Soil Land Classes
Soils in this class have few limitations that restrict their use
What is class 1?
These deposits form in swamps and marshy areas as organic material accumulates
What are organic deposits?
The complete absence of soil structures
What is massive?
Commonly called "topsoil", this soil horizon frequently has friable, granular structure.
What is the A horizon?
The practice of preforming tillage on a nearly level grade following the curves of the terrain
What is contour farming?
Soils in this class have severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants, require special conservation practices, or both
What is class 3?
The disorganized mass of material that accumulates on the lower portion of slopes and depressions
What is colluvium?
Characterized by vertical oriented aggregates or pillars with rounded tops
What is columnar?
When found, it is generally the uppermost layer of the soil and is predominately made of organic material
What is the O horizon
The practice of cutting up and leaving the unharvested crop remains on top of the ground during the harvesting process to provide ground cover
What is crop residue management?
Soils in this class are nearly level and not subject to erosion, but because of excessive wetness resulting from frequent flooding or some permanent obstruction like rock outcrops, is not suitable for cultivation
What is class 5?
Stream sediments that find their way into the ocean
What are marine deposits?
The aggregates are arranged in thin horizontal sheets
What is platy?
This horizon is characterized by its light color and is a zone of leaching
What is the E horizon?
Strips of permanent vegetation planted to filter out sediment and other pollutants from rainwater runoff
What are filter strips?
Soils in this class have some limitations that reduce the choice of plants or require moderate conservation practices
What is class 2?
When a soil forms in material that was deposited by water, the parent material is called this.
What is alluvium?
This structure is the most common structure seen in the B horizon in North Carolina
What is blocky?
Commonly called subsoil, this layer is usually lighter in color than the A horizon due to it's lower content of organic matter
What is the B horizon?
Growing crops in a systematic management of strips or bands to reduce erosion
What is stripcropping?
What is class 7?
These deposits consist of windblown silts that originated in the floodplains of the Mississippi and other rivers.
What are loess deposits?
Rounded aggregates usually less than 1/4 inch in diameter.
What is granular?
This horizon is bedrock. As the bedrock weathers, it contributes parent material to the C horizon above.
What is the C horizon?
Long rows of trees planted adjacent to large agricultural fields to reduce wind erosion
What are windbreaks?