cm or more thick in Anthrosols or less than 50 cm thick in other soils.

Humic

having, over a depth of 100 cm from the soil surface, more than 1.4 percent organic carbon (by weight) in the fine earth fraction in Ferralsols or Nitisols, or having more than 2 percent organic carbon (by weight) to a depth of 25 cm in Leptosols, or having more than 1 percent organic carbon (by weight) to a depth of 50 cm in other soils.

Hydragric

having an anthraquic horizon and an associated hydragric horizon, the latter occurring within 100 cm from the soil surface (in Anthrosols only).

Hydric

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, one or more layers with a total thickness of 35 cm or more, which have (in undried samples) a water retention at 1500 kPa of 100 percent or more (in Andosols only).

Hyperskeletic

having, to a depth of 75 cm or more or to continuous hard rock, more than 90 percent (by weight) gravel or other coarse fragments (in Leptosols only).

Irragric

having an irragric horizon, which is 50 cm or more thick in Anthrosols or less than 50 cm thick in other soils.

Lamellic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, clay illuviation lamellae with a combined thickness of 15 cm or more.

Leptic

having, between 25 and 100 cm from the soil surface, continuous hard rock.

Endoleptic

having continuous hard rock between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface.

Epileptic

having continuous hard rock between 25 and 50 cm from the soil surface.

Paraleptic

having, at least between 25 and 50 cm from the soil surface, a dense heavy clayey layer that is impenetrable to roots.

Lithic

having, within 10 cm from the soil surface, continuous hard rock.

Paralithic

having, within 10 cm from the soil surface, a broken rock contact with fissures less than 10 cm apart, which allow roots to penetrate the underlying rock.

Hypolithic

having, within 10 cm from the soil surface, continuous rock with a hardness of less than 3.

Lixic

having a ferralic horizon, which meets the clay increase requirements of an argic horizon, and which has a base saturation (in 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0) of 50 percent or more throughout the ferralic horizon to a depth of 100 cm from the soil surface (in Ferralsols only).

Luvic

having an argic horizon, which has a cation exchange capacity equal to or greater than 24 cmol(+) kg-1 clay (in 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0) throughout, and a base saturation of 50 percent or more throughout the horizon to a depth of 100 cm from the soil surface.

 

Hypoluvic

Luvic, having an (absolute) clay increase of 3 percent or more within 100 cm from the soil surface (in Arenosols only).

Magnesic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a ratio of exchangeable Ca/ Mg of less than 1

Mazic

having, in the upper 20 cm soil layer, a massive structure and hard to very hard consistence (in Vertisols only).

Melanic

having a melanic horizon (in Andosols only).

Mesotrophic

having, at 20 cm depth, a base saturation (in 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0) of less than 75 percent (in Vertisols only).

Mollic

having a mollic horizon.

Natric

having, within 100cm from the soil surface, a natric horizon.

Nitic

having, within 100cm from the soil surface, a nitic horizon.

Ochric

having an ochric horizon.

 

Hyperochric

having an ochric horizon, which is grey when dry and turns darker on moistening and which contains less than 0.4 percent organic carbon (by weight) and has little free iron oxide, coarse texture, platy structure and a thin surface crust.

Ombric

having a water regime conditioned by surplus precipitation (over evaporation) during most of the year (in Histosols only).

Oxyaquic

being saturated with water during the thawing period and lacking oximorphic and/or reductomorphic properties within 100 cm from the soil surface (in Cryosols only).

Pachic

having a mollic or an umbric horizon more than 50 cm thick.

Pellic

having, in the upper 30 cm of the (moist) soil matrix, a Munsell value of 3.5 or less and a chroma of 1.5 or less (in Vertisols only).

Petric

strongly cemented or indurated within 100 cm from the soil surface.

 

Endopetric

strongly cemented or indurated between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface.

 

Epipetric

strongly cemented or indurated within 50 cm from the soil surface.

Petrocalcic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a petrocalcic horizon.

Petroduric

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a petroduric horizon.

Petrogypsic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a petrogypsic horizon.

Petroplinthic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a petroplinthic horizon.

Petrosalic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a horizon 10 cm or more thick, which is cemented by salts more soluble than gypsum.

Placic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a sub-horizon of the spodic horizon, which is 1 cm or more thick and which is cemented by a combination of organic matter and aluminium, with or without iron ("thin iron pan"; in Podzols only).

Plaggic

having a plaggic horizon, which is 50 cm or more thick in Anthrosols or less than 50 cm thick in other soils.

Planic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, an eluvial horizon abruptly overlying a slowly permeable horizon.

Plinthic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a plinthic horizon.

 

Epiplinthic

having a plinthic horizon within 50 cm from the soil surface.

 

Hyperplinthic

having a plinthic horizon in which irreversible hardening results in a continuous sheet of ironstone.

 

Orthiplinthic

having a plinthic horizon in which irreversible hardening results in a layer of gravel-sized ironstone ("pisoliths" or "pea iron").

 

Paraplinthic

having a mottled horizon with at least 10 percent (by volume) iron nodules resembling a plinthic horizon but which does not irreversibly harden on repeated drying and wetting.

Posic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a zero or positive charge (pHKCl - pHwater) in a layer more than 30 cm thick (in Ferralsols only).

Profondic

having an argic horizon in which the clay content does not decrease by more than 20 percent (relative) from its maximum within 150 cm from the soil surface.

Protic

having no appreciable soil horizon development (in Arenosols only).

Reductic

having evidence of anaerobic conditions caused by gaseous emissions (e.g. methane, carbon dioxide) (in Anthropic Regosols only).

Regic

lacking recognisable buried horizons (in Anthrosols only).

Rendzic

having a mollic horizon, which is between 10 and 25 cm thick and contains or immediately overlies calcaric soil material having more than 40 percent calcium carbonate equivalent (in Leptosols only).

Rheic

having a water regime conditioned by surface water (in Histosols only).

Rhodic

having a subsurface horizon with a Munsell hue of 3.5YR or redder in all parts (apart from transitional horizons to A and C-horizons), a moist colour value of less than 3.5 and a dry colour value no more than one unit higher than the moist value.

Rubic

having a subsurface horizon with a Munsell hue redder than 10YR and or a moist chroma of 5 or more (in Arenosols only).

Ruptic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a lithological discontinuity.

Rustic

having a cemented spodic horizon, which turns redder on ignition, underlies an albic horizon and lacks a sub-horizon, which is 2.5 cm or more thick and which is continuously cemented by a combination of organic matter and aluminium, with or without iron ("thin iron pan") (in Podzols only).

Salic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a salic horizon.

 

Endosalic

having a salic horizon between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface.

 

Episalic

having a salic horizon between 25 and 50 cm from the soil surface.

 

Hyposalic

having, in at least some sub-horizon within 100 cm from the soil surface, an ECe-value (electric conductivity of the saturation extract) greater than 4 dS m-1 at 25oC.

 

Hypersalic

having, in at least some sub-horizon within 100 cm from the soil surface, an ECe-value (electric conductivity of the saturation extract) greater than 30 dS m-1 at 25 oC.

Sapric

having, after rubbing, less recognisable plant tissue than one-sixth (by volume) of the organic soil material (in Histosols only).

Siltic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a layer more than 30 cm thick and containing 40 percent or more silt.

Skeletic

having, to a depth of 100 cm from the soil surface, between 40 and 90 percent (by weight) gravel or other coarse fragments.

 

Endoskeletic

having, between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface, between 40 and 90 percent (by weight) gravel or other coarse fragments.

 

Episkeletic

having, between 20 and 50 cm from the soil surface, between 40 and 90 percent (by weight) gravel or other coarse fragments.

Sodic

having, within 50 cm from the soil surface, more than 15 percent exchangeable sodium or more than 50 percent exchangeable sodium plus magnesium.

 

Endosodic

having, between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface, more than 15 percent exchangeable sodium or more than 50 percent exchangeable sodium plus magnesium.

 

Hyposodic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, more than 6 percent exchangeable sodium in at least some sub-horizon more than 20 cm thick.

Spodic

having a spodic horizon.

Spolic

having soil material containing more than 35 percent (by volume) industrial waste, e.g. mine spoil, dredge spoil, etc. (in Anthropic Regosols only).

Stagnic

having stagnic properties within 50 cm from the soil surface.

 

Endostagnic

having stagnic properties between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface.

Sulphatic

having, in a 1:1 aqueous solution, SO4 >> HCO3 > Cl (in Solonchaks only).

Takyric

having a takyric horizon.

Tephric

having, to a depth of 30 cm or more from the soil surface, tephric soil material.

Terric

having a terric horizon, which is 50 cm or more thick in Anthrosols or less than 50 cm thick in other soils.

Thionic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a sulfuric horizon or sulfidic soil material.

 

Orthithionic

having a sulfuric horizon within 100 cm from the soil surface.

 

Protothionic

having sulfidic soil material within 100 cm from the soil surface.

Toxic

having, within 50 cm from the soil surface, ions other than aluminium, iron, sodium, calcium or magnesium, in concentrations toxic to plants.

Turbic

having, either at the surface or within 100 cm from the soil surface, features resulting from cryoturbation. These include mixed soil material, disrupted soil horizons, involutions (swirl-like patterns in soil horizons), organic intrusions, frost heave, separation of coarse from fine soil materials, cracks and patterned surface features such as earth hummocks, frost mounds, stone circles, nets and polygons (in Cryosols only).

Umbric

having an umbric horizon.

Urbic

having soil material containing more than 35 percent (by volume) earthy materials mixed with building rubble and artefacts (in Anthropic Regosols only).

Vermic

having, in the upper 100 cm of the soil or down to rock or to a petrocalcic, petroduric, petrogypsic or petroplinthic horizon, whichever is shallower, 50 percent or more (by volume) wormholes, worm casts, and/or filled animal burrows.

Vertic

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a vertic horizon or vertic properties.

Vetic

having, in at least some part of the subsurface horizon within 100 from the soil surface, less than 6 cmol(+) kg-1 clay of (exchangeable bases plus exchangeable acidity).

Vitric

having, within 100 cm from the soil surface, a vitric horizon and having no andic horizon overlying the vitric horizon.

Xanthic

having a ferralic horizon with a yellow to pale yellow colour (rubbed soil has Munsell hues of 7.5YR or yellower with a value, moist, of 4 or more and a chroma, moist, of 5 or more).

Yermic

having a yermic horizon including a desert pavement.

 

Nudiyermic

having a yermic horizon without a desert pavement.

TABLE 3

Alphabetical list of Qualifiers.

 

Abruptic

 

Ferralic

 

Lixic

 

Rhodic

 

Aceric

 

Ferric

 

Luvic

 

Rubic

 

Acric

 

Fibric

 

Magnesic

 

Ruptic

 

Acroxic

 

Folic

 

Mazic

 

Rustic

 

Albic

 

Fluvic

 

Melanic

 

Salic

 

Alcalic

 

Fragic

 

Mesotrophic

 

Sapric

 

Alic

 

Fulvic

 

Mollic

100

Siltic

 

Alumic

 

Garbic

70

Natric

 

Skeletic

 

Andic

40

Gelic

 

Nitic

 

Sodic

10

Anthraquic

 

Gelistagnic

 

Ochric

 

Spodic

 

Anthric

 

Geric

 

Ombric

 

Spolic

 

Anthropic

 

Gibbsic

 

Oxyaquic

 

Stagnic

 

Arenic

 

Glacic

 

Pachic

 

Sulphatic

 

Aric

 

Gleyic

 

Pellic

 

Takyric

 

Aridic

 

Glossic

 

Petric

 

Tephric

 

Arzic

 

Greyic

 

Petrocalcic

 

Terric

 

Calcaric

 

Grumic

 

Petroduric

110

Thionic

 

Calcic

 

Gypsic

80

Petrogypsic

 

Toxic

 

Carbic

50

Gypsiric

 

Petroplinthic

 

Turbic

20

Carbonatic

 

Haplic

 

Petrosalic

 

Umbric

 

Chernic

 

Histic

 

Placic

 

Urbic

 

Chloridic

 

Hortic

 

Plaggic

 

Vetic

 

Chromic

 

Humic

 

Planic

 

Vermic

 

Cryic

 

Hydragric

 

Plinthic

 

Vertic

 

Cutanic

 

Hydric

 

Posic

 

Vitric

 

Densic

 

Hyperochric

 

Profondic

 

Xanthic

 

Duric

 

Hyperskeletic

 

Protic

120

Yermic

 

Dystric

 

Irragric

90

Reductic

   
 

Entic

60

Lamellic

 

Regic

   

30

Eutric

 

Leptic

 

Rendzic

   
 

Eutrisilic

 

Lithic

 

Rheic

   

Where relevant, names can be defined further using prefixes, for example Epigleyi-, Protothioni-. The following prefixes can be used:

 

Bathi

 

Epi

 

Orthi

 

Thapto

 

Cumuli

 

Hyper

 

Para

   
 

Endo

 

Hypo

 

Proto

   

Prefixes

The following prefixes may be used to indicate depth of occurrence or degree of expression of soil characteristics or properties. Prefixes are combined with other elements to one word, e.g. Orthicalcic. A double combination, e.g. Epihypercalcic, is allowed.

Bathi

horizon, property or material starting between 100 and 200 cm from the soil surface.

Cumuli

having repetitive accumulation of soil material of 50 cm or more in the surface or A-horizon.

Endo

horizon, property or material starting between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface.

Epi

horizon, property or material starting within 50 cm from the soil surface.

Hyper

having excessive or strong expression.

Hypo

having slight or weak expression.

Orthi

having an expression that is typical for the feature (typical in the sense that there is no further or meaningful characterisation).

Para

having resemblance to a particular feature (e.g. Paralithic).

Proto

indicating a precondition or an early stage of development (e.g. Protothionic).

Thapto

having, within 200 cm from the soil surface, a buried horizon or a buried soil (given in combination with the buried diagnostic horizon, e.g. Thaptomollic).




1 Alpy: pyrophosphate extractable aluminium.

2 Alox: acid oxalate (pH 3) extractable aluminium.

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