5  Definitions of qualifiers

Modified

October 26, 2024

Important

Before using the qualifiers, please read the ‘Rules for naming soils’.

The definitions of the qualifiers for the second-level units relate to RSGs, diagnostic horizons, properties and materials, and to attributes such as colour, chemical conditions, texture, etc. References to the RSGs defined in Chapter 4 and the diagnostics listed in Chapter 3 are shown in italics.

Usually, only a limited number of combinations will be possible in a soil name; many of the definitions make the qualifiers mutually exclusive.

5.1 General rules

  1. Subqualifiers, which may be used in the soil name instead of the qualifier listed in the Key, are found beneath the definition of the respective qualifier (e.g. Protocalcic is found under Calcic). Subqualifiers, which cannot replace a listed qualifier, are found in alphabetical order (e.g. Hyperalic).

  2. If a subqualifier related to depth requirements can be constructed by the user, the figure indicates, which rule applies: (1), (2), (3), (4), (5). If no figure is indicated, these subqualifiers cannot be constructed.

5.2 Definitions

Abruptic (ap)

(from Latin abruptus, broken away): having an abrupt textural difference within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface (1).

Geoabruptic (go)

(from Greek gaia, earth): having an abrupt textural difference within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface that is not associated with the upper limit of an argic, natric or spodic horizon (1).

Aceric (ae)

(from Latin acer, sharp): having within 100 cm of the soil surface a layer with a pH (1:1 in water) between ≥ 3.5 and < 5 and jarosite concentrations (in Solonchaks only) (2).

Acric (ac)

(from Latin acer, sharp): having an argic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface with a CEC (by 1 M NH4OAc, pH 7) of < 24 cmolc kg-1 clay in some subhorizon within 150 cm of the mineral soil surface; and having exchangeable Al > exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na) in half or more of the depth range between 50 and 100 cm of the mineral soil surface or the lower half of the mineral soil above a limiting layer starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, whichever is shallower (2).

Note: Exchangeable cations are given in cmolc kg-1. If these data are not available, pH values may be used according to Annex 2 (Chapter 9.13).

Acroxic (ao)

(from Latin acer, sharp, and Greek oxys, sour): having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more layers with a combined thickness of ≥ 30 cm, and with < 2 cmolc kg-1 fine earth exchangeable bases (by 1 M NH4OAc, pH 7) plus exchangeable Al (by 1 M KCl, unbuffered) (in Andosols only) (2).

Activic (at)

(from Latin activus, busy): having above a ferralic horizon a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick, with a CEC (by 1 M NH4OAc, pH 7) of ≥ 24 cmolc kg-1 clay and < 0.6% soil organic carbon (in Ferralsols only) (2).

Aeolic (ay)

(from Greek aiolos, wind): having aeolic material (2: Ano- and Panto- only).

Albic (ab)

(from Latin albus, white): having an albic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface.

Alcalic (ax)

(from Arabic al-qali, salt-containing ash): having:

  • in Histosols, a pH (1:1 in water) of ≥ 8.5 in the organic material within 50 cm of the soil surface,
  • in other soils, a pH (1:1 in water) of ≥ 8.5 in the upper 50 cm of the mineral soil surface or to a limiting layer, whichever is shallower,

and fulfilling the set of diagnostic criteria of the Eutric qualifier.

Alic (al)

(from Latin alumen, alum): having an argic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface with a CEC (by 1 M NH4OAc, pH 7) of ≥ 24 cmolc kg-1 clay throughout within 150 cm of the mineral soil surface; and having exchangeable Al > exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na) in half or more of the depth range between 50 and 100 cm of the mineral soil surface or the lower half of the mineral soil above a limiting layer starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, whichever is shallower (2). Note: Exchangeable cations are given in cmolc kg-1. If these data are not available, pH values may be used according to Annex 2 (Chapter 9.13).

Aluandic (aa)

(from Latin alumen, alum, and Japanese an, dark, and do, soil): having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more layers with a combined thickness of ≥ 15 cm with andic properties and a Siox content of < 0.6% (2).

Andic (an)

(from Japanese an, dark, and do, soil): having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more layers with andic or vitric properties with a combined thickness of ≥ 30 cm (in Cambisols ≥ 15 cm), of which ≥ 15 cm (in Cambisols ≥ 7.5 cm) have andic properties (2).

Protoandic (qa)

(from Greek proton, first): having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more layers with a combined thickness of ≥ 15 cm, and with an Alox + ½Feox value of ≥ 1.2%, a bulk density of ≤ 1.2 kg dm-3 and a phosphate retention of ≥ 55%; and not fulfilling the set of diagnostic criteria of the Andic qualifier (2).

Note: For bulk density, the volume is determined after an undried soil sample has been desorbed at 33 kPa (no prior drying), and afterwards the weight is determined at 105 °C (see Annex 2, Chapter 9.5).

Anthraquic (aq)

(from Greek anthropos, human being, and Latin aqua, water): having an anthraquic horizon and no hydragric horizon.

Anthric (ak)

(from Greek anthropos, human being): having anthric properties.

Archaic (ah)

(from Greek archae, beginning): having a layer, ≥ 20 cm thick and within 100 cm of the soil surface, with ≥ 20% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) artefacts, ≥ 50% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) of which were produced by pre-industrial processes, e.g. ceramics, showing traces of production by hand, ceramics that can easily be broken or ceramics containing sand (in Technosols only) (2).

Arenic (ar)

(from Latin arena, sand): consisting of mineral material and having, single or in combination, a texture class of sand or loamy sand

  • in one or more layers with a combined thickness of ≥ 30 cm, occurring within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or
  • in the major part between the mineral soil surface and a limiting layer starting > 10 and < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface
    (2; no subqualifier if a limiting layer starts < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface).

Arenicolic (ad)

(related to the worm genus Arenicola): having ≥ 50% (by volume, weighted average) of worm holes, worm casts, or filled animal burrows in a layer, ≥ 20 cm thick and occurring in a tidal area.

Aric (ai)

(from Latin arare, to plough): having a layer, ≥ 10 cm thick and starting at the soil surface, that is homogenized by ploughing and that has an abrupt or very abrupt lower boundary (2: Ano- and Panto only).

Arzic (az)

(from Turkish arz, land or earth’s crust): saturated by groundwater or flowing water in some layer within 50 cm of the soil surface during some time in most years and containing ≥ 15% gypsum averaged over a depth of 100 cm from the soil surface or to a limiting layer, whichever is shallower (in Gypsisols only).

Biocrustic (bc)

(from Greek bios, life, and Latin crusta, crust): having a biological surface crust.

Brunic (br)

(from Low German brun, brown): having a layer, ≥ 15 cm thick and starting ≤ 50 cm from the mineral soil surface, that meets diagnostic criteria 3 and 4 of the cambic horizon but fails diagnostic criterion 1 and does not consist of claric material.

Neobrunic (nb)

(from Greek neos, new): having a layer, ≥ 15 cm thick and starting ≤ 50 cm from the mineral soil surface, that meets diagnostic criteria 3 and 4 of the cambic horizon but fails diagnostic criterion 1, does not consist of claric material and overlies:

Bryic (by)

(from Greek bryon, moss): ≥ 75% (by volume, related to the fine earth plus all dead plant residues) of the organic material within 100 cm of the soil surface consists of moss fibres.

Calcaric (ca)

(from Latin calcarius, containing lime): having calcaric material

  • in a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick and within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or
  • in the major part between the mineral soil surface and a limiting layer starting < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface;

and not having a calcic or a petrocalcic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2; no subqualifier if a limiting layer starts < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface).

Calcic (cc)

(from Latin calx, lime): having a calcic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Hypercalcic (jc)

(from Greek hyper, over): having a calcic horizon with a calcium carbonate equivalent of ≥ 50% and starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Protocalcic (qc)

(from Greek proton, first): having a layer with protocalcic properties starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface and not having a calcic or petrocalcic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (not in Chernozems and Kastanozems, where protocalcic properties are part of the definition) (2).

Cambic (cm)

(from Latin cambire, to change): having a cambic horizon, not consisting of claric material and starting ≤ 50 cm from the mineral soil surface.

Neocambic (nc)

(from Greek neos, new): having a cambic horizon, not consisting of claric material, starting ≤ 50 cm from the mineral soil surface and overlying:

Capillaric (cp)

(from Latin capillus, hair): having a layer, ≥ 25 cm thick and starting ≤ 75 cm from the mineral soil surface, that has so few macropores that water saturation of capillary pores causes reducing conditions.

Carbic (cb)

(from Latin carbo, coal): having a spodic horizon that has a Munsell colour value of ≤ 2, moist, throughout (‘Humus Podzols’; in Podzols only).

Carbonatic (cn)

(from Latin carbo, coal): having a salic horizon with a soil solution (1:1 in water) with a pH of ≥ 8.5 and [HCO3-] > [SO42-] > 2*[Cl-] (in Solonchaks only).

Carbonic (cx)

(from Latin carbo, coal): having a layer, ≥ 10 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface, with ≥ 5% organic carbon that belongs to artefacts (2).

Chernic (ch)

(from Russian chorniy, black): having a chernic horizon (2: Ano- and Panto- only).

Tonguichernic (tc)

(from English tongue): having a chernic horizon that tongues into an underlying layer (2: Ano- and Panto- only; referring to the lower limit of the chernic horizon).

Chloridic (cl)

(from Greek chloros, yellow-green): having a salic horizon with a soil solution (1:1 in water) with [Cl-] > 2* SO42-] > 2*[HCO3-] (in Solonchaks only).

Chromic (cr)

(from Greek chroma, colour): having between 25 and 150 cm of the mineral soil surface a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick, that shows evidence of soil formation as defined in criterion 3 of the cambic horizon and that has, in ≥ 90% of its exposed area, a Munsell colour hue redder than 7.5YR and a chroma of > 4, both moist, and that does not meet the set of diagnostic criteria of the Rhodic qualifier.

Claric (cq)

(from Latin clarus, bright): having between 25 and 100 cm of the mineral soil surface a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick, that consists of claric material, and the soil does not meet the set of diagnostic criteria of the Bathyspodic qualifier (in Arenosols only) (2: except Epi-).

Clayic (ce)

(from English clay): consisting of mineral material and having, single or in combination, a texture class of clay, sandy clay or silty clay

  • in one or more layers with a combined thickness of ≥ 30 cm, occurring within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or
  • in the major part between the mineral soil surface and a limiting layer starting > 10 and < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface

(2; no subqualifier if a limiting layer starts < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface).

Coarsic (cs)

(from English coarse): having < 20% (by volume, related to the whole soil) fine earth plus dead plant residues of any size, averaged over a depth of 75 cm from the soil surface or to a limiting layer starting > 25 cm from the soil surface, whichever is shallower.

Note: The volume occupied neither by fine earth not by dead plant residues is occupied by coarse fragments, remnants of broken-up cemented layers > 2 mm, artefacts > 2 mm, or interstices.

Cohesic (co)

(from Latin cohaerere, to stick together): having a cohesic horizon starting ≤ 150 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Columnic (cu)

(from Latin columna, column): having a layer, ≥ 15 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, that has a columnar structure (2).

Cordic (cd)

(from Latin corda, string): having two or more ribbon-like accumulations, ≥ 0.5 and < 2.5 cm thick, that are not cemented, have higher contents of Fe oxides and/or organic matter than the directly overlying and underlying layers, do not meet the set of diagnostic criteria of the Lamellic qualifier and have a combined thickness of ≥ 2.5 cm within 50 cm; the uppermost ribbon-like accumulation starting ≤ 200 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Cryic (cy)

(from Greek kryos, cold, ice):

  • having a cryic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface, or
  • having a cryic horizon starting ≤ 200 cm from the soil surface with evidence of cryogenic alteration in some layer ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface

(1; Epi- and Endo- only; referring to the upper limit of the cryic horizon).

Cutanic (ct)

(from Latin cutis, skin): having an argic or natric horizon that meets diagnostic criterion 2.b of the respective horizon.

Densic (dn)

(from Latin densus, dense): having within 50 cm of the mineral soil surface a layer with a bulk density to the extent that roots cannot enter, except along cracks.

Differentic (df)

(from Latin differentia, difference): having an argic or natric horizon that meets diagnostic criterion 2.a of the respective horizon.

Dolomitic (do)

(from the mineral dolomite, named after the French geoscientist Déodat de Dolomieu): having dolomitic material

  • in a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick and within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or
  • in the major part between the mineral soil surface and a limiting layer starting < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface

(2; no subqualifier if a limiting layer starts < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface).

Dorsic (ds)

(from Latin dorsum, at a lower position):

Drainic (dr)

(from French drainer, to drain): having been artificially drained.

Duric (du)

(from Latin durus, hard): having a duric horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Hyperduric (ju)

(from Greek hyper, over): having a duric horizon with ≥ 50% (by volume, related to the whole soil) durinodes or remnants of a broken-up petroduric horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Dystric (dy)

(from Greek dys, bad, and trophae, food):

  • in Histosols, having a pHwater of < 5.5 in half or more of the part with organic material, within 100 cm of the soil surface,
  • in other soils, having a limiting layer starting ≤ 25 cm from the mineral soil surface, exchangeable Al > exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na) in half or more of the lowermost 5 cm consisting of mineral material above the limiting layer,
  • in other soils, having one or more layers consisting of mineral material,
    • between 20 and 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or
    • between 20 cm of the mineral soil surface and a limiting layer starting > 25 cm from the mineral soil surface,
      whichever is shallower,
      that have exchangeable Al > exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na) in half or more of their combined thickness (3).

Hyperdystric (jd)

(from Greek hyper, over):

  • in Histosols, having a pHwater of < 5.5 throughout in the organic material within 100 cm of the soil surface and < 4.5 in the major part with organic material within 100 cm of the soil surface,

  • in other soils, having mineral material, throughout

    • from 20 to 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or
    • from 20 cm of the mineral soil surface to a limiting layer starting ≥ 50 cm from the mineral soil surface,
      whichever is shallower,
      that has exchangeable Al > exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na); and in its major part exchangeable Al > 4 times the exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na).

Orthodystric (od)

(from Greek orthos, right):

  • in Histosols, having a pHwater of < 5.5 throughout in the organic material within 100 cm of the soil surface,
  • in other soils, having mineral material, throughout
    • from 20 to 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or
    • from 20 cm of the mineral soil surface to a limiting layer starting ≥ 50 cm from the mineral soil surface, whichever is shallower, that has exchangeable Al > exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na).

Note: Exchangeable cations are given in cmolc kg-1. If these data are not available, pH values may be used according to Annex 2 (Chapter 9.13).

Ekranic (ek)

(from French écran, shield): having technic hard material starting ≤ 5 cm from the soil surface (in Technosols only).

Endic (ed)

(from Greek endon, inside):

  • in Cryosols, the cryic horizon starting > 50 and ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface,
  • in other soils, the uppermost respective diagnostic horizon of the RSG, not meeting the set of diagnostic criteria of the Petric qualifier, starting > 50 and ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface.

Entic (et)

(from Latin recens, young): not having an albic horizon above the spodic horizon (in Podzols only).

Epic (ep)

(from Greek epi, over):

  • in Cryosols, the cryic horizon starting ≤ 50 cm from the soil surface,
  • in other soils, the uppermost respective diagnostic horizon of the RSG, not meeting the set of diagnostic criteria of the Petric qualifier, starting ≤ 50 cm from the mineral soil surface.

Escalic (ec)

(from Spanish escala, terrace): soil has been truncated and/or locally transported to form human-made terraces.

Eutric (eu)

(from Greek eu, good, and trophae, food):

  • in Histosols, having a pHwater of ≥ 5.5 in the major part with organic material, within 100 cm of the soil surface,
  • in other soils, having a limiting layer starting ≤ 25 cm from the mineral soil surface exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na) ≥ exchangeable Al in the major part of the lowermost 5 cm consisting of mineral material above the limiting layer,
  • in other soils, having one or more layers consisting of mineral material,
    • between 20 and 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or
    • between 20 cm of the mineral soil surface and a limiting layer starting > 25 cm from the mineral soil surface,
      whichever is shallower,
      that have exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na) ≥ exchangeable Al in the major part of their combined thickness (3).

Hypereutric (je)

(from Greek hyper, over):

  • in Histosols, having a pHwater of ≥ 5.5 throughout in the organic material within 100 cm of the soil surface and ≥ 6.5 in the major part with organic material within 100 cm of the soil surface,

  • in other soils, having mineral material, throughout

    • from 20 to 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or

    • from 20 cm of the mineral soil surface to a limiting layer starting ≥ 50 cm from the mineral soil surface,
      whichever is shallower,
      that has exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na) ≥ exchangeable Al; and in its major part exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na) ≥ 4 times the exchangeable Al.

Oligeoeutric (ol)

(from Greek oligos, few): in soils other than Histosols:

  • in soils, having a limiting layer starting ≤ 25 cm from the mineral soil surface, exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na) ≥ exchangeable Al and exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na) < 5 cmolc kg-1 clay in the major part of the lowermost 5 cm consisting of mineral material above the limiting layer,

  • in other soils having one or more layers consisting of mineral material:

    • between 20 and 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or

    • between 20 cm of the mineral soil surface and a limiting layer starting > 25 cm from the mineral soil surface,
      whichever is shallower,
      that have exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na) ≥ exchangeable Al and exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na) < 5 cmolc kg-1 clay in the major part of their combined thickness (3).

Orthoeutric (oe)

(from Greek orthos, right):

  • in Histosols, having a pHwater of ≥ 5.5 throughout in the organic material within 100 cm of the soil surface,
  • in other soils, having mineral material, throughout
    • from 20 to 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or
    • from 20 cm of the mineral soil surface to a limiting layer starting ≥ 50 cm from the mineral soil surface,
      whichever is shallower,
      that has exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na) ≥ exchangeable Al.

Note: Exchangeable cations are given in cmolc kg-1. If these data are not available, pH values may be used according to Annex 2 (Chapter 9.13).

Note: Oligoeutric has preference over Hypereutric and Orthoeutric.

Eutrosilic (es)

(from Greek eu, good, and trophae, food, and Latin silex, silicon-containing material): having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more layers with a combined thickness of ≥ 30 cm with andic properties and a sum of exchangeable bases (by 1 M NH4OAc, pH 7) of ≥ 15 cmolc kg-1 fine earth (in Andosols only) (2).

Evapocrustic (ev)

(from Latin e, out, and vapor, steam, and crusta, crust): having a saline crust, ≤ 2 cm thick, on the soil surface.

Ferralic (fl)

(from Latin ferrum, iron, and alumen, alum): having a ferralic horizon starting ≤ 150 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Ferric (fr)

(from Latin ferrum, iron): having a ferric horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Manganiferric (mf)

(from the chemical element manganese): having a ferric horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface in which ≥ 50% of the oximorphic features are black (2).

Ferritic (fe)

(from Latin ferrum, iron): having a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, with ≥ 10% Fedith and not forming part of a petroplinthic, pisoplinthic or plinthic horizon (2).

Hyperferritic (jf)

(from Greek hyper, over): having a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, with ≥ 30% Fedith and not forming part of a petroplinthic, pisoplinthic or plinthic horizon (2).

Fibric (fi)

(from Latin fibra, fiber): having organic material that, after rubbing, consists of > two thirds (by volume, related to the fine earth plus all dead plant residues) of recognizable dead plant tissues in

  • one or more layers with a combined thickness of ≥ 30 cm within 100 cm of the soil surface (2; no subqualifier if no organic material is present ≥ 60 cm of the soil surface), or
  • the weighted average of the entire organic material within 100 cm of the soil surface.

(in Histosols only).

Floatic (ft)

(from English to float): having organic material floating on water (in Histosols only).

Fluvic (fv)

(from Latin fluvius, river): having fluvic material, ≥ 25 cm thick and starting ≤ 75 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Akrofluvic (kf)

(from Greek akra, top): having fluvic material from the mineral soil surface to a depth of ≥ 5 cm, but < 25 cm thick. (In addition to the Akrofluvic subqualifier, a soil may also have the Amphifluvic, the Katofluvic or the Endofluvic subqualifier).

Orthofluvic (of)

(from Greek orthos, right): having fluvic material:

  • from the mineral soil surface to a depth of ≥ 5 cm , and
  • ≥ 25 cm thick and starting ≤ 25 cm from the mineral soil surface.

Folic (fo)

(from Latin folium, leaf): having a folic horizon starting at the soil surface.

Skeletofolic (ko)

(from Greek skeletos, dried out): having a folic horizon starting at the soil surface with ≥ 40% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) coarse fragments.

Fractic (fc)

(from Latin fractus, broken): having a layer, ≥ 10 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, consisting of a broken-up petrocalcic or petrogypsic horizon, the remnants of which:

  • occupy ≥ 40% (by volume, related to the whole soil), and
  • have an average horizontal length of < 10 cm and/or occupy < 80% (by volume, related to the whole soil) (2).

Calcifractic (cf)

(from Latin calx, lime): having a layer, ≥ 10 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, consisting of a broken-up petrocalcic horizon, the remnants of which:

  • occupy ≥ 40% (by volume, related to the whole soil), and
  • have an average horizontal length of < 10 cm and/or occupy < 80% (by volume, related to the whole soil) (2).

Gypsofractic (gf)

(from Greek gypsos, gypsum): having a layer, ≥ 10 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, consisting of a broken-up petrogypsic horizon, the remnants of which:

  • occupy ≥ 40% (by volume, related to the whole soil), and
  • have an average horizontal length of < 10 cm and/or occupy < 80% (by volume, related to the whole soil) (2).

Fragic (fg)

(from Latin fragilis, fragile): having a fragic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Garbic (ga)

(from English garbage): having a layer, ≥ 20 cm thick and within 100 cm of the soil surface, with ≥ 20% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) artefacts, ≥ 35% of which contain ≥ 20% organic carbon (e.g. organic waste) (in Technosols only) (2).

Hypergarbic (jb)

(from Greek hyper, over): having a layer, ≥ 50 cm thick and within 100 cm of the soil surface, consisting of organotechnic material (in Technosols only) (2).

Gelic (ge)

(from Latin gelare, to freeze):

  • having a layer with a soil temperature of < 0 °C for ≥ 2 consecutive years, starting ≤ 200 cm from the soil surface, and
  • not having a cryic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface, and
  • not having a cryic horizon starting ≤ 200 cm from the soil surface with evidence of cryogenic alteration in some layer within 100 cm of the soil surface.

Gelistagnic (gt)

(from Latin gelare, to freeze, and stagnare, to flood): having temporary water saturation caused by a frozen layer.

Geoabruptic (go)

see Abruptic.

Geric (gr)

(from Greek geraios, old): having within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface a layer that has a sum of exchangeable bases (by 1 M NH4OAc, pH 7) plus exchangeable Al (by 1 M KCl, unbuffered) of < 6 cmolc kg-1 clay (2).

Hypergeric (jq)

(from Greek hyper, over): having within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface a layer that has a sum of exchangeable bases (by 1 M NH4OAc, pH 7) plus exchangeable Al (by 1 M KCl, unbuffered) of < 1.5 cmolc kg-1 clay (2).

Gibbsic (gi)

(from the mineral gibbsite, named after the US mineralogist George Gibbs): having a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, containing ≥ 25% gibbsite in the clay fraction (2).

Gilgaic (gg)

(from Aboriginal Australian gilgai, water hole): having at the soil surface microhighs and microlows with a difference in level of ≥ 10 cm, i.e. gilgai microrelief (in Vertisols only).

Glacic (gc)

(from Latin glacies, ice): having a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface, containing ≥ 75% ice (by volume, related to the whole soil) (2).

Gleyic (gl)

(from Russian folk name gley, wet bluish clay): having a layer, ≥ 25 cm thick and starting ≤ 75 cm from the mineral soil surface, that has gleyic properties throughout and reducing conditions in some parts of every sublayer (2).

Inclinigleyic (iy)

(from Latin inclinare, to bow): having a layer, ≥ 25 cm thick and starting ≤ 75 cm from the mineral soil surface, that has gleyic properties throughout and reducing conditions in some parts of every sublayer; and having a slope inclination of ≥ 5% and a subsurface water flow for some time during the year (2).

Protogleyic (qy)

(from Greek proton, first): having a layer, ≥ 10 cm thick and starting ≤ 75 cm from the mineral soil surface, that has gleyic properties throughout and reducing conditions in some parts of every sublayer (2).

Relictigleyic (rl)

(from Latin relictus, left back): having a layer, ≥ 25 cm thick and starting ≤ 75 cm from the mineral soil surface, that meets criterion 2 of the gleyic properties throughout and not having reducing conditions (2).

Glossic (gs)

(from Greek glossa, tongue): having albeluvic glossae starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface.

Greyzemic (gz)

(from English grey, and Russian zemlya, earth): having uncoated sand and/or coarse silt grains on soil aggregate surfaces in the lower half of a mollic horizon.

Grumic (gm)

(from Latin grumus, soil heap): having at the mineral soil surface a layer, ≥ 1 cm thick, with strong granular structure or strong angular or subangular blocky structure with an aggregate size of ≤ 1 cm, i.e. ‘self-mulching’ (in Vertisols only).

Gypsic (gy)

(from Greek gypsos, gypsum): having a gypsic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Hypergypsic (jg)

(from Greek hyper, over): having a gypsic horizon with a gypsum content of ≥ 50% and starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Protogypsic (qq)

(from Greek proton, first): having a layer with protogypsic properties starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface and not having a gypsic or petrogypsic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Gypsiric (gp)

(from Greek gypsos, gypsum): having gypsiric material

  • in a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick and within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or
  • in the major part between the mineral soil surface and a limiting layer starting < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface;

and not having a gypsic or petrogypsic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2; no subqualifier if a limiting layer starts < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface).

Haplic (ha)

(from Greek haplous, simple): no other principal qualifier of the respective RSG applies.

Hemic (hm)

(from Greek hemisys, half): having organic material that, after rubbing, consists of ≤ two thirds and > one sixth (by volume, related to the fine earth plus all dead plant residues) of recognizable dead plant tissues in

  • one or more layers with a combined thickness of ≥ 30 cm within 100 cm of the soil surface (2; no subqualifier if no organic material is present ≥ 60 cm of the soil surface), or
  • the weighted average of the entire organic material within 100 cm of the soil surface.

(in Histosols only)

Histic (hi)

(from Greek histos, tissue): having a histic horizon starting

  • at the soil surface, or
  • directly below a layer, < 40 cm thick, consisting of mulmic material, or
  • directly below a layer, < 40 cm thick, consisting of organic material, that is saturated with water for < 30 consecutive days in most years and is not drained.

Skeletohistic (kh)

(from Greek skeletos, dried out): having a histic horizon starting

  • at the soil surface or
  • directly below a layer, < 40 cm thick, consisting of mulmic material or
  • directly below a layer, < 40 cm thick, consisting of organic material that is saturated with water for < 30 consecutive days in most years and is not drained; with ≥ 40% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) coarse fragments.

Hortic (ht)

(from Latin hortus, garden): having a hortic horizon (2: Panto- only).

Humic (hu)

(from Latin humus, earth): having ≥ 1% soil organic carbon as a weighted average to a depth of 50 cm from the mineral soil surface (if a limiting layer starts within the specified depth, the weighted sum of the soil organic carbon is nevertheless divided by 50 cm).

Hyperhumic (jh)

(from Greek hyper, over): having ≥ 5% soil organic carbon as a weighted average to a depth of 50 cm from the mineral soil surface.

Profundihumic (dh)

(from Latin profundus, deep): having to a depth of 100 cm from the mineral soil surface ≥ 1.4% soil organic carbon as a weighted average and ≥ 1% soil organic carbon throughout.

Hydragric (hg)

(from Greek hydro, water, and Latin ager, field): having an anthraquic horizon and a directly underlying hydragric horizon, the latter starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface.

Hyperhydragric (jy)

(from Greek hyper, over): having an anthraquic horizon and a directly underlying hydragric horizon with a combined thickness of ≥ 100 cm.

Hydric (hy)

(from Greek hydor, water): having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more layers with a combined thickness of ≥ 35 cm that have andic properties and a water content ≥ 70% (mass of water divided by mass of dry soil) at 1500 kPa tension, measured without previous drying of the sample (in Andosols only) (2).

Hydrophobic (hf)

(from Greek hydor, water, and phobos, fear): water-repellent, i.e. water stands on a dry soil surface for ≥ 60 seconds (in Arenosols only).

Hyperalic (jl)

(from Greek hyper, over, and Latin alumen, alum): having an argic horizon, starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, that has a silt to clay ratio of < 0.6 and an Al saturation (effective) of ≥ 50%, throughout or to a depth of 50 cm below its upper limit, whichever is thinner (in Alisols only).

Hyperartefactic (ja)

(from Greek hyper, over, and Latin ars, art, and factus, made): having ≥ 50% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) artefacts within 100 cm of the soil surface or to a limiting layer, whichever is shallower (in Technosols only).

Hypercalcic (jc)

see Calcic.

Hypereutric (je)

see Eutric.

Hypergypsic (jy)

see Gypsic.

Hypernatric (jn)

see Natric.

Hyperorganic (jo)

(from Greek hyper, over, and organon, tool): having organic material ≥ 200 cm thick (in Histosols only).

Hypersalic (jz)

see Salic.

Hyperspodic (jp)

see Spodic.

Immissic (im)

(from Latin immissus, sent inside): having at the soil surface a layer, ≥ 10 cm thick, with ≥ 20% (by volume) sedimented dust, soot or ash that meets the diagnostic criteria of artefacts (2: Ano- and Panto- only).

Inclinic (ic)

(from Latin inclinare, to bow): having

  • a slope inclination of ≥ 5%, and
  • a layer, ≥ 25 cm thick and starting ≤ 75 cm from the mineral soil surface, with gleyic or stagnic properties and a subsurface water flow for some time during the year.

Infraandic (ia)

(from Latin infra, below, and Japanese an, dark, and do, soil): having a layer, ≥ 15 cm thick, that underlies a soil classified with preference according to the ‘Rules for naming soils’ (Chapter 2.4) and that meets diagnostic criteria 2 and 3 of the andic properties and fails diagnostic criterion 1.

Infraspodic (is)

(from Latin infra, below, and Greek spodos, wood ash): having a layer that underlies a soil classified with preference according to the ‘Rules for naming soils’ (Chapter 2.4) and that meets diagnostic criteria 3 to 7 of the spodic horizon and fails diagnostic criterion 1 or 2 or both.

Irragric (ir)

(from Latin irrigare, to irrigate, and ager, field): having an irragric horizon (2: Panto- only).

Isolatic (il)

(from Italian isola, island): having, above technic hard material, above a geomembrane or above a continuous layer of artefacts starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface, soil material containing fine earth without any contact to other soil material containing fine earth (e.g. soils on roofs or in pots).

Isopteric (ip)

(related to Isoptera, zoologic order of termites): having a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick and starting at the mineral soil surface, that is remodelled by termites, has a bulk density ≤ 1.3 kg dm-3 and < 5% particles ≥ 630 μm (2: Ano- and Panto- only).

Kalaic (ka)

(from Tamil kalai, art): having a layer, ≥ 10 cm thick and starting ≤ 90 cm from the soil surface, with ≥ 50% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) artefacts (2: Epi-, Endo- and Amphionly).

Protokalaic (qk)

(from Greek proton, first): having a layer, ≥ 10 cm thick and starting ≤ 90 cm from the soil surface, with ≥ 25% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) artefacts (2: Epi-, Endo- and Amphi- only).

Lamellic (ll)

(from Latin lamella, metal blade): having two or more lamellae, ≥ 0.5 and < 7.5 cm thick, that have one or both of the following:

  • higher clay contents than the directly overlying and underlying layers as stated in the diagnostic criteria 2.a of the argic horizon, or
  • meet the diagnostic criteria 2.b of the argic horizon,

with or without other accumulations, and that have a combined thickness of ≥ 5 cm within 50 cm; the uppermost lamella starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Totilamellic (ta)

(from Latin totus, complete): having an argic horizon that consists entirely of lamellae starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface.

Lapiadic (ld)

(from Latin lapis, stone): having at the soil surface continuous rock that has dissolution features (rills, grooves), ≥ 20 cm deep and covering ≥ 10 and < 50% of the surface of the continuous rock (in Leptosols only).

Laxic (la)

(from Latin laxus, slack): having between 25 and 75 cm from the mineral soil surface a mineral soil layer, ≥ 20 cm thick, that has a bulk density of ≤ 0.9 kg dm-3.

Note: For bulk density, the volume is determined after an undried soil sample has been desorbed at 33 kPa (no prior drying), and afterwards the weight is determined at 105 °C (see Annex 2, Chapter 9.5).

Leptic (le)

(from Greek leptos, thin): having continuous rock starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface (1: Epi- and Endo- only).

Lignic (lg)

(from Latin lignum, wood): having inclusions of intact wood fragments that make up ≥ 25% of the soil volume (related to the fine earth plus all dead plant residues), within 50 cm from the soil surface.

Limnic (lm)

(from Greek limnae, pool): having one or more layers with limnic material with a combined thickness of ≥ 10 cm within 100 cm of the soil surface (2).

Minerolimnic (ml)

(from Celtic mine, mineral): having one or more layers with limnic material consisting of mineral material with a combined thickness of ≥ 10 cm within 100 cm of the soil surface (2).

Organolimnic (oo)

(from Greek organon, tool): having one or more layers with limnic material consisting of organic material with a combined thickness of ≥ 10 cm within 100 cm of the soil surface (2).

Limonic (ln)

(from Greek leimon, meadow): having a limonic horizon, starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface (2).

Linic (lc)

(from Latin linea, line): having a continuous, very slowly permeable to impermeable constructed geomembrane of any thickness starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface (1).

Lithic (li)

(from Greek lithos, stone): having continuous rock starting ≤ 10 cm from the soil surface (in Leptosols only).

Nudilithic (nt)

(from Latin nudus, naked): having continuous rock at the soil surface (in Leptosols only).

Litholinic (lh)

(from Greek lithos, stone, and Latin linea, line): having a layer, ≥ 2 and ≤ 20 cm thick and starting ≤ 150 cm from the mineral soil surface, that has ≥ 40% (by volume, related to the whole soil) coarse fragments and in the layers above and below < 10% (by volume, related to the whole soil) coarse fragments (stone line) (1, referring to the upper limit of the layer).

Lixic (lx)

(from Latin lixivia, washed-out substances): having an argic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface with a CEC (by 1 M NH4OAc, pH 7) of < 24 cmolc kg-1 clay in some subhorizon within 150 cm of the mineral soil surface; and having exchangeable Al ≤ exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na) in half or more of the depth range between 50 and 100 cm of the mineral soil surface or the lower half of the mineral soil above a limiting layer starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, whichever is shallower (2).

Note: Exchangeable cations are given in cmolc kg-1. If these data are not available, pH values may be used according to Annex 2 (Chapter 9.13).

Loamic (lo)

(from English loam): consisting of mineral material and having, single or in combination, a texture class of loam, sandy loam, clay loam, sandy clay loam or silty clay loam

  • in one or more layers with a combined thickness of ≥ 30 cm, occurring within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or
  • in the major part between the mineral soil surface and a limiting layer starting > 10 and < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface

(2; no subqualifier if a limiting layer starts < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface).

Luvic (lv)

(from Latin eluere, to wash): having an argic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface with a CEC (by 1 M NH4OAc, pH 7) of ≥ 24 cmolc kg-1 clay throughout within 150 cm of the mineral soil surface; and having exchangeable Al ≤ exchangeable (Ca+Mg+K+Na) in half or more of the depth range between 50 and 100 cm of the mineral soil surface or the lower half of the mineral soil above a limiting layer starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, whichever is shallower (2).

Note: Exchangeable cations are given in cmolc kg-1. If these data are not available, pH values may be used according to Annex 2 (Chapter 9.13).

Magnesic (mg)

(from the chemical element magnesium): having an exchangeable Ca to Mg ratio of < 1

  • in a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick and within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or
  • in the major part between the mineral soil surface and a limiting layer starting < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface

(2; no subqualifier if a limiting layer starts < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface).

Hypermagnesic (jm)

(from Greek hyper, over): having an exchangeable Ca to Mg ratio of < 0.1

  • in a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick and within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or
  • in the major part between the mineral soil surface and a limiting layer starting < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface

(2; no subqualifier if a limiting layer starts < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface).

Mahic (ma)

(from Te Reo Māori mahi, work):

  • having a layer, ≥ 10 cm thick and starting ≤ 50 cm from the soil surface, with ≥ 80% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) artefacts; and
  • having < 20% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) artefacts in the upper 100 cm from the soil surface or to a limiting layer, whichever is shallower.

Mawic (mw)

(from Kiswahili mawe, stones): having a layer of coarse fragments that, together with overlying organic material, if present, starts at the soil surface and has a thickness of

and the major part of the interstices between the coarse fragments is filled with organic material and the remaining interstices, if present, are void (in Histosols only) (1: Epi- and Endo- only; referring to the upper limit of the layer of coarse fragments).

Mazic (mz)

(from Spanish maza, cudgel): having a massive structure and a rupture-resistance class of at least hard in the upper 20 cm of the mineral soil (in Vertisols only).

Mineralic (mi)

(from Celtic mine, mineral): having, within 100 cm of the soil surface, one or more layers of mineral material, not consisting of mulmic material, with a combined thickness of ≥ 20 cm, above or in between layers of organic material (in Histosols only) (2: Epi-, Endo-, Amphi- and Poly- only).

Akromineralic (km)

(from Greek akra, top): having mineral material, ≥ 10 cm thick, not consisting of mulmic material and starting at the soil surface, but the layers of mineral material, not consisting of mulmic material, above or in between layers of organic material have a combined thickness of < 20 cm (in Histosols only).

Orthomineralic (oi)

(from Greek orthos, right): having:

Mochipic (mc)

(from Nahuatl mochipa, always): having a layer with stagnic properties, ≥ 25 cm thick and within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, that is water-saturated for ≥ 300 cumulative days in most years.

Mollic (mo)

(from Latin mollis, soft): having a mollic horizon (2: Ano- and Panto- only).

Anthromollic (am)

(from Greek anthropos, human being): having a mollic horizon and anthric properties (2: Ano- and Panto- only).

Somerimollic (sm)

(from Spanish somero, superficial): having a mollic horizon, < 20 cm thick.

Tonguimollic (tm)

(from English tongue): having a mollic horizon that tongues into an underlying layer (2: Ano- and Panto- only; referring to the mollic horizon, not to the tongues).

Mulmic (mm)

(from German mulm, powdery detritus): having a layer, ≥ 10 cm thick, consisting of mulmic material and starting at the mineral soil surface.

Murshic (mh)

(from Polish mursz, decay): having a drained histic horizon, ≥ 20 cm thick, and starting

  • at the soil surface, or
  • directly below a layer, < 40 cm thick, consisting of mulmic material, or
  • directly below a layer, < 40 cm thick, consisting of organic material that is saturated with water for < 30 consecutive days in most years and is not drained,

and having a bulk density of ≥ 0.2 kg dm-3 and one or both of the following:

  • moderate to strong granular structure or moderate to strong angular or subangular blocky structure, or
  • cracks

(in Histosols only) (2).

Note: For bulk density, the volume is determined after an undried soil sample has been desorbed at 33 kPa (no prior drying), and afterwards the weight is determined at 105 °C (see Annex 2, Chapter 9.5).

Muusic (mu)

(from Sakha muus, ice): having organic material starting at the soil surface that directly overlies ice (in Histosols only) (1: Epi- and Endo- only; referring to the upper limit of the ice).

Naramic (nr)

(from Hindi, naram, soft):

Natric (na)

(from Arabic natroon, salt): having a natric horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Hypernatric (jn)

(from Greek hyper, over): having a natric horizon with an exchangeable Na percentage (ESP) of ≥ 15 throughout the entire natric horizon or its upper 40 cm, whichever is thinner.

Nudinatric (nn)

(from Latin nudus, naked): having a natric horizon starting at the mineral soil surface.

Nechic (ne)

(from Amharic nech, white): having a pHwater of < 5 and uncoated mineral grains of sand and/or coarse silt size in a darker matrix somewhere within 5 cm of the mineral soil surface and no spodic horizon starting ≤ 200 cm from the mineral soil surface.

Neobrunic (nb)

see Brunic.

Neocambic (nc)

see Cambic.

Nitic (ni)

(from Latin nitidus, shiny): having a nitic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface. (2)

Novic (nv)

(from Latin novus, new): having a layer, ≥ 5 and < 50 cm thick, overlying a buried soil that is classified with preference according to the ‘Rules for naming soils’ (Chapter 2.4).

Areninovic (aj)

(from Latin arena, sand): having a layer, ≥ 5 and < 50 cm thick, that has, single or in combination, a texture class of sand or loamy sand in its major part, overlying a buried soil that is classified with preference according to the ‘Rules for naming soils’ (Chapter 2.4).

Clayinovic (cj)

(from English clay): having a layer, ≥ 5 and < 50 cm thick, that has, single or in combination, a texture class of clay, sandy clay or silty clay in its major part, overlying a buried soil that is classified with preference according to the ‘Rules for naming soils’ (Chapter 2.4).

Loaminovic (lj)

(from English loam): having a layer, ≥ 5 and < 50 cm thick, that has, single or in combination, a texture class of loam, sandy loam, clay loam, sandy clay loam or silty clay loam in its major part, overlying a buried soil that is classified with preference according to the ‘Rules for naming soils’ (Chapter 2.4).

Siltinovic (sj)

(from English silt): having a layer, ≥ 5 and < 50 cm thick, that has, single or in combination, a texture class of silt or silt loam in its major part, overlying a buried soil that is classified with preference according to the ‘Rules for naming soils’ (Chapter 2.4).

Combinations possible to indicate the deposited material (see Chapter 2.4).

Nudiargic (ng)

(from Latin nudus, naked, and argilla, white clay): having an argic horizon starting at the mineral soil surface.

Nudilithic (nt)

see Lithic.

Nudinatric (nn)

see Natric.

Ochric (oh)

(from Greek ochros, pale): having ≥ 0.2% soil organic carbon (weighted average) in the upper 10 cm of the mineral soil; and not having a mollic or umbric horizon and not meeting the set of diagnostic criteria of the Humic qualifier.

Ombric (om)

(from Greek ombros, rain): having a histic horizon, the upper ≥ 20 cm or at least the upper half of which, whichever is shallower, are saturated predominantly with rainwater (in Histosols only).

Ornithic (oc)

(from Greek ornis, bird): having a layer, ≥ 15 cm thick, with ornithogenic material starting ≤ 50 cm from the soil surface (2).

Orthofluvic (of)

see Fluvic.

Ortsteinic (os)

(from Old Saxonian arut, hard): having a spodic horizon that has a subhorizon that is cemented (‘ortstein’) with a cementation class of at least weakly cemented in ≥ 50% of its horizontal extension and that does not meet the set of diagnostic criteria of the Placic qualifier (in Podzols only).

Oxyaquic (oa)

(from Greek oxys, sour, and Latin aqua, water): having a layer, ≥ 25 cm thick and starting ≤ 75 cm from the mineral soil surface, that is saturated with water during a period of ≥ 20 consecutive days; and not having gleyic properties and not having stagnic properties in any layer within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface (2).

Oxygleyic (oy)

(from Greek oxys, sour, and Russian folk name gley, wet bluish clay): not having, within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, a layer that meets diagnostic criterion 1 of the gleyic properties (in Gleysols only).

Pachic (ph)

(from Greek pachys, thick): having a chernic, mollic or umbric horizon ≥ 50 cm thick (in Chernozems, Kastanozems, Phaeozems and Umbrisols only).

Panpaic (pb)

(from Quechua p’anpay, to bury): having a panpaic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (1, referring to the upper limit of the panpaic horizon).

Pellic (pe)

(from Greek pellos, dusty): having in the upper 30 cm of the mineral soil a Munsell colour value of ≤ 3 and a chroma of ≤ 2, both moist (in Vertisols only).

Pelocrustic (p)

(from Greek pelos, clay, and Latin crusta, crust): having a permanent physical surface crust with ≥ 30% clay (in Vertisols only).

Petric (pt)

(from Greek petros, rock): having the cemented diagnostic horizon of the respective RSG, starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (1: Epi- and Endo- only).

Nudipetric (np)

(from Latin nudus, naked): having the cemented diagnostic horizon of the respective RSG, starting at the mineral soil surface.

Petrocalcic (pc)

(from Greek petros, rock, and Latin calx, lime): having a petrocalcic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Petroduric (pd)

(from Greek petros, rock, and Latin durus, hard): having a petroduric horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Petrogypsic (pg)

(from Greek petros, rock, and gypsos, gypsum): having a petrogypsic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Petroplinthic (pp)

(from Greek petros, rock, and plinthos, brick): having a petroplinthic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Petrosalic (ps)

(from Greek petros, rock, and Latin sal, salt): having a layer, ≥ 10 cm thick and within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, which is cemented by salts more soluble than gypsum (2).

Pisoplinthic (px)

(from Latin pisum, pea, and Greek plinthos, brick): having a pisoplinthic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Placic (pi)

(from Greek plax, flat stone): having a layer, ≥ 0.1 and < 2.5 cm thick and within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, that is cemented, with a cementation class of at least weakly cemented, by Fe oxides, with or without other cementing agents, and is continuous to the extent that vertical fractures, if present, have an average horizontal spacing of ≥ 10 cm and occupy < 20% (by volume, related to the whole soil) (2: Epi-, Endo- and Amphi- only).

Plaggic (pa)

(from Low German plaggen, sod): having a plaggic horizon (2: Panto- only).

Plinthic (pl)

(from Greek plinthos, brick): having a plinthic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Posic (po)

(from Latin positivus, given): having a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, that has a zero or positive charge (pHKCl - pHwater ≥ 0, both in 1:1 solution) (2).

Pretic (pk)

(from Portuguese preto, black): having a pretic horizon (2: Panto- only).

Profondic (pn)

(from French profond, deep): having an argic horizon, in which the clay content does not decrease by ≥ 20% (relative) from its maximum down to 150 cm of the mineral soil surface, throughout.

Protic (pr)

(from Greek proton, first): showing no soil horizon development, with the exception of a cryic horizon, which may be present.

Protoandic (qa)

see Andic.

Protoargic (qg)

(from Greek proton, first, and Latin argilla, white clay): having an absolute clay increase of ≥ 4% from one layer to the directly underlying layer, within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface (in Arenosols only) (2).

Protocalcic (qc)

see Calcic.

Protospodic (qp)

see Spodic.

Protovertic (qv)

see Vertic.

Puffic (pu)

(from English to puff): having a chemical surface crust formed by readily soluble salts.

Pyric (py)

(from Greek pyr, fire): having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more layers with a combined thickness of ≥ 10 cm with ≥ 5% (by exposed area, related to the fine earth plus black carbon of any size) visible black carbon and not forming part of a pretic horizon (2).

Raptic (rp)

(from Latin raptus, broken): having a lithic discontinuity at some depth ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, that is not related to aeolic, fluvic, solimovic or tephric material. (1).

Reductaquic (ra)

(from Latin reductus, drawn back, and aqua, water): having above a cryic horizon a layer, ≥ 25 cm thick and starting ≤ 75 cm from the soil surface, that is saturated with water during the thawing period and that has for some time during the year reducing conditions (in Cryosols only) (2).

Reductic (rd)

(from Latin reductus, drawn back): having reducing conditions in ≥ 25% (by volume) within 100 cm of the soil surface, caused by gaseous emissions, e.g. methane or carbon dioxide, or caused by liquid intrusions other than water, e.g. gasoline.

Reductigleyic (ry)

(Latin reductus, drawn back, and Russian folk name gley, wet bluish clay): not having, ≥ 40 cm from the mineral soil surface, a layer that meets diagnostic criterion 2 of the gleyic properties (in Gleysols only).

Relocatic (rc)

(from Latin re, again, and locatus, put): being remodelled in situ or within the immediate vicinity by human activity to a depth of ≥ 100 cm (e.g. by deep ploughing, refilling soil pits or levelling land) and no formation of diagnostic horizons after remodelling, throughout, except a mollic or umbric horizon (in Technosols, Relocatic is redundant, except in combination with the Ekranic, Thyric or Linic qualifier); a destroyed diagnostic horizon (excluding the horizons that are defined as surface horizon according to their diagnostic criteria) may be added with a hyphen, e.g. Spodi-Relocatic, Spodi-Epirelocatic, however, there are no codes provided for these additions (4: Epi- only).

Rendzic (rz)

(from Polish rzendzic, to grate in contact with a plough blade): having a mollic horizon that contains or directly overlies calcaric material containing ≥ 40% calcium carbonate equivalent or that directly overlies calcareous rock containing ≥ 40% calcium carbonate equivalent (2: Ano- and Panto- only).

Somerirendzic (sr)

(from Spanish somero, superficial): having a mollic horizon, < 20 cm thick, that directly overlies calcareous rock containing ≥ 40% calcium carbonate equivalent.

Retic (rt)

(from Latin rete, net): having retic properties starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface.

Rheic (rh)

(from Greek rhein, to flow): having a histic horizon, in which groundwater or flowing water ascends to < 20 cm of the soil surface or reaches the histic horizon’s upper half, whichever is shallower (in Histosols only).

Rhodic (ro)

(from Greek rhodon, rose): having between 25 and 150 cm of the mineral soil surface a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick, that shows evidence of soil formation as defined in criterion 3 of the cambic horizon and that has, in ≥ 90% of its exposed area, a Munsell colour hue redder than 5YR moist, a value of < 4 moist, and a value dry, not more than one unit higher than the moist value.

Rockic (rk)

(from English rock): having organic material starting at the soil surface that directly overlies continuous rock or technic hard material (in Histosols only) (1: Epi- and Endo- only; referring to the upper limit of the continuous rock or technic hard material).

Rubic (ru)

(from Latin ruber, red): having between 25 and 100 cm of the mineral soil surface a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick, that does not consist of claric material and that has, in ≥ 90% of its exposed area, a Munsell colour hue redder than 10YR and/or a chroma of ≥ 5, both moist (in Arenosols only) (2: except Epi-).

Rustic (rs)

(from English rust): having a spodic horizon that has a Munsell colour chroma of ≥ 6, moist, throughout (‘Iron Podzols’; in Podzols only).

Salic (sz)

(from Latin sal, salt): having a salic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface (2).

Hypersalic (jz)

(from Greek hyper, over): having a salic horizon with a subhorizon, ≥ 15 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface, that has an ECe of ≥ 30 dS m-1 at 25 °C (2).

Protosalic (qz)

(from Greek proton, first): having within 100 cm of the soil surface a layer that has an ECe of ≥ 4 dS m-1 at 25 °C; and not having a salic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface (2).

Sapric (sa)

(from Greek sapros, rotten): having organic material that, after rubbing, consists of ≤ one sixth (by volume, related to the fine earth plus all dead plant residues) of recognizable dead plant tissues in

  • one or more layers with a combined thickness of ≥ 30 cm within 100 cm of the soil surface (2; no subqualifier if no organic material is present ≥ 60 cm of the soil surface), or
  • the weighted average of the entire organic material 100 cm of the soil surface.

(in Histosols only)

Saprolithic (sh)

(from Greek sapros, rotten, and lithos, stone): having a layer, ≥ 30 cm thick and starting ≤ 150 cm from the mineral soil surface, that has rock structure in ≥ 75% (by volume, related to the whole soil) and a CEC (by 1 M NH4OAc, pH 7) of < 24 cmolc kg-1 clay (2).

Sideralic (se)

(from Greek sideros, iron, and Latin alumen, alum): having within 150 cm of the mineral soil surface a layer that has sideralic properties; and not having a ferralic horizon starting ≤ 150 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Hypersideralic (jr)

(from Greek hyper, over): having within 150 cm of the mineral soil surface a layer that has ≥ 8% clay, has a CEC (by 1 M NH4OAc, pH 7) of < 16 cmolc kg-1 clay and shows evidence of soil formation as defined in criterion 3 of the cambic horizon; and not having a ferralic horizon starting ≤ 150 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Silandic (sn)

(from Latin silex, silicon-containing material, and Japanese an, dark, and do, soil): having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more layers with a combined thickness of ≥ 15 cm with andic properties and a Siox content of ≥ 0.6% (2).

Siltic (sl)

(from English silt): consisting of mineral material and having, single or in combination, a texture class of silt or silt loam

  • in one or more layers with a combined thickness of ≥ 30 cm, occurring within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface, or
  • in the major part between the mineral soil surface and a limiting layer starting > 10 and < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface

(2; no subqualifier if a limiting layer starts < 60 cm from the mineral soil surface).

Skeletic (sk)

(from Greek skeletos, dried out): having ≥ 40% (by volume, related to the whole soil) coarse fragments averaged over a depth of 100 cm from the mineral soil surface or to a limiting layer, whichever is shallower (5).

Akroskeletic (kk)

(from Greek akra, top): having ≥ 40% of the soil surface covered by fragments that have an average length of their greatest dimension of > 6 cm (stones, boulders and/or large boulders).

Ejectiskeletic (jk)

(from Latin ejicere, to throw out): having ≥ 40% (by volume, related to the whole soil) coarse fragments of pyroclastic origin (lapilli, bombs and/or blocks), averaged over a depth of 100 cm from the mineral soil surface or to a limiting layer, whichever is shallower (5).

Fractiskeletic (fk)

(from Latin fractus, broken): having ≥ 40% (by volume, related to the whole soil) coarse fragments plus remnants of a broken-up cemented layer, > 2 mm, averaged over a depth of 100 cm from the mineral soil surface or to a limiting layer, whichever is shallower; and not fulfilling the set of criteria of the Duric, Fractic, Pisoplinthic and Skeletic qualifier (5).

Orthoskeletic (ok)

(from Greek orthos, right): having:

  • ≥ 40% of the soil surface covered by fragments that have an average length of their greatest dimension of > 6 cm (stones, boulders and/or large boulders), and
  • ≥ 40% (by volume, related to the whole soil) coarse fragments averaged over a depth of 100 cm from the mineral soil surface or to a limiting layer, whichever is shallower (5).

Sodic (so)

(from Arabic suda, headache - referring to the headache-alleviating properties of sodium carbonate): having a layer, ≥ 20 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, that has ≥ 15% Na plus Mg and ≥ 6% Na on the exchange complex; and not having a natric horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface (2).

Argisodic (as)

(from Latin argilla, white clay): having an argic horizon, starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, that has ≥ 15% Na plus Mg and ≥ 6% Na on the exchange complex throughout the argic horizon or within its upper 40 cm, whichever is thinner (2).

Protosodic (qs)

(from Greek proton, first): having a layer, ≥ 20 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, that has ≥ 6% Na and < 15% Na plus Mg on the exchange complex; and not having a natric horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface (2).

Solimovic (sv)

(from Latin solum, soil, and movere, to move): having solimovic material, ≥ 20 cm thick and starting at the mineral soil surface (2: Ano- and Panto- only).

Sombric (sb)

(from French sombre, shade): having a sombric horizon starting ≤ 150 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Someric (si)

(from Spanish somero, superficial): having a mollic or umbric horizon, < 20 cm thick.

Spodic (sd)

(from Greek spodos, wood ash): having a spodic horizon starting ≤ 200 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Hyperspodic (jp) {sec-jp .unnumbered}

(from Greek hyper, over): having a spodic horizon, ≥ 100 cm thick and starting ≤ 200 cm from the mineral soil surface.

Protospodic (qp)

(from Greek proton, first): having a layer, starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface, that has a pHwater of < 4.6 and has an Alox value of ≥ 0.5% that is ≥ 1.5 times that of the lowest Alox value of all the mineral layers above; and not having a spodic horizon starting ≤ 200 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Spolic (sp)

(from Latin spoliare, to exploit): having a layer, ≥ 20 cm thick and within 100 cm of the soil surface, with ≥ 20% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) artefacts, ≥ 35% of which consist of industrial products (e.g. mine spoil, dredgings, slag, ash, rubble, etc.) (in Technosols only) (2).

Hyperspolic (jj)

(from Greek hyper, over): having a layer, ≥ 50 cm thick and within 100 cm of the soil surface, with ≥ 35% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) artefacts consisting of industrial products (in Technosols only) (2).

Stagnic (st)

(from Latin stagnare, to flood): having a layer, ≥ 25 cm thick and starting ≤ 75 cm from the mineral soil surface, that does not form part of a hydragric horizon and that has:

  • stagnic properties in which the area of reductimorphic features plus the area of oximorphic features is ≥ 25% (weighted average, related to the fine earth plus oximorphic features of any size and any cementation class) of the layer’s total area, and
  • reducing conditions for some time during the year in some parts of the layer’s volume that has the reductimorphic features (2).

Inclinistagnic (iw)

(from Latin inclinare, to bow): having a layer, ≥ 25 cm thick and starting ≤ 75 cm from the mineral soil surface, that does not form part of a hydragric horizon and that has:

  • stagnic properties in which the area of reductimorphic features plus the area of oximorphic features is ≥ 25% (weighted average, related to the fine earth plus oximorphic features of any size and any cementation class) of the layer’s total area, and
  • reducing conditions for some time during the year in some parts of the layer’s volume that has the reductimorphic features,
  • and having a slope inclination of ≥ 5% and a subsurface water flow for some time during the year (2).

Protostagnic (qw)

(from Greek proton, first): having a layer, ≥ 25 cm thick and starting ≤ 75 cm from the mineral soil surface, that does not form part of a hydragric horizon and that has:

  • stagnic properties in which the area of reductimorphic features plus the area of oximorphic features is ≥ 10% and < 25% (weighted average, related to the fine earth plus oximorphic features of any size and any cementation class) of the layer’s total area, and
  • reducing conditions for some time during the year in some parts of the layer’s volume that has the reductimorphic features (2).

Relictistagnic (rw)

(from Latin relictus, left back): having a layer, ≥ 25 cm thick and starting ≤ 75 cm from the mineral soil surface, that has:

  • stagnic properties in which the area of oximorphic features is ≥ 10% (weighted average, related to the fine earth plus oximorphic features of any size and any cementation class) of the layer’s total area, and
  • no reducing conditions (2).

Subaquatic (sq)

(from Latin sub, under, and aqua, water): being permanently submerged by water not deeper than 200 cm.

Sulfatic (su)

(from Latin sulpur, sulfur): having a salic horizon with a soil solution (1:1 in water) with [SO42-] > 2*[HCO3-] > 2*[Cl-] (in Solonchaks only).

Sulfidic (sf)

(from Latin sulpur, sulfur): having hypersulfidic or hyposulfidic material, ≥ 15 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface (2).

Hypersulfidic (js)

(from Greek hyper, over): having hypersulfidic material, ≥ 15 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface (2).

Hyposulfidic (ws)

(from Greek hypo, under): having hyposulfidic material, ≥ 15 cm thick and starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface (2).

Takyric (ty)

(from Turkic languages takyr, barren land): having takyric properties.

Technic (te)

(from Greek technae, art): having ≥ 10% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) artefacts in the upper 100 cm from the soil surface or to a limiting layer, whichever is shallower (5).

Hypertechnic (jt)

(from Greek hyper, over): having ≥ 20% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) artefacts in the upper 100 cm from the soil surface or to a limiting layer, whichever is shallower (5).

Prototechnic (qt)

(from Greek proton, first): having ≥ 5% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) artefacts in the upper 100 cm from the soil surface or to a limiting layer, whichever is shallower (5).

Tephric (tf)

(from Greek tephra, pile ash): having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more layers with tephric material with a combined thickness of ≥ 30 cm (2).

Prototephric (qf)

(from Greek proton, first): having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more layers with tephric material with a combined thickness of ≥ 10 cm (2).

Technotephric (tt)

(from Greek technae, art): having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more layers with tephric material, consisting predominantly of artefacts, with a combined thickness of ≥ 30 cm (2).

Terric (tr)

(from Latin terra, earth): having a terric horizon (2: Panto- only).

Thionic (ti)

(from Greek theion, sulfur): having a thionic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface (2).

Hyperthionic (ji)

(from Greek hyper, over): having a thionic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface and having a pH (1:1 in water) of < 3.5 (2).

Hypothionic (wi)

(from Greek hypo, under): having a thionic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface and having a pH (1:1 in water) of ≥ 3.5 and < 4 (2).

Thixotropic (tp)

(from Greek thixis, contact, and tropae, reversion): having in some layer, within 50 cm of the soil surface, material that changes, under pressure or by rubbing, from a plastic solid into a liquefied stage and back into a solid condition.

Thyric (th)

(from Greek thyreos, shield): having technic hard material starting within > 5 and ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface (1: Epi- and Endo- only).

Tidalic (td)

(from English tide): affected by tidal water, i.e. located between the line of mean high water springs and the line of mean low water springs.

Tonguic (to)

(from English tongue): showing tonguing of a chernic, mollic or umbric horizon into an underlying layer.

Toxic (tx)

(from Greek toxon, bow, referring to arrow poison): having in some layer, within 50 cm of the soil surface, toxic concentrations of organic or inorganic substances other than ions of Al, Fe, Na, Ca and Mg, or having radioactivity dangerous to humans.

Radiotoxic (rx)

(from Latin radius, ray): having radioactivity, dangerous to humans.

Note: The definition of limit values is the task of governments and not the task of WRB.

Transportic (tn)

(from Latin transportare, to transport): having at the soil surface or below a recently formed organic surface horizon a layer,

  • ≥ 20 cm thick, or
  • with a thickness of ≥ 50% of the entire soil if a limiting layer starts ≤ 40 cm from the soil surface, with soil material containing, if any, < 10% (by volume, related to the whole soil) artefacts; and that has been moved from a source area outside the immediate vicinity by intentional human activity, usually with the aid of machinery, and without substantial reworking or displacement by natural forces (2: Ano- and Panto- only).

Organotransportic (ot)

(from Greek organon, tool): having at the soil surface or below a recently formed organic surface horizon a layer,

  • ≥ 20 cm thick, or
  • with a thickness of ≥ 50% of the entire soil if a limiting layer starts ≤ 40 cm from the soil surface, with organic material containing, if any, < 10% (by volume, related to the whole soil) artefacts; and that has been moved from a source area outside the immediate vicinity by intentional human activity, usually with the aid of machinery, and without substantial reworking or displacement by natural forces (2: Ano- and Panto- only).

Skeletotransportic (kt)

(from Greek skeletos, dried out): having at the soil surface or below a recently formed organic surface horizon a layer,

  • ≥ 20 cm thick, or
  • with a thickness of ≥ 50% of the entire soil if a limiting layer starts ≤ 40 cm from the soil surface, with soil material containing, if any, < 10% (by volume, related to the whole soil) artefacts and ≥ 40% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) coarse fragments;

and that has been moved from a source area outside the immediate vicinity by intentional human activity, usually with the aid of machinery, and without substantial reworking or displacement by natural forces (2: Ano- and Panto- only).

Tsitelic (ts)

(from Georgian tsiteli, red): having a tsitelic horizon starting ≤ 50 cm from the mineral soil surface.

Turbic (tu)

(from Latin turbare, to disturb): having features of cryogenic alteration (cryoturbation, mixed material, disrupted soil horizons, involutions, organic intrusions, frost heave, separation of coarse from fine materials, cracks, patterned ground etc.) in some layer within 100 cm of the soil surface and above a cryic horizon or above a seasonally frozen layer (2: only if clearly recognizable as a layer).

Relictiturbic (rb)

(from Latin relictus, left back): having features of cryogenic alteration within 100 cm of the soil surface, caused by frost action in the past (2: only if clearly recognizable as layer).

Umbric (um)

(from Latin umbra, shade): having an umbric horizon (2: Ano- and Panto- only).

Anthroumbric (aw)

(from Greek anthropos, human being): having an umbric horizon and anthric properties (2: Ano- and Panto- only).

Someriumbric (sw)

(from Spanish somero, superficial): having an umbric horizon, < 20 cm thick.

Tonguiumbric (tw)

(from English tongue): having an umbric horizon that tongues into an underlying layer (2: Ano- and Panto- only; referring to the umbric horizon, not to the tongues).

Urbic (ub)

(from Latin urbs, city): having a layer, ≥ 20 cm thick and within 100 cm of the soil surface, with ≥ 20% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) artefacts, ≥ 35% of which consist of rubble and refuse of human settlements (in Technosols only) (2).

Hyperurbic (jx)

(from Greek hyper, over): having a layer, ≥ 50 cm thick and within 100 cm of the soil surface, with ≥ 35% (by volume, weighted average, related to the whole soil) artefacts consisting of rubble and refuse of human settlements (in Technosols only) (2).

Uterquic (uq)

(from Latin uterque, both): having a layer

Vermic (vm)

(from Latin vermis, worm): having ≥ 50% (by volume, weighted average) of worm holes, casts, or filled animal burrows in the upper 100 cm of the mineral soil or to a limiting layer, whichever is shallower.

Vertic (vr)

(from Latin vertere, to turn): having a vertic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Protovertic (qv)

(from Greek proton, first): having a protovertic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface; and not having a vertic horizon starting ≤ 100 cm from the mineral soil surface (2).

Vitric (vi)

(from Latin vitrum, glass): having within 100 cm of the soil surface

Wapnic (wa)

(from Polish wapno, lime): having a calcic horizon within organic material, starting ≤ 100 cm from the soil surface (2).

Xanthic (xa)

(from Greek xanthos, yellow): having a ferralic horizon that has in a subhorizon, ≥ 30 cm thick and starting ≤ 75 cm from the upper limit of the ferralic horizon, in ≥ 90% of its exposed area, a Munsell colour hue of 7.5YR or yellower, a value of ≥ 4 and a chroma of ≥ 5, all moist.

Yermic (ye)

(from Spanish yermo, desert): having yermic properties.

Nudiyermic (ny)

(from Latin nudus, naked): having yermic properties without a desert pavement.

Paviyermic (vy)

(for Latin pavimentum, floor): having yermic properties, including a desert pavement.