Soil Classification

Order up!

100

This soil order must have a deep, dark epipedon with a high base saturation (>50%). 

What is the MOLLISOL order?

200

This soil order is characterized by the presence of a diagnostic horizon containing illuviated organic matter and sesquioxides. 

What is the SPODOSOL order?

300

This soil order keys out after everything else has been eliminated, and is usually indicative of a fairly young soil. 

What is the ENTISOL order?

400

This soil order is characterized by the presence of a cambic horizon--a weakly developed mineral soil horizon (Bw). 

What is the INCEPTISOL order?

500

This soil order keys out after spodosols and mollisols and is frequently identified by an argillic (illuviated clay) horizon. 

What is the ALFISOL order?

Diagnose Me I

100

This subsurface horizon is pale and eluviated. 

What is an ALBIC horizon (E)?

200

This subsurface feature is found in sandy-textured horizons and features stripes of illuviated clay.

What are LAMELLAE? (E & Bt)

300

This subsurface mineral horizon is characterized by its weak development and nothing else (Bw). 

What is a CAMBIC horizon?

400

This subsurface horizon is rock. (R)

What is a LITHIC horizon?

500

This subsurface horizon contains characteristic "tonguing" of an eluvial horizon into an illuvial horizon (B/E). 

What is a GLOSSIC horizon?

Diagnose Me II

100

This subsurface horizon is hard as rocks (but isn't just rocks). 

What is a DENSIC horizon? (Cd)

200

This subsurface horizon is characterized by the accumulation of illuvial carbonates, which are frequently white in color (Bk).

What is a CALCIC horizon?

300

This subsurface horizon is composed of "diggable rock" (Cr). 

What is a PARALITHIC horizon?

400

This subsurface horizon is characterized by the presence of illuvial organic matter and sesquioxides on the surfaces of sand or silt particles (Bh or Bhs). 

What is a SPODIC horizon?

500

This horizon must have clay films. 

What is an ARGILLIC horizon? (Bt)

Prefix It I

100

From the Latin word for "river"--connotates presence on a flood plain. Organic carbon usually present at depth due to deposition of OM-rich materials in the past.

What is FLUV-?

200

This prefix comes from the Latin word for "white."

What is ALB-?

300

This prefix comes from the Greek word meaning "above," "on," or "over." It connotates a perched water table (i.e., a water table present above an impermeable layer). 

What is EPI-?

400

This prefix comes from the Greek word for "within" and connotates a ground (not perched) water table. 

What is EUTR-?

500

This prefix comes from the Greek word for "simple" and implies the presence of no other special features in mollisols, spodosols, and alfisols.

What is HAPL-?

Prefix It II

100

This prefix comes from the Greek word for "sand" (and was part of the 2023 Spelling Bee winning word!!).

What is PSAMM-?

200

This prefix comes from the Latin word for "humid" and implies a specific moisture regime (the only moisture regime in this contest!).

What is UD(I)-?

300

This prefix comes from the Greek word for "ancient" and implies a high degree of development (which often presents as fairly red hues in soils).

What is PALE-?

400

This prefix comes from the Latin word for "water" and implies wet conditions. This prefix is only used with suborders.  

What is AQU-?

500

This prefix comes from the Greek word for "true" and connotates commonality (i.e., no other special features of note). This prefix is only used for suborders. 

What is ORTH-?