This soil order must have a deep, dark epipedon with a high base saturation (>50%).
What is the MOLLISOL order?
This subsurface horizon is pale and eluviated.
What is an ALBIC horizon (E)?
This subsurface horizon is hard as rocks (but isn't just rocks).
What is FLUV-?
This prefix comes from the Greek word for "sand" (and was part of the 2023 Spelling Bee winning word!!).
What is PSAMM-?
This soil order is characterized by the presence of a diagnostic horizon containing illuviated organic matter and sesquioxides.
What is the SPODOSOL order?
This subsurface feature is found in sandy-textured horizons and features stripes of illuviated clay.
What are LAMELLAE? (E & Bt)
This subsurface horizon is characterized by the accumulation of illuvial carbonates, which are frequently white in color (Bk).
What is a CALCIC horizon?
This prefix comes from the Latin word for "white."
What is ALB-?
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)-?
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?
What is a CAMBIC horizon?
This subsurface horizon is composed of "diggable rock" (Cr).
What is a PARALITHIC horizon?
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-?
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-?
This soil order is characterized by the presence of a cambic horizon--a weakly developed mineral soil horizon (Bw).
What is the INCEPTISOL order?
This subsurface horizon is rock. (R)
What is a LITHIC horizon?
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?
What is EUTR-?
This prefix comes from the Latin word for "water" and implies wet conditions. This prefix is only used with suborders.
What is AQU-?
This soil order keys out after spodosols and mollisols and is frequently identified by an argillic (illuviated clay) horizon.
What is the ALFISOL order?
This subsurface horizon contains characteristic "tonguing" of an eluvial horizon into an illuvial horizon (B/E).
What is a GLOSSIC horizon?
This horizon must have clay films.
What is an ARGILLIC horizon? (Bt)
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-?
What is ORTH-?