Global and National Soils and Terrain Digital Databases (SOTER)

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V.W.P. van Engelen and J.A. Dijkshoorn

ISRIC Report 2013/04
Procedures Manual
Version 2.0
Global and National Soils and Terrain

Digital Databases (SOTER)
Global and National Soils and

Terrain
Procedures Manual
Version 2.0
Wageningen, May 201 3
201 3, ISRIC World Soil Information, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Citation
Engelen V.W.P. van and J.A. Dijkshoorn (eds.), 2013. Global and National Soils and Terrain Databases
(SOTER). Procedures Manual,

Version 2.0, ISRIC World Soil Information, Wageningen. 198 pages, 10 figures and 9 tables.
Contents
Preface 1
Background 3
1 General introduction 9
1.1 Objectives 9
1.2 Procedures 9
2 Mapping approach and database construction 11
2.1 Mapping approach 11

2.2 SOTER source material 12
2.3 Associated and miscellaneous data 13
3 SOTER differentiating criteria 15
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
Terrain 15
Terrain components 17
Soil components 17
SOTER unit identification 18
Additional conventions 19
SOTER unit mapability 20
The SOTER approach at other scales 21
4 SOTER database structure 23
4.1 Geometric database 24

4.2 Attribute database 24
5 Additional SOTER conventions 29
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
SOTER unit codes 29

Minimum size of the SOTER unit 29
Number of soil and terrain components 30
Representative soil profiles 30
Updating procedures 30
Miscellaneous polygons 31
6 Attribute coding 33
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
Terrain33
Terrain component 46
Terrain component data 47
Soil component 51
Additional soil profiles 56
Profile 56
Horizon data 59
7 Coding convention 79
7.1 Land use 79

7.2 Vegetation 79
8 Reference files 87
8.1 Source map 87

8.2 Laboratory information 89
8.3 Soil profile database 90
Annex 1 Miscellaneous polygons 91
Annex 2 Hierarchy of landforms 93

Annex 3 Diagnostic horizons, properties and materials of Soil Reference Groups
and WRB Legend 97
Annex 4 Legends 149
Annex 5 Hierarchy of land use 167
Annex 6 Hierarchy of vegetation 171
Annex 7 ISO country codes 177
Annex 8 Analytical methods 181
References 187
List of figures
Figure 1 Relation between SOTER units and their composing parts. 12
Figure 2 Terrain subdivided according to major landform. 15
Figure 3 Terrain subdivided according to parent material. 16
Figure 4 Terrain after differentiation for soil components. 17
Figure 5 SOTER map with SOTER unit identification numbers. 18
Figure 6 SOTER unit, their terrain components (tc), attributes and location. 23
Figure 7 SOTER attribute database structure (1:M = one to many, M:1 = many to one relations). 25
Figure 8 Texture groups of parent material (FAO 2006). 49
Figure 9 Texture classes of the topsoil according to (CEC 1985; ESB 1998). 53
Figure 10 USDA texture classes of fine earth fraction (<2 mm). Source: Soil Survey Division Staff
(1993). 72
List of tables
Table 1 Non-spatial attributes of a SOTER unit. 27
Table 2 Hierarchy of major landforms. 35
Table 3 The revised soil parent material classification (after Schuler et al. 2013). 39
Table 4 Event and surface processes. 44
Table 5 Size classes for structure elements of various types according to guidelines for soil
description
(FAO 2006; FAO and ISRIC 1990; Soil Survey Staff 1951). 69
Table 6 Hierarchy of land use. 80
Table 7 Hierarchy of vegetation classes. 82
Table 8 Attributes of source material related tables. 87
Table 9 Codes for non-soil units in the GIS file and attribute database. 91
Annex 1 Miscellaneous polygons. 91
Annex 2 Hierarchy of landforms. 93
Annex 3 Diagnostic horizons, properties and materials of Soil Reference Groups and WRB Legend.
97
Annex 4 Legends. 149
Annex 5 Hierarchy of land use. 167
Annex 7 ISO country codes. 177
Annex 8 Analytical methods. 181
Preface
Soil is one of the most important natural resources and it plays a vital role in the Earths
ecosystem: foothold
for plant roots, storage of nutrients for plants to grow, filtering of rainwater and
regulating its discharge,
storage of organic matter, buffering of pollutants. Sustainable use of this resource can
only be assured if
adequate information on its spatial and temporal variation can be provided.
The standardized SOil and TERrain SOTER methodology has been proposed by the
International Union of Soil
Sciences (IUSS) as a method to make soils and terrain information available to a wide
spectrum of land users.
The 1995 version of the Procedures Manual has been the outcome of extensive
consultations and applications
of earlier versions of the method. Since then, new techniques for capturing soil and
terrain information have
been developed; some of these have been incorporated in the present version of SOTER.
Compatibility of this version of the Procedures Manual with earlier versions is maintained
in so far as possible.
Further, the input software for version 2.0 will allow for a conversion of the previous
format into the current
one.
Comments on this version are welcome and should be sent to the Manager of the SOTER
project1.
Prem Bindraban
Director ISRIC World Soil Information
C/o Director, ISRIC World Soil Information, P.O.Box 353, 6700 AJ Wageningen, The Netherlands. E-mail:
soil.isric@wur.nl.
1
Background
Adequate soil and terrain information is essential for the proper management of natural
resources, not only for
sustainable agricultural production but also for the protection of water resources and for
the use and conservation of forests and natural ecosystems. Any use of the land will have
an impact on the natural resources.
Therefore, human activities and interventions should be based on reliable information in
space and time on
soils and terrain.
Human interventions in the land have often detrimental effects like soil erosion,
contamination, acidification and
loss of organic carbon. Most of these issues do not stop at international borders. Whether
any regionally
suitable action will be effective, will depend amongst others on the availability of
standardized soil and terrain
information. Globally such information is available as the 1:5M FAO-UNESCO Soil Map of
the World (SMW) (FAO
et al.1974) based on data collected in the pre-1970 years. Newer data has been
incorporated in the
Harmonized World Soil Database (FAO et al.2008 and 2012), which has a nominal
resolution of 1x1 km, that
includes amongst others existing regional SOTER databases, the European soil database
and an update of the
national soil map of China. For areas not covered by these revised data material from the
FAO-Unesco SMW is
maintained. Thus there is a continued need for up-to-date quantitative soil coverage at a
global scale. At the
same time, regional and national institutions and organizations will also need such
information, often at a
larger resolution.
Based on a discussion paper Towards a Global Soil Resources Inventory at Scale 1:1M
prepared by
Sombroek (1984), the International Society of Soil Science (ISSS) 2 convened a workshop
of international
experts on soils and related disciplines in January 1986 in Wageningen, the Netherlands,
to discuss the
Structure of a Digital International Soil Resources Map annex Data Base (Baumgardner
and Oldeman 1986).
Based on the findings and recommendations of this workshop a project proposal was
written for SOTER, a
World SOils and TERain Digital Data Base at a scale of 1:1 million (Baumgardner 1986).
A small international committee was appointed to propose criteria for a universal map
legend suitable for
compilation of small scale soil-terrain maps, and to include attributes required for a wide
range of interpretations such as crop suitability, soil degradation, forest productivity,
global environmental change, irrigation
suitability, agro-ecological zonation, and risk of drought. The committee compiled an
initial list of attributes.
The SOTER approach received further endorsement at the 19862 ISSS Congress in
Hamburg, Germany.
A second meeting, sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),
was held in Nairobi,
Kenya, in May 1987 to discuss the application of SOTER for preparing soil degradation
assessment maps.
Two working groups (legend development and soil degradation assessment) met
concurrently during this
meeting. The legend working group was charged with the task of developing guidelines
for a World Soils and
Terrain Digital Database at a 1:1 M scale, to propose general legend concepts, to prepare
an attribute file
structure, and to draft an outline for a Procedures Manual (Van de Weg 1987).
2
Presently the International Union of Soil Science (IUSS).
4 ISRIC Report 2013/04

Following the Nairobi meeting, UNEP formulated a project document: Global Assessment
of Soil Degradation
and asked ISRIC to compile, in close collaboration with ISSS, FAO, the Winand Staring
Centre 3 and the
International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) 4, a global
map on the status of
human-induced soil degradation at a scale of 1:10 million, and to have this accompanied
by a first pilot area at
1:1 million scale in South America where both status and risk of soil degradation would
be assessed on the
basis of a digital soil and terrain database as envisaged by the SOTER proposal. In this
context ISRIC
subcontracted the preparation for a first draft of a Procedures Manual for the 1:1 M pilot
study area to the
Land Resource Research Centre of Agriculture Canada 5.
The first draft of the Procedures Manual (Shields and Coote 1988) was presented at the
First Regional
Workshop on a Global Soils and Terrain Digital Database and Global Assessment of Soil
Degradation held in
March 1988 in Montevideo, Uruguay (Peters 1988). The proposed methodology was then
tested in a pilot
area, covering parts of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay (LASOTER). Soil survey teams of
the participating
countries collected soils and terrain data to assess the workability of the procedures as
proposed in the draft
Manual. During two correlation meetings and field trips minor changes were suggested,
while further
modifications were recommended at a workshop that concluded the data collection
stage. The comments
from both workshops were incorporated in the January 1989 draft of the Procedures
Manual (Shields and
Coote 1989).
Application of the SOTER methodology in an area along the border between the USA and
Canada (NASOTER)
revealed some shortcomings in the second draft of the Manual. Also, the first tentative
interpretation of the
LASOTER data as well as the integration of the attribute data into a Geographic
Information System
demonstrated the need for further modifications.
A third draft of the Manual was compiled by the SOTER staff (Van Engelen and Pulles
1990) and circulated for
comments amongst a broad international spectrum of soil scientists and potential users
of the database. A
workshop on Procedures Manual Revisions was subsequently convened at ISRIC,
Wageningen, to discuss the
revised legend concepts and definitions (Batjes 1990).
Based on the recommendations of this workshop, the proposed modifications were
further elaborated,
resulting in a fourth draft of the Procedures Manual (van Engelen and Pulles 1990). This
Manual consisted of
three parts, the first of which dealt with terrain and soil characteristics. The second part
treated land use in a
summary way in the expectation that a more comprehensive structure for a land use
database would become
available from other organizations. In the third part information on related files and
climatic data needed for
SOTER applications were described. In each section definitions and descriptions of the
attributes to be coded
were given, while in the first section an explanation of the mapping approach was
provided.
Unlike the 1st and 2nd draft editions of the initial Manual, the later versions did not
elaborate upon the soil
degradation assessment as this is considered to be either an interpretation of the
database or a separate
information layer. Technical specifications (e.g. table definitions, primary keys, table
constraints etc.) and a
user manual for the SOTER database were also published (Tempel 1994a, 2002).
After the first SOTER workshop in 1986 in Wageningen, a second SOTER workshop
organized by UNEP was
convened in February 1992 in Nairobi. At this meeting, FAO expressed its full support for
the SOTER
Presently Alterra Green World Research (Environmental Sciences Group of Wageningen University and
Research Centre).
3
Presently Faculty of Geo-Information and Earth Observation (ITC) of the University of Twente.
Presently Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research.
5
programme and indicated that it was prepared to use the SOTER methodology for storing
and updating its own
data on world soil and terrain resources. To facilitate the use of SOTER data by FAO it was
decided to use the
FAO-Unesco Soil Map of the World Revised Legend (FAO 1988, 1990) as a basis for
characterising the soils
component of the SOTER database.
To take account of these decisions a fifth draft of the Manual was prepared in 1993 with
active participation by
FAO and published as a World Soil Resources Report (FAO 1993). The main arrangement
of this latest version
of the Manual is similar to the fourth draft, with the difference that the Manual now
consists of two parts only,
the first one dealing with soils and terrain, and the second one dealing with the
accessory databases in which
land use, vegetation and climatic data can be stored.
Slight modifications in the number of attributes were applied in the updated version of
1995. Since that time
new procedures have been developed and tested e.g. landform classification using SRTM
data, partly in the
framework of the EU-funded e-SOTER project, resulting in the present revision (Ver. 2.0)
of the 1995
Procedures Manual.
Notice with this edition (Version 2.0)

The methodology was initially designed for use at a 1:1 million scale to replace the 1:5
million scale
FAO-Unesco Soil Map of the World. However, since the publication of the revised edition
in 1995 the SOTER
methodology has been applied by a large variety of users in various areas and at scales
ranging from
1:5 million towards 1:50 000 (Oliveira and van den Berg, 1992, FAO et al., 2003,
Dijkshoorn et al., 2005).
The early users of the SOTER methodology had to compile their databases from
traditional sources like maps
and profile data archives. Currently, however, there is a wealth of digital data that can be
used to compile a
SOTER database. This requires adaptations in the methodology, notably in the attributes
of the soil profile and
horizon tables. The use of Digital Elevation Models (DEM) for the definition and
delineations of physiographic
units also requires adaptations of the methodology. Changes in the procedures in version
2.0 draw partly on
the results of the EU sponsored e-SOTER research project (e-SOTER 2012).
The revision was also used for correction of shortcomings that have been noticed by
users when applying the
methodology at scales outside the range initially defined for SOTER.
In this version the major modifications are:
Change in the data structure: It is now possible to store more than one soil profile per
soil component.
Data are stored in the new soilstable. This makes the existence of tables with minimum
and maximum
values per horizon as used in the previous versions redundant.
Change in the position of some attributes: e.g. soil classification as legend unit is now
given at the level of
the soil component.
Changes in the landform attributes to make them more in line with automatic
delineation and definitions
derived from DEMs (see Dobos et al.2005).
Changes in parent material definitions to put more emphasis on the influence of the
(chemical) composition
on the soil forming process. The new scheme has been developed in the framework of
the e-SOTER project
(Schuler et al., 2013).
Updating of attributes: soil classification according to Legend for the World Reference
Base for soil
resources (IUSS 2007).
Additional information is provided on land use and land cover at profile location, which
was felt as lacking
for carbon sequestration assessments, while land use and cover at the SOTER unit level
has been deleted.
Addition of some extra attributes from the profile descriptions: e.g. upper limit soil
horizon, mottling, etc.
The option to store climate data has been removed.
ISRIC Report 2013/04 7
PART I SOILS AND TERRAIN

8
1 General introduction
1.1 Objectives
The aim of the SOTER program is to establish a World Soils and Terrain Database,
containing digitized map
units area class maps - and their attribute data (Baumgardner and Oldeman 1986).
SOTER is composed of
sets of relations for use in a Relational DataBase Management System (RDBMS) and
Geographic Information
System (GIS) allowing for handling of a large amount of soil and terrain information. The
main function of this
Geographical Database is to hold the necessary data for improved mapping,
management and potentially
monitoring of changes of world soil and terrain resources. At the same time, the
methodology can be applied
at national level at a finer scale than originally foreseen (see below).
The methodology has originally been designed for application at a scale of 1:1 million to
replace the existing
global coverage of soils the FAO-Unesco Soil Map of the World SMW (1971 -1981) at
scale 1:5 million. In
2009 the then existing SOTER products, with gaps in the measured data filled using
taxotransfer procedures
derived from the WISE database (e.g. Batjes et al., 1997, 2007), were incorporated in the
successor of the
SMW: the Harmonized World Soil Database HWSD (FAO et al.2008, 2012). For
consistency reasons the
development of a consistent global soils and terrain database the methodology
maintains a strict set of rules
for delineation and definition of soil and terrain units. The methodology can be used at
various scales ranging
from 1:5 million to 1:250,000 (Oliveira and van den Berg, 1992, FAO et al. 2003,
Dijkshoorn et al. 2005).
The database has the following characteristics:
allow for storage and retrieval of standardized information on the spatial distribution
and properties of the
soil and terrain cover in an area,
accommodates data required for a wide range of applications,
compatible with global databases of other natural resources with similar scales,
accessible to a broad array of international, regional and national natural resources
specialists through the
provision of standardized natural resources maps, interpretative maps and tabular
information essential for
the development, management and conservation of natural resources, either as
downloadable files or as
web-services
1.2 Procedures
The current report translates SOTER's overall objectives into a workable set of
arrangements for the selection,
standardization, coding and storing of soil and terrain data.
SOTER requires soils from all countries of the world to be characterised under a single set
of rules. As the
FAO-Unesco (1971 -1981) Soil Map of the World was designed for this purpose, earlier
versions of SOTER have
adopted the Revised Legend of FAO (FAO 1988, 1990; FAO et al., 1994). This legend has
been superseded by
the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (ISSS et al., 1998; IUSS 2007) as the main
tool for
differentiating and characterizing soil components in SOTER.
Similarly, terrain units (SOTER acronym for landforms), should be characterised
consistently. As there is no
universally accepted system for a world-wide classification of terrain, SOTER has
designed its own system
based on visual interpretation of topographic information (see Chapter 6.1). This
approach is partly based on
earlier FAO work (Remmelzwaal 1991), global SRTM DEM (USGS 2003) analyses
developed by Dobos etal.
(2005) as further elaborated during the e-SOTER project (e-SOTER 2012).
The input of soil and terrain data into the SOTER database is contingent upon the
availability of, and
accessibility to sufficiently detailed information. Although some additional information
gathering may be
required when preparing existing data for inclusion in the database, the SOTER approach
is not intended to
replace traditional soil surveys. Hence this manual should not be used as guidelines for
soil survey procedures
or any other methodology for the collection of field data. Further, it does not present a
methodology for the
interpretation of remotely sensed data. Several handbooks are available for this.
2 Mapping approach and database
construction
This Chapter defines:
a) The procedure for delineating areas with a homogeneous set of soil and terrain
characteristics the SOTER mapping approach, and
b) The format of data storage of attributes of the mapping units based on well-defined
differentiating criteria the SOTER attributes database.
2.1 Mapping approach

SOTER is a land resources information system based on the concept that features of the
land - in which terrain
and soil occur - incorporate processes and systems of interrelationships between
physical, biological and
social processes over time. This idea was developed initially in Russia and Germany
(landscape science) and
became gradually accepted throughout the world. A similar integrated concept of land
was used in the land
systems approach developed in Australia by Christian and Stewart (Christian and Stewart
1953) and evolved
further by Cochrane et al.(1981), McDonald et al.(1990) and Gunn et al.(1988).
Landscapes are also
recognized in major soil survey manuals (European Soil Bureau Scientific Committee
1998; McKenzie et al.
2008; Soil Survey Division Staff 1993). Similarly, SOTER has continued this development
by viewing land as
being made up of natural entities consisting of combinations of terrain and soil bodies.
Underlying the SOTER methodology is the identification of areas of land with a
distinctive, often repetitive,
pattern of landform, lithology, surface form, slope, parent material, and soil. Tracts of
land distinguished in this
manner are named SOTER units. Each SOTER unit thus represents one unique
combination of terrain and soil
characteristics. Figure 1 shows the representation of a SOTER unit in the database and
gives an example of a
SOTER map, with polygons that have been mapped at various levels of differentiation.
In many respects, the SOTER mapping approach resembles traditional physiographic soil
mapping. However,
the focus is on the mapping of the terrain-soil relationship, particularly at smaller
mapping scales / lower
resolutions. Further, SOTER implements rigorous data entry formats necessary for the
construction of a global
soil and terrain database. As a result of this approach the data accepted by the
database will be stored in a
consistent format.
Attributes of terrain and soil units as defined in SOTER are hierarchically structured to
facilitate the use of the

procedures at scales other than the reference scale of 1:1 million.
Unit SOTERdescription
1 one terrain type with one terrain component and one soil component.
2 one terrain type consisting of an association of two terrain components each having a
particular soil
component.
one terrain type, consisting of an association of two terrain components, the first
having two soil
components and the second one soil component. Each soil component is characterised
using a
regionally representative soil profile.
4 one terrain type, consisting of an association of two terrain components, the first
having one soil
component, the second having an association of three soil components.
5 one terrain type with one terrain component, having an association of two soil
components.
Figure1
Relation between SOTER units and their composing parts.
2.2 SOTER source material

Basic data sources for the construction of SOTER units are topographic,
geomorphological, geological and
soil maps at a scale of 1:1 million or larger (mostly exploratory and reconnaissance
maps), as well as digital
data such as Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and satellite imagery. In principle any soil
map that is
accompanied by sufficient analytical data for soil characterization according to the
revised FAO-Unesco Soil
Map of the World Legend (FAO 1988, 1990) and World Reference Base (IUSS WG 2006,
2007) can be used
for map compilation. Seldom, however, will a map and accompanying report contain all
the required soil and
terrain data. Larger scale (semi-detailed and detailed) soil and terrain maps are only
suitable if they cover
sufficiently large areas. In practice such information will be mostly used to support source
material at smaller
scales.
As SOTER map sheets will cover large areas they will generally include more than one
country; trans boundary
correlation of soil and terrain units may be required as a result. Where there are no maps
of sufficient detail for
a certain study area, or where there are gaps in the available data, it may still be
possible to extract
information from smaller scale maps (e.g. the FAO-Unesco Soil Map of the World at 1:5
million scale or similar
national maps), provided that some additional fieldwork is carried out, where necessary
in conjunction with the
analysis of satellite imagery, and extra analytical work to complement the existing soil
and terrain information.
Such work should be carried out, within the context of complementing, updating or
correlating existing
surveys. As indicated earlier, however, SOTER specifically excludes the undertaking of
new land resource
surveys within its programme.
Should it be necessary to include an area in a SOTER Database for which there are
insufficient source data, it
is recommended to carry out a survey according to national soil survey standards. Such
surveys should
consider all parameters required by SOTER additional to their national requirements.
SOTER uses the 1:1 million Operational Navigation Charts and its digital version, the
Digital Chart of the World
(DMA 1993), for its base maps. Although it aims at a world-wide coverage, the SOTER
approach does not
envisage a systematic mapping programme, and hence does not prescribe a standard
block size for
incorporation in the database. Nevertheless, SOTER does recommend that at its
reference scale of 1:1 million
a block should cover a substantial area (e.g. > 100,000 km 2).
2.3 Associated and miscellaneous data

SOTER is a land resource database with a focus on soil and terrain conditions. Generally,
SOTER applications
will require auxiliary data (e.g. land cover and climate), which may be derived from other
sources (e.g.
worldgrids.org).
Miscellaneous data, as used here, refers to background information that is not directly
associated with land
resources. SOTER stores information on map source material, laboratory methods, and
soil databases from
which profile information has been extracted.
3 SOTER differentiating criteria

The major differentiating criteria, as discussed in Chapter 2, are applied in a step-by-step
process that
gradually leads to an optimal delineation of the land area under consideration. Thereby,
a SOTER unit can be
defined progressively into terrain, terrain component and soil component. Successively,
an area can thus be
characterized by its terrain, its consisting terrain components and their soil components.
The level of disaggregation possible at each step in the analysis of the land will depend
on the level of detail or
resolution required and the information available. As indicated earlier, the reference scale
of SOTER is 1:1
million; this Manual provides the necessary detail to allow mapping at that scale.
3.1 Terrain
Physiography
Physiography is the first differentiating criterion to be used in the characterisation.
Legend
1 . Plateau
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Plain
Medium-gradient hill
High-gradient hill
Valley floor
Medium-gradient escarpment zone
Figure2
Terrainsubdivided according to major landform.
It can best be described as identifying and quantifying the major landforms, based on the
dominant gradient of
their slopes and their relief index (see Chapter 6.1).
In combination with the hypsometric grouping (absolute elevation above sea-level) and a
factor characterizing
the degree of dissection, an area can be subdivided into first and second level landforms
(Figure 2; Table 2).
Increasingly, Digital Elevation Model (DEMs) - based GIS procedures are being used to
consistently delineate
SOTER terrain units (Dobos et al.2005). These automated procedures will replace manual
methods used
previously (van Engelen and Wen 1995).
Parent material
Areas corresponding to a major or regional landform can be subdivided according to
lithology or parent
material (see Chapter 6.1).
Legend
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Limestone
Clastic sedimentary rock
Shale
Andesite, trachyte
Ironstone
Fluvial sediments
Aeolian sediments
Figure3
Terrain subdivided according to parent material.
This combination of the physiographic units and parent materials will form the terrain
units, as illustrated in
Figure 3.
Terrain, in the SOTER context, is thus defined as an area with a particular combination of
landform and parent
material. It often possesses also one or more typical combinations of surface form,
mesorelief, deviating
parent material and aspect; these criteria provide the basis for further subdivision of the
terrain unit into terrain
components.
At most nine subdivisions can be used for a given terrain unit (and terrain components).
However, in most
cases a maximum of 3 or 4 terrain components will suffice for an adequate description of
the terrain unit at
scale 1:1M. These adequate maximum numbers may differ for various scales.
3.2 Terrain components

The next step involves the possible subdivision of the terrain unit into terrain
components that show a
particular (pattern of) surface form, slope, meso-relief, etc. A similar partitioning can be
made in areas covered
by parent material deviating from the dominating one of the terrain unit, e.g. by parts of
unconsolidated parent
material or by a different texture of parent material.
Generally, at this level of separation (at 1:1 million scale) it is not possible to map terrain
components
individually, because of their complexity. Therefore, the attribute information for the nonmapable terrain
components is stored only in the attribute database. (See Chapter 6.1).
3.3 Soil components

The final step in the differentiation of the terrain unit is the identification of soil
components within the terrain
components. As with terrain components, soil components are usually non-mapable at
the scale of 1:1 million.
In the occasional situation of mapable soil components, the soil component will become a
SOTER unit with a
single soil component.
However, at a scale of 1:1 million it often is impossible to separate single soil units
spatially, and a terrain
component traditionally is likely to comprise a number of non-mapable soil components.
In conventional soil
mapping such a cluster is known as a soil association or soil complex (two or more soils
that, at the scale of
mapping, cannot be separated). Non-mapable terrain components are by definition
associated with nonmapable soil components. Nevertheless, in the attribute database
each non-mapable terrain component can be
linked to one or more specific (but non-mapable) soil components. Non-mapable soil
components, as in the
case of the non-mapable terrain components, do not appear in the geometric database.
Legend
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Petric Calcisols
Chromic Cambisols
Calcaric Cambisols
Haplic Arenosols
Ferralic Arenosols
Lithic Leptosols
Calcic Solonchaks
Figure4
Terrain after differentiation for soilcomponents.

As for the terrain components, the proportion of each soil component within the terrain
component is
estimated and stored in the database. The relative position and relationship of soil
components vis--vis each
other within a terrain component is also recorded in the database.
3.4 SOTER unit identification

The SOTER unit identification is done last, once the characteristics of the terrain unit,
terrain components and
soil components have been taken into account.
It is the identification of a tract of land that has a distinctive, often repetitive, pattern of
landform, parent
material and association of soils. Mapping units identified in such a way are called the
SOTER units. Each
SOTER unit represents a unique combination of terrain and soil characteristics. Figure 5
gives the SOTER map.

Each SOTER unit is given a unique identification number (SUID, SOTER Unique IDentifier)
which provides the
logical link between the geometric database and attribute database. Polygons with
identical SUIDs belong to
the same SOTER unit. The ISO-country code in combination with the SUID provides a
unique code (e.g.,
KE0001) which is used when combining several national databases into regional SOTER
databases.
Figure5
SOTER map withSOTER unit identification numbers.
19
3.5 Additional conventions

Differences in classification
The soil components in SOTER are characterized according to the WRB-Soil Reference
Legend (IUSS et al.,
2009) derived from the World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2007 (IUSS WG 2007).
The WRB Legend
considers soil management relevant qualifiers similar to those used for the Revised
Legend of the FAO-Unesco
Soil Map of the World. Thus the criteria used for separating soil components are based on
FAO diagnostic
horizons, properties and diagnostic materials. At the SOTER reference scale of 1:1 million,
soils must, in
general, be characterized up to the second (i.e. qualifier level (see Annex 4). In addition
to this, the
representative profile is classified in full in the profiletable according to the World
Reference Base for Soil
Resources (ISSS et al.1998) (IUSS 2007).
For soils classified according to Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Division Staff, 1975, 1990 and
1999), the FAO
subunit level corresponds roughly to the subgroup level. As many of the diagnostic
horizons and properties as
used by Soil Taxonomy are similar to those employed by WRB, generally there will not be
many problems at
this level of classification in translating Soil Taxonomy units into World Reference Base
(sub)units. A major
difference between the two systems is that Soil Taxonomy uses soil temperature and soil
moisture regimes,
particularly at suborder level. By design, these characteristics are not considered in WRB
and the former FAO
classification and hence in SOTER. Therefore a more drastic conversion will be required
for Soil Taxonomy
units, as these are defined in terms of soil temperature and soil moisture regimes.
Alternatively, experience
has shown that conversion from Soil Taxonomy great groups to FAO/WRB subunits usually
will not necessitate
major adjustments to the boundaries of the soil mapping units.
Correlation between the French system (Baize & Girard, 1995) and FAO and WRB Legend
is less
straightforward. Neither their diagnostic horizon nor properties as their classification
system comply with the
present SOTER standards. Inherently, conversion to the FAO and WRB Legend is
prerequisite for SOTER and
this will require reclassification of each soil profile. Possibly, this may involve re-mapping
of the soil
boundaries, which is seldom feasible.
Differences in use
In addition to diagnostic horizons and properties, soil components can also be separated
according to other
factors, closely linked to soils that have a potentially restricting influence on land use or
may affect land
degradation. These criteria, several of which are listed by FAO as phases, can include
both soil (subsurface)
and terrain (surface, e.g. microrelief) factors.
Soil profiles
For every soil component at least one, but preferably more, fully described and analysed
reference profiles
should be selected from existing soil information sources. Following judicious selection,
one of these reference
profiles will be designated as the representative profile for the soil component. The data
from this
representative profile must be entered into the SOTER database as described in Sections
6.6 and 6.7. The
adopted format is largely based upon the FAO Guidelines for Soil Description (FAO 2006;
FAO and ISRIC
1990). By implication, profiles described according to earlier FAO Guidelines or to the Soil
Survey Manual
(Soil Survey Division Staff 1951, 1993), from which FAO has derived many of its criteria,
can be entered with
little or no reformatting required. Compatibility between the FAO-ISRIC Soil Database
(FAO and ISRIC, 1989,
FAO et al.1995) and the relevant parts of the SOTER database also will facilitate transfer
of data already
stored in databases set up according to FAO-ISRIC standards.
Horizons
It is recommended that for SOTER the number of horizons per profile is restricted to the
original number of
(sub)adjacent horizons, reaching a depth of at least 150 cm where possible. Except for
general information on
the profile, including landscape position and drainage, each horizon has to be fully
characterised in the
database by a full set of measured attributes, based on chemical and physical properties
in so far these values
are available. The set consists of measured single value data that belong to the selected
representative
profile. If there is more than one reference profile for a soil component then the link to
these profiles must be
stored in the Soilstable; the profileand horizonsdata will be stored in their representative
tables.
Measured and estimated data
Ideally, the representative profile must have measured data or indicate missing value.
Where the measured
data is missing, it is recommended not to fill these gaps in the SOTER database with
expert estimate values
preventing a mix-up of measured and estimated values. A practical solution is to create a
separate secondary
dataset (SOTWIS database), in which the missing values are filled using a fixed set of
taxotransfer rules (Batjes
2003) and the type of taxotransfer rules are flagged to provide an indication of the
possible confidence in the
derived data. Examples of the application of this procedure can be found e.g. in Batjes et
al.(1997) and Batjes
et al.(2007).
3.6 SOTER unit mapability

SOTER units in database and map
At the reference scale of 1:1 million, a SOTER unit is composed of a unique combination
and pattern of terrain,
terrain component and soil components. Each SOTER unit is labelled by a unique SOTER
unit identification
code (SUID) that allows retrieval from the database of all related terrain, terrain
component and soil
component data, either in combination or separately. Inclusion of the three levels of
differentiation in the
attribute database does not imply that all components of a SOTER unit can be
represented on a map (at the
given scale), as the size of individual components, or the intricacy of their occurrence,
may preclude
cartographic presentation. The areas shown on a SOTER map can thus correspond to any
of the three levels
of differentiation of a SOTER unit: terrain, terrain components or soil components.
Attributes for non-mapable
components are included in the database, although their exact location and extent
cannot be displayed on a
1:1 million map.
Differences
In an ideal situation, at least from the point of view of geo-referencing, a SOTER unit on
the map would be
similar to a soil component in the database, i.e. the soil component of the SOTER unit
could be delineated on a
map. However, at the SOTER reference scale of 1:1 million it is unlikely that many SOTER
units can be
distinguished on the map at soil component level. This would only be possible if the
landscape is rather simple.
A more common situation at this scale would be for a SOTER unit to consist of terrain unit
with non-mapable
terrain components linked to an assemblage of non-mapable soil components (a terrain
component
association) or, alternatively, a SOTER unit with mapable terrain components that contain
several non-mapable
soil components (a similar situation as with a soil association on a traditional soil map).
Thus, while in the attribute database a SOTER unit will hold information on all levels of
differentiation, a SOTER
map will display units whose content varies according to the mapability of the SOTER unit
components. The
disadvantage of not being able to accurately locate terrain components and/or soil
components is therefore
only relevant when data of complex terrains are being presented in map format. It does
not affect the
capability of the SOTER database to generate full tabular information on terrain, terrain
component and soil
component attributes, while at the same time indicating the spatial relationship between
and within these levels
of differentiation.
3.7 The SOTER approach at other scales

Smaller scales
The methodology presented in this manual has been developed for applications at a
scale of 1:1 million, which
is the smallest scale still suitable for land resource assessment and monitoring at
national level. Flexibility to
cater for a wide range of scales is achieved through adopting a hierarchical structure for
various major
attributes, in particular those that are being used as differentiating criteria (landform,
lithology, surface form,
etc.). Examples of such hierarchies are given in this Manual for land use and vegetation
(see Chapter 7).
Different levels of these hierarchies can be related to particular scales. A hierarchy for
the soil components
can be derived from the WRB Soil Reference Legend (IUSS 2010) and the Revised Legend
of FAO-Unesco Soil
Map of the World with the level of soil groupings being related to extremely small scale
maps, as exemplified
by the map of world soil resources at 1:25 million (FAO, 1991). Soil units (2nd level) can
be used for 1:5
million World Soil Inventory maps, while the soil subunits are most suitable for 1:1 million
mapping. The density
per unit area of point observations will vary according to the scale employed, with larger
scales requiring a
more compact ground network of representative profiles, as soils are being characterised
in more detail.
Larger scales
As a systematic and highly organized way of mapping and recording terrain and soil data,
the SOTER
methodology can easily be extended to include reconnaissance level inventories, i.e. at a
scale between 1:1
million and 1:100 000, e.g. (Oliveira and Van den Berg 1992) or at www.esoter.net.
Adjustments to the content of the attribute data set may be necessary if SOTER maps at
scales other than 1:1
million are being compiled. With an increase in resolution, the highest level constituents
of a SOTER unit, i.e.
the terrain, will gradually lose importance, and may disappear altogether at a scale of
1:100 000. This is
because in absolute terms the area being mapped is becoming smaller, and terrain alone
may not continue to
offer sufficient differentiating power. Conversely, the lower part of the SOTER unit will
gain in importance with
more detailed mapping. At larger scales SOTER units will thus become delineations of soil
entities, with the
information on terrain becoming incorporated in the soil attributes. Hence scale increases
require more
detailed information on soils for most practical applications. Additional attributes which
might be included
could be soil micronutrient content, composition of organic fraction, detailed slope
information, etc.
4 SOTER database structure

In every discipline engaged in mapping of spatial phenomena, two types of data can be
distinguished:
1) Geometric data, i.e. the location and extent of an object represented by a point, line or
surface, and topology (shapes, neighbours and hierarchy of delineations).
2) Attribute data, i.e. characteristics of the object.
These two types of data are present in the SOTER database. Soils and terrain information
consist of a
geometric component, which indicates the location and topology of SOTER units, and of
an attribute part that
describes the non-spatial SOTER unit characteristics. The geometry is stored in that part
of the database that
is handled by Geographic Information System (GIS) software; while the attribute data is
stored in a separate
set of attribute files, manipulated by a Relational Database Management System
(RDBMS). A unique label
attached to both the geometric and attribute database connects these two types of
information for each
SOTER unit (see Figure 6, in which part of a map has been visualized in a block diagram).
Figure6
SOTER unit, their terrain components (tc), attributes and location.

The overall system (GIS plus RDBMS) stores and handles both the geometric and
attribute database. This
manual limits itself only to the attribute part of the database, in particular through
elaborating on its structure
and by providing the definitions of the attributes (Chapter 6). A full database structure
definition is given by
Tempel (1994, 2002).
A relational database is one of the most effective and flexible tools for storing and
managing non-spatial
attributes in the SOTER database (Pulles, 1988). Under such a system the data is stored
in tables, whose
records are related to each other through the specific identification fields (primary keys),
such as the SOTER
unit identification code. These codes are essential as they form the link between the
various subsections of the
database, e.g. the terrain table, the terrain component and the soil component tables.
Another characteristic
of the relational database is that when two or more components are similar, their
attribute data need only to
be entered once. Figure 7 gives a schematic representation of the structure of the

attribute database. The
blocks represent the tables of a SOTER database and the solid lines between the blocks
indicate the links
between the tables.
4.1 Geometric database

The geometric database contains information on the delineations of the SOTER unit. It
also holds the base map
data (cultural features such as roads and towns, the hydrological network and
administrative boundaries). In
order to enhance the usefulness of the database, it will be possible to include additional
overlays for
boundaries outside the SOTER unit mosaic. Examples of such overlays could be socioeconomic areas
(population densities), hydrological units (watersheds) or other natural resource patterns
(vegetation, agroecological zones).
4.2 Attribute database

The attribute database consists of sets of files for use in a Relational DataBase
Management System (RDBMS).
The attributes of the terrain and terrain component are either directly available or can be
derived from other
parameters during the compilation of the database. Together with the soil component
they represent the
spatial attribute data. Profile and horizon data are available from point (profile)
observations. Attributes can be
divided into descriptive (e.g. landform) and numerical (e.g. pH, slope gradient) data.
Many of the horizon parameters of the soil component consist of measured
characteristics that can be
inserted directly into the database. Its availability can vary considerably per country and
per data source.
However, there is a minimum set of soil attributes that are generally needed if any
realistic interpretation of the
soil component of a SOTER unit is to be expected. Therefore their presence is considered
as mandatory and
no soil profile is entered with these data missing. Other soil horizon attributes are of
lesser importance and
their presence in the database is considered as optional, profiles might miss these
attribute data, but the
profile can still be used in the database. It is imperative that a complete set of attributes
is entered for each
soil component, including all the measured attribute data when available.
The following attributes are mandatory: horizon depth (as defined by the upper and lower
limit), matrix colour,
structure, texture, pH, CEC, cation composition, CaCO3, organic Carbon and total
Nitrogen with information on
the analytical procedures used.
Under the SOTER system of labelling (see Chapter 5.1 ) all SOTER units are given a
unique identification code,
consisting of maximal 4 digits. In the terrain component and soil component tables this
identification code is
completed with a numbered subcode for terrain component and soil component.
Figure7
SOTER attribute database structure (1:M = one to many, M:1 = many to one relations).
Where identical terrain components and soil components occur in several SOTER units in
different proportions,
a separation between the tables holding the data on proportion/position of the terrain
component and soil
component (terrain component block and soil component block) and the tables holding
the data of the terrain
component and soil component (terrain component data block and profile and horizon
blocks) is made (see
Figure 7).
Thus, the terrain component information is split into two tables:
1) The terrain component table which indicates the SOTER unit to which the terrain
component belongs and
the proportion that it occupies within that unit.
2) The terrain component data table which holds all specific attribute data for the terrain
component.
In the first table there is space for an entry for each individual terrain component within a
SOTER unit, while in
the second table only entries are made for data of these terrain components if they
possess a not previously
occurring set of attribute values.
In the same way the soil component information is stored in four tables:
1) The soil component table holds the proportion of each soil component within a SOTER
unit/terrain
component combination, their soil legend unit (WRB Soil Reference Legend and the
Revised Legend) and its
position within the terrain component.
2) The profile table holds all attribute data for the soil profile as a whole.
3) The horizon table holds the data for each individual soil horizon.
4) The soils table holds the data of soil profiles - other than the representative profile that occur within the
soil component.
For the profile and horizon tables the same conditions as for the terrain component data
table are valid. Only
soil profiles not previously described may be entered. For profile/horizon data describing
soils occurring in
various soil components only one entry is necessary. A profile description status is added
to indicate a certain
level of the quality of the entered data.
The horizon tables must contain at minimum the mandatory set of measured data: this
forms the primary
SOTER data set. Otherwise, another profile has to be located. Inherently, there will be
gaps in the measured
data held in SOTER. In such cases of missing numbers, values can be filled using
taxotransfer rules as outlined
above.
All attributes for the soil component, as well as all other non-spatial attributes of the
SOTER units, are listed in
Table 1. The listing for the soil component attributes is compatible, but contains some
additional items, with
the data set that is stored in the FAO-UNESCO-ISRIC Soil Database (FAO, 1988, 1990).
Table1
Non-spatial attributes of a SOTER unit.
Terrain
1 ISO country code
2 SOTER unit_ID
3 Year of data collection
4 Map_ID
5 Minimum elevation
6 Maximum elevation
7 Median elevation
8 Median slope
9 Relief index
10 Potential drainage density
11 Major landform
12 Slope class
13 Hypsometry
14 Parent material
15 Permanent water surface
Terrain component Terrain component data
16 SOTER unit_ID
17 Terrain component number
18 Proportion of SOTER unit
19 Terrain component data_ID
20 Terrain component data_ID
21 Dominant slope
22 Length of slope
23 Form of slope
24 Lithology of surficial material
25 Origin of non-consolidated parent
material (regolith)
26 Texture of non-consolidated parent
material
27 Depth to bedrock
28 Surface drainage
29 Depth to groundwater
30 Frequency of flooding
31 Duration of flooding
32 Start of flooding
Soil component
33 SOTER unit_ID
35 Soil component number
36 Proportion of SOTER unit
37 WRB Legend unit
38 WRB Legend suffixes
39 Revised Legend -FAO88
40 Phase
41 Textural class of the topsoil
42 Profile_ID
43 Position in terrain component
44 Surface rockiness
45 Surface stoniness
46 Types of erosion/deposition
47 Area affected
48 Degree of erosion
49 Sensitivity to capping
50 Rootable depth
Soils
51 ISO country code
52 SOTER unit_ID
54 Soil component number
55 Profile_ID
Profile
56 Profile_ID
57 Soil profile database_ID
58 Profile description status
59 Sampling date
60 Lab_ID
61 Latitude
62 Longitude
63 Profile location status
64 Elevation
65 Land use at profile location
66 Vegetation at profile location
67 Parent material profile location
68 Drainage
69 RSG prefix and suffix, qualifiers
70 WRB specifiers
71 Revised Legend classification
72 National classification
73 Soil Taxonomy
74 Soil Taxonomy version
Horizon
75 Profile_ID
76 Horizon number
77 Diagnostic horizon
78 Diagnostic property
79 Diagnostic materials
80 Horizon designation
81 Upper horizon boundary
82 Lower horizon boundary
83 Distinctness of transition
84 Moist colour
85 Dry colour
86 Colour of mottles
87 Abundance of mottles
88 Size of mottles
89 Grade of structure
90 Size of structure elements
91 Type of structure
92 Nature of concretions and nodules
93 Abundance of concretions and
nodules
94 Size of concretions and nodules
95 Abundance of coarse fragments
96 Size of coarse fragments
97 Very coarse sand
98 Coarse sand
99 Medium sand
100 Fine sand
101 Very fine sand
102 Total sand
103 Silt
104 Clay
105 Particle size class
106 Bulk density
107 Soil moisture at various tensions
108 Electrical conductivity
109 pH H2O
110 pH KCl
111 pH-CaCl2
112 Elect. conductivity saturation. extract
113 Soluble Na+
114 Soluble Ca++
115 Soluble Mg++
116 Soluble K+
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
Soluble ClSoluble SO4-Soluble HCO3Soluble CO3-Exchangeable Ca++

Exchangeable Mg++
Exchangeable Na+
Exchangeable K+
Exchangeable Al+++
Exchangeable acidity
CEC soil
Total carbonate content
Gypsum
Total carbon
Organic carbon
Total nitrogen
Available P
Total P
Phosphate retention
Fe, dithionite extractable
Al, oxalate extractable
Fe, oxalate extractable
Clay mineralogy
28
29
5 Additional SOTER conventions

The conventions described in this chapter are additional to those characterized in
Chapter 2 and 3. They
concern mainly the rules governing the minimum size of a SOTER unit, both in absolute
and relative terms, as
well as criteria for determining the selection of representative profiles, relations with
associated databases,
type of data and missing data.
SOTER database management procedures, such as date stamps and backup procedures
are described in a
separate manual (Tempel 2002).
5.1 SOTER unit codes

Each SOTER unit is assigned an identifying code that is unique for the database in
question. Tentatively, the
SOTER coding will consist of a simple numbering system. This code will normally range
from 1 to 9999 for
large maps. Terrain components within each terrain unit are given a single digit extension
number and ranked
according to the relative proportion of the component (from high to low). A similar single
digit extension
number is used to code the soil components. A maximum of 9 terrain components (first
digit with values from
1-9), each with 9 soil components (second digit), can be stored in the database. The
component extension
numbers are separated from the SOTER unit code and stored in separate fields in the
database. The
identification code of a soil component in the database thus can range from 1/1/1 to
9999/9/9 6. Numbering
is sequential starting with the spatially dominant components. Generally, the total
number of terrain
components per terrain (SOTER) unit as well as the number soil components per terrain
component is limited
(see Chapter 5.4). As a result, identification codes like 1/1/7 (7 soil components within
terrain component 1)
or 25/5/3 (3 soil components in terrain component 5) are unlikely to occur.
When national databases are merged into regional and global datasets, the SOTER
identification codes have to
be preceded by the ISO-code for the country. When databases for neighbouring countries
are entered into one
common database, cross-boundary SOTER units will have different codes in each country.
If a GIS is used, the
SOTER units of one country can automatically be given the code of their counterpart on
the other side of the
border (assuming that proper correlation has been carried out), otherwise this has to be
done manually.
5.2 Minimum size of the SOTER unit

As a rule of thumb, the minimum size of a single SOTER unit is 0.25 cm 2 on the map; at a
scale of 1:1 million
this corresponds with 25 km2 in the field. This is the smallest area that can still be
cartographically
represented. Mostly, such tiny units will correspond to narrow elongated features
(floodplains, ridges, valleys)
or strongly contrasting terrain and soil features. Therefore, often the minimum size of
100 km-2 is practiced. In
general, however, most SOTER units will be much larger.
6
The slash indicates different fields.

If there are gradual changes in landscape features, new SOTER units can be delineated
when any one terrain
component or soil component of a unit changes in area by more than 50%.
5.3 Number of soil and terrain components

Within a SOTER unit terrain, individual terrain components and soil components can
occupy any percentage of
the terrain and terrain component respectively, provided the total area of each
component is not less than
what is indicated in Section 5.2. In theory this would allow for an unlimited number of
terrain components
within each SOTER unit, or soil components within each terrain component. In practice
this is unlikely to occur,
as many terrain components and soil components cover sizeable areas. SOTER
recommends that a minimum
area of 15% of the SOTER unit is taken into account when defining terrain components
and 10% for the soil
components, unless the SOTER unit in question is very large or involves strongly
contrasting terrain or soil
components; in such cases the percentage coverage can be less.
Generally, a SOTER unit will consist of 3 or 4 terrain components, each of these having
no more than 3 soil
components; hence a maximum of 12 subdivisions. By definition, the total proportion of
all soil components
within each terrain component adds up to the total proportion of the terrain component.
Alternatively, for the
terrain components within each SOTER unit this will always be 100%.
It is recommended that map compilers exercise restraint when subdividing terrain into
terrain and soil
components. Only those criteria that can be considered important for analysing a
landscape in subsequent
interpretations should be selected. Significant changes in attributes such as parent
material, surface form and
slope gradient, which at the same time should cover substantial areas, qualify as criteria
for defining new
SOTER units. Terrain components should be split into soil components only if there are
clear changes in
diagnostic criteria that will be reflected in land use or land degradation aspects. Minor
changes in any of these
criteria should be considered as part of the natural variability that at a scale of 1:1 million
can be expected to
occur within each SOTER unit. Discretion in defining terrain and soil components is
absolutely necessary in
order not to generate an excessive number of components and so lengthening the time
required for coding,
entering and processing of data.
5.4 Representative soil profiles

The so-called representative soil profile, which is used to represent a specific soil
component, is chosen from
a number of reference profiles with similar characteristics in terms of the WRB Soil
Reference Legend (IUSS et
al.2010; IUSS 2007). Whenever possible, SOTER will rely on a selection of reference
profiles made by the
original surveyors. It is recommended that all the considered reference profiles be stored
in the SOTER
database or in a national soil profile database. The table Soils, introduced in version 2.0
of the SOTER
database, stores the link between the reference profiles and the corresponding SOTER
unit and soil
component. Sometimes, the same reference profile can be used to characterise different
soil components and
SOTER units (See Chapter 6.5).
5.5 Updating procedures

SOTER units and their attributes are unique in both space and time, and although soil
and in particular terrain
characteristics are considered to have a high degree of temporal stability, it might
become necessary to
update certain attributes from time to time. At present, there is no procedure for
updating of geographic data,
such as the boundaries of the SOTER units. However, replacing (parts of) map sheets
with more recent maps
will involve changes in attribute data as well, for which the guidelines below can be used.
Updating the attribute database could become necessary because of missing data,
incorrect dataor obsolete
data. If there are some data gaps, the voids can be filled when additional data become
available. Incorrect
data, which include data that is being replaced by (a set of) more reliable data (e.g. a
representative profile is
being substituted by another, more representative profile) can be replaced by new data.
In contrast, obsolete
data is not simply replaced by more up-to-date information. Instead, old data can be
downloaded into a special
database containing obsolete data, after which the latest data is entered into the regular
database. In this way
the database with obsolete data can, in principle, be used for monitoring changes over
time. When certain
parameters are measured at regular intervals, then periodic updating will become
necessary with different
timestamps.
The SOTER Unit IDentification code indicates to which level of differentiation the SOTER
unit can be mapped.
The database management system is capable of generating a number of relational data
that are pertinent to
each SOTER unit, and between the SOTER units (e.g. percentage of each soil component
within terrain
component or SOTER unit, total area of all terrain components with identical terrain
component data code,
etc.).
5.6 Miscellaneous polygons

In SOTER miscellaneous units (polygons) are defined as areas of land that have a non
soil cover (FAO et al.
1994), that are used for miscellaneous purposes, or are composed of inland water or
glaciers and permanent
snow, etc. Please refer to Annex 1 for details; the coding is according to the symbology of
the Harmonized
World Soil Database (FAO et al.2008).
Non-soil areas or non-soil units are defined where there is no soil cover. These areas
include inland water and
lakes, rock outcrops, glaciers and land ice, shifting sands, urban areas and mining areas.
In principle, two
situations can exist; the area of non-soil units covers an entire map unit and can be
delimited on the map as a
separate, miscellaneous SOTER unit. Alternatively, the area with non-soil covers only for
a part of the SOTER
unit and can be considered at soil component level.
6 Attribute coding
This part of the SOTER procedures manual is focussed on SOTER database compilation
and mapping at broadscale (low resolution), roughly 1:250 000 or smaller.
The SOTER unit identification code, referring to the map unit, is completed in the
database by two additional,
separate digits, as sequential numbers. The first digit represents the terrain component
number. The second
digit constitutes the soil component number. Eventually, the SOTER unit identification
code will be used to form
the unique identifier for SOTER units on a world-wide scale, by adding a two-digit
identification code for the
country name (ISO 2006) (See Section 5.1 ).

Class limits, as used here are defined as follows. The upper class limit is included in the
next class, e.g. slope
class 2-5% (item 11) includes all slopes from 2.0 to 4.9%. Hence, a slope of 5% would fall
in slope class 510%. Conversely, measured soil analytical data are always given as numbers (e.g.
pHwater= 4.8)
The numbers preceding the attributes in Table 1 are identical to the numbers of the
attributes in this Chapter,
written in the left margin. They also figure on the SOTER data entry forms.
Note that the sequential code number (e.g. 1 for ISO country code) varies from codes
used for same attribute
in earlier versions of SOTER).
6.1 Terrain
1. ISO country code
The ISO country code, an internationally accepted two-digit identifier for the country
name, indicates the
country in which the SOTER units are identified (ISO 2006) (See Annex 7). Combined, the
ISO country
code and the SOTER unit_ID form a unique identifier (primary key) for SOTER units on a
world-wide scale.
2. SOTER unit_ID
The SOTER unit_ID is the identification code of a SOTER unit on the map, in the GIS file
and in the
attribute database. It links the mapped area to the corresponding attributes in the
database and in
particular, it identifies which terrain units belong to a given SOTER unit. SOTER units that
have identical
attributes in terms of landform characteristics, parent material and soils carry the same
SOTER unit_ID;
several polygons on the map thus may have the same SOTER unit_ID. As such, the
SOTER unit_ID is
similar to a code for a mapping unit on a traditional soil map. For each SOTER map, a
unique code (up to
4 digits) is assigned to every SOTER unit. In general, a sequential number is used; on
most SOTER maps
2 or 3 digits will suffice. The combination of ISO country code with the SOTER unit_ID
forms a unique
identifier for the map units at regional and global level.
3. Year of data collection
The year in which the original soil and terrain data were collected serves as the time
stamp for each
SOTER unit. Where the SOTER unit has been derived from several sources of information,
it is advised to
use the major source for dating it. In this manner a link between the SOTER unit and the
major source of
information, which must be listed under map_ID, can easily be made. The year of
compiling the data
according to SOTER procedures is thus not recorded, unless the compilation itself has
resulted in some
major reinterpretation based on additional sources of information, like new satellite
imagery. The year of
data collection is also considered to apply to the terrain component data.

4. Map_ID
A unique code for the source material, from which data were derived for the compilation
of the SOTER
units, up to 12 characters in length.
5. Minimum elevation
Absolute minimum elevation observed within a SOTER unit, in metre above mean sea
level. It can be
derived from Digital Elevation Models, e.g. the SRTM-90m DEM 7 (CGIAR-CSI 2004) or read
from contour
lines on topographic maps.
6. Maximum elevation
Absolute maximum elevation within the SOTER unit, in metre above mean sea level. It
can be derived in
the same way as for the minimum elevation.
7. Median elevation
Median value for the range in elevation observed within a SOTER unit, in metres above
mean sea level. It
can be derived with the Zonal Statistics Module (ZSM) in ArcGIS using SRTM-DEM
derived data (ESRI
2006) or, conventionally estimated from topographic maps by measuring distances
between contour
lines.
8. Median slope
The median slope angle of the SOTER unit, expressed as a percentage, prevailing in the
terrain; generally
it can be derived with the Zonal Statistics Module (ZSM) in ArcGIS , using slope derived
for example from
the SRTM-DEM (ESRI 2006).
9. Relief index
Relief index (RI) is derived here as the median difference between the highest and lowest
point within the
terrain per specified distance. This distance can be variable, but RI is always expressed in
m/km in the
database.
The relief index can be calculated in various ways: e.g. by the Zonal Statistics Module
(ZSM) in ArcGIS
and using SRTM-derived DEM data (ESRI 2006). The RI gives the median difference in
elevation within one
km2 circle around the pixel under consideration and is derived from a SRTM three
arcsecond (90 m)
resolution DEM (Dobos et al.2005).
10. Potential drainage density
The potential drainage density (PDD) is an index for the degree of dissection of the
SOTER unit (Dobos et
al.2005). It is derived from SRTM-DEM data and defined as the number of receiving
pixels within a 10
by 10 pixel window. PDD is calculated in an ArcGIS environment e.g. using ArcHydro
Tools. The median
value of PDD for the SOTER unit is recorded in the database.
11. Major landform
Landforms in SOTER are described foremost by their morphology and not by their genetic
origin, or
processes responsible for their shape. The dominant slope is the most important
differentiating criterion,
followed by the relief index. At the highest level of landform separation, suitable for
scales equal to or
broader than 1:10 million, three major landforms (Level, Sloping, Steep) are distinguished
(adapted from
Remmelzwaal 1991). They can be subdivided using the position of the landform vis-a-vis
the
surroundings. Where not clear from the slope gradient or relief index, the distinction
between the various
second level landforms is made according to criteria given in Annex 2.
7
SRTM Shuttle Radar Topography Mission 90 meter Digital Elevation Model.
35
A systematic approach has been developed to characterize the landform. Using SRTM
global elevation
data is the current procedure, which draws heavily on GIS analyses. Changing from the
manual
procedures used so far (van Engelen and Wen 1995), some class limits have been
adapted accordingly.
Potential drainage density is used as a third criterion to define landforms on basis of the
flow interpretation (van Engelen and Huting 2004). However, in analyses for broad-scale
mapping, (e.g. 1:1 million),
the potential drainage density index is generally left out as a discriminative criteria. The
methodology and
procedures are described in Dobos et al.(2005). The potential drainage density (PDD)
classes are given
in Table 2. Some map units may consist of miscellaneous or non-soil units, such as inland
water, glaciers,
urban areas, quarries, salt flats, etc.; these are dealt with in Section 5.6 (See also Annex
1). Non-soil
units are coded using the symbology of the Harmonized World Soil Database (FAO et
al.2008).
Table2
Hierarchy of major landforms.
1st level 2nd level Gradient
(%)
Relief index
(m km-2)
Drainage
density
(PDD)a)
L level land
LP plain <10 <50 0-25
LL plateau <10 <50 0-25 b)
LD depression <10 <50 16-25
LF low gradient footslope <10 <50 0-10
LV valley floor <10 <50 6-15
S sloping land
SE medium-gradient escarpment zone 10-30 100-150 <6
SH medium-gradient hill 10-30 100-250 0-15
SM medium-gradient mountain 15-30 150-300 0-15
SP dissected plain 10-30 50-100 0-15
SV medium-gradient valley 10-30 100-150 6-15
T steep land
TE high-gradient escarpment zone >30 150-300 <6

TH high-gradient hill >30 150-300 0-15
TM high-gradient mountain >30 >300 0-15
TV high-gradient valley >30 >150 6-15
a) PDD, the potential drainage density , is expressed as number of receiving pixels within a 10 by 10 pixel
window.
b) For a comprehensive definition of plateau see Annex 2.
Regional landforms
Major landforms can be further characterized using:
1. Slope class.
2. Hypsometry.
The differentiating power of these additional criteria is strongest with respect to level
land, although they can
also be used for sloping land with relief index of less than 300 m km -1. Conversely, for
steep land with high
relief indexthe hypsometric level may be used.
12. Slope class
For the actual characterization of the SOTER unit, more detailed slope classesare used.
They can be
derived from traditional contour maps, but currently also from frequently used GIS-based
analysis of
SRTM-DEM data and the Zonal Statistics Module in ArcGIS. The following classes can be
used (adapted;
FAO 1990, 2006).
Major Landform Classa) Description
L level land W0 0-0.5 % Flat, (wet) b)
F0 0.5-2 % Flat
G0 2-5 % Gently undulating
U0 5-10 % Undulating
S sloping land R0 10-15 % Strongly sloping
S0 15-30 % Moderately steep
T steep land T0 30-45 % Steep
V0 45-60 % Very steep
E0 >60 % Extremely steep
a) Some class boundaries have slightly changed compared to previous SOTER versions, hence the use of
different coding
conventions.
b) Wet is defined as having between 50 and 90% permanent water surface (see also item 15).
13. Hypsometry
The hypsometric level of a landform reflects the height range above mean sea level
expressed in meters.
Description Class Elevation level (m a.m.s.l)
Very low elevation E1 < 10
Very low elevation E2 10 - 50
Very low elevation E3 50 - 100
Low elevation E4 100 - 200
Medium elevation E7 600 - 1000
Medium elevation E8 1000 - 1500
High elevation E9 1500 - 2000
High elevation E10 2000 - 3000
Very high elevation E11 3000 - 5000
Extremely high elevation E12 > 5000
37
14. Parent material
A generalized description of the parent material, either consolidated or unconsolidated,
that is underlying
a dominant part of the terrain of the SOTER unit. The revision of the parent material is
based on the
results of the e-SOTER project (www.esoter.net, 2012). Important differentiating criteria
of the revised
parent material classification of both consolidated and unconsolidated material are the
geochemical and
physical properties, while genesis is kept at lower level (Schuler et al., 2013). Using the
criteria for
events and surface processes more distinction can be made between the unconsolidated
parent rocks.
At scale 1:1 million, the parent materialshould at least be specified at level 3 and
preferably at level 5.
The keys and the codes are shown below and the lowest levels in Table 3.
Key of the revised parent material classification
The revised parent material (PM) classification is hierarchically structured and consists of
5 levels. It can be
applied to single rocks and to rock sequences. For the correlation to soil types it is
recommended to classify
at least up to level 3. The additional classification of event and surface processes,
together with its relative
age, will provide further soil relevant information.
Key to level 1
Parent material (PM) or parent rock sequence that is hardened by compaction, dissolution,
cementation, replacement and recrystallization.
consolidated C
Other PM or parent rock sequence that is slightly hardened by compaction, dissolution,
semi-consolidated S
Other PM or parent rock sequence that is not hardened by compaction, dissolution,
unconsolidated U
Other parent material or parent rock sequence. unspecified X
Key to level 2
PM or parent rock sequence of level 1 consisting mostly of halite or other, more soluble
salts.
saline Y
Other PM or parent rock sequence of level 1 consisting mostly of gypsum, anhydrite or
evaporites less soluble than halite.
gypsiferous G
Other PM or parent rock sequence of level 1 containing evaporites. evaporitic rock sequence E
Other PM or parent rock sequence of level 1 having at least 50% calcium carbonate. calcareous C
Other PM or parent rock sequence of level 1 containing carbonates. calcareous rock sequence K
Other PM or parent rock sequence of level 1 having at least 15% iron. iron bearing F
Other PM or parent rock sequence of level 1 having at least 20% organic material. organic O
Other PM or parent rock sequence of level 1 that is contaminated with nuclear waste. radioactive
contaminated R
Other PM or parent rock sequence of level 1 having silica. silica bearing S
Key to level 3
PM that is calcareous (C) according to level 2 of which more than 90% of the primary
and/or recrystallized constituents are carbonate minerals.
pure calcareous P
PM that is calcareous (C) according to level 2 with less than 90% of the primary and/or impure calcareous I
38

recrystallized constituents consisting of carbonate minerals.
PM that is calcareous (C) according to level 2 with unknown concentrations of primary
and/or recrystallized constituents consisting of carbonate minerals.
unspecified calcareous X
PM that is silica bearing (S) according to level 2 with more than 66% SiO 2. acid siliceous A
PM that is silica bearing (S) according to level 2 with more than 52% SiO 2. intermediate siliceous I
PM that is silica bearing (S) according to level 2 with more than 45% SiO 2. basic siliceous B
PM that is silica bearing (S) according to level 2 with less than 45% SiO 2. ultrabasic siliceous U
PM that is silica bearing (S) according to level 2 with unknown SiO 2 contents. unspecified siliceous X
Key to level 4
PM or parent rock sequence that is dominantly formed by igneous processes. igneous I
PM or parent rock sequence that is dominantly formed by solid-state mineralogical,
chemical and/or structural changes to pre-existing rock, in response to marked changes in
temperature, pressure, shearing stress and chemical environment.
metamorphic M
PM or parent rock sequence that is dominantly formed by accumulation and cementation of
solid fragmental material deposited by air, water or ice, or as a result of other natural
agents, such as the precipitation from solution, the accumulation of organic material, or
from biogenic processes, including secretion by organism. Includes epiclastic deposits.
or
PM or parent rock sequence that consists of an aggregation of particles transported or
deposited by air, water or ice, or that is accumulated by other natural agents, such as
chemical precipitation, and forms layers on the earths surface. Includes epiclastic
deposits.
sediments or sedimentary
rock S
PM of human origin or that result from human activities. anthropogenic A
Key to level 5
See Table 3.
Events and surface processes
Level 1 - 3. See Table .
Note: It is important to specify the relative age of an event or surface process, for instance r = recent
(Holocene), f = fossil
(Pleistocene or older).
39
Table3
The revised soil parent material classification (after Schuler et al., 2013).
LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 4 LEVEL 51
C consolidated CS siliceous CSA acid
(>66% SiO2)
CSAI igneous CSAI1 quartz rich granitic rock, quartzolite
CSAI2 aplite (75% SiO2), rhyolite (74% SiO2),
rhyolitic tuff, alkali feldspar rhyolite
(73% SiO2), quartz latite (73% SiO2), granite
(72% SiO2), monzogranite (72% SiO2),
syenogranite (72% SiO2), pegmatite
(71% SiO2), alkali feldspar granite (70% SiO2)
CSAI3 dacite (68% SiO2), granodiorite
(68% SiO2), quartz syenite (67% SiO2),
CSAM
metamorphic
CSAM1 quartzite (81% SiO2), siliceous shale,
siliceous schist
CSAM2 migmatite (70% SiO2), gneiss
(69% SiO2), paragneiss, orthogneiss,
psammite (69% SiO2), meta-felsic rock
CSAM3 semipelite
CSAE
metasomatic
CSAE1 spilite (71% SiO2)
CSAS sedimentary
rock
CSAS1 chert (77% SiO2), flint, radiolarite,
spiculite
CSAS2 quartz arenite, quartz wacke,
sandstone (76% SiO2), conglomerate
(73% SiO2), breccias consisting of acid rock
fragments, fanglomerate, arkose (71% SiO2),

arkosic arenite
CSAS3 greywacke (66% SiO2), feldspathic
greywacke, arkosic wacke
CSI intermediate
(52-66% SiO2)
CSII igneous CSII1 tonalite (65% SiO2), latite (65% SiO2),
obsidian (65% SiO2), quartz monzonite
(64% SiO2), syenite (63% SiO2), trachyte
(63% SiO2), quartz alkalifeldspar syenite,
quartz alkalifedspar trachyte, quartz diorite,
quartz gabbro, quartz anorthosite, foidbearing syenite,foid-bearing alkali feldspar
syenite, foid-bearing alkali feldspar trachyte
CSII2 monzonite (59% SiO2), monzodiorite
(59% SiO2), benmoreite (58% SiO2), andesite
58% SiO2), boninite, diorite (57% SiO2),
monzogabbro (56% SiO2), keratophyre2
(56% SiO2), phonolite (55% SiO2), kersantite
(55% SiO2), foid-bearing monzonite, foidbearing diorite, foid-bearing monzodiorite,
foid-bearing monzogabbro
40

CSII3 alkali feldspar syenite (54% SiO2), alkali
feldspar trachyte, trachyandesite (52% SiO2),
CSIM
metamorphic
CSIM1 pelite (63% SiO2), slate (63% SiO2),
phyllite (62% SiO2), hornfels (61% SiO2), schist
(60% SiO2), mica schist, metamudstone
CSIM2 granofels (56% SiO2)
CSIM3 granulite (53% SiO2)
CSIS sedimentary
rock
CSIS1 diamictite (61% SiO2), tillite
CSIS2 siltstone (61% SiO2), claystone
(61% SiO2), mudstone (60 SiO2)
CSB basic
(45-52% SiO2)
CSBI igneous CSBI1 basalt (50% SiO2), dolerite (50% SiO2),
gabbro (49% SiO2), anorthosite (49% SiO2),
lamprophyre (48% SiO2), alkali basalt,
tholeiite, diabase, foid-bearing gabbro, foidbearing anorthosite
CSBI2 theralite (46% SiO2), basanite
(46% SiO2), limburgite (46% SiO2), pyroxenite
(46% SiO2), tephrite (45% SiO2)*, basanite
(45% SiO2)
CSBM metamorhic CSBM1 amphibolite (50% SiO2)
CSBM2 meta-basic rock, meta-mafic rock,
greenstone, greenschist, blueschist
CSBM3 eclogite (50% SiO2)
CSBM4 calc-silicate rock (49% SiO2)
CSBS sedimentary
rock
CSBS1 breccia (51% SiO2)
CSBA artificial CSBA1 acid slag (45-50% SiO2)
CSU ultrabasic
(< 45% SiO2)
CSUI igneous CSUI1 foid syenite, foid monzonite, foid
monzodiorite, foid monzogabbro, foid diorite,
foid gabbro
CSUI2 leucitite (44% SiO2), nephelinite
(44% SiO2), foidolite, foidite
CSUI3 picrite (43% SiO2), komatiite
(41% SiO2), meimechite
CSUI4 hornblendite (41% SiO2)

CSUI5 peridotite (39% SiO2)
CSUI6 melilitite (37% SiO2)
CSUI7 kimberlite (29% SiO2)
CSUM
metamorphic
CSUM1 meta-ultramafic rock
CSUT
metasomatic
CSUT1 serpentinite (43% SiO2), skarn
(42% SiO2)
CSUA artificial CSUA1 basic slag (25-30% SiO2)
CSX unspecified CSXI igneous CSXIx igneous rock (unspecified)
CSXI1 agglomerate, pyroclastic breccia,
scoria
CSXI2 tuff-breccia
CSXI3 lapilli-stone, lapilli-tuff
CSXI4 tuff, ignimbrite (welded tuff).
CSXM
metamorphic
CSXMx metamorphic rock (unspecified)
CSXM1 suevite, impactite, impact-melt
breccias, impact-melt rock
CSXM2 cataclasite, mylonite
CSXS sedimentary
rock
CSXSx sedimentary rock (unspecified)
CSXS1 tuffaceous-sedimentary rock, tuffite
CC calcareous CCP pure CCPM
metamorphic
CCPM1 marble
CCPS sedimentary
rock
CCPS1 limestone, travertine
CCPS2 dolomite
CCI impure CCIS
sedimenatary rock
CCIS1 impure limestone, impure dolomite,
marlstone
CCX unspecified CCXI igneous CCXI1 carbonatite
CCXM
metamorphic
CCXMx metacarbonate rock
CCXS sedimentary
rock
CCXSx carbonatic sedimentary rock
(unspecified)
CY saline CYX unspecified CYXS sedimentary
rock
CYXS1 alkali chloride, earth alkali chloride
CG gypsic CGX unspecified CGXS sedimentary
rock
CGXS1 alkali sulphate, earth alkali sulphate
CP phosphatic CPX unspecified CPXS sedimentary
rock
CPXS1 phosphorite, guano
CO organic COX unspecified COXS sedimentary
rock
COXS1 bituminous coal, anthracite, graphite
CF iron bearing CFX unspecified CFXS sedimentary
rock
CFXS1 ironstone, iron ore
S semiconsolidated
SS siliceous SSA acid SSAR residual
deposit
SSAR1 kaolin
42

SC calcareous SCX unspecified SCXS sedimentary
rock
SCXS1 chalk
SCXS2 tufa
SF iron bearing SFX unspecified SFXS sedimentary
rock
SFXS1 laterite, bauxite
SO organic SOX unspecified SOXS sedimentary
rock
SOXS1 lignite
SOXS2 asphalt
U unconsolidated US siliceous USA acid
(>66% SiO2)
USAI igneous USAI1 pumice
USAS sediment USAS1 sand (77% SiO2)
USAS2 gravel (67% SiO2)
USI intermediate
(52-66% SiO2)
USIS sediment USIS1 clay (59% SiO2)
USIS2 silt (57% SiO2)
USX unspecified USXI igneous USXIx igneous unconsolidated (unspecified)
USXI1 block-tephra, bomb-tephra
USXI2 ash-breccia
USXI3 lapilli-tephra
USXI4 lapilli-ash
USXI5 ash, unconsolidated ingnimbrite
(nonwelded sillar)
USXS sediment USXSx sediment (unspecified)
USXS1 breccia
USXS2 loess
USXS3 loam
USXS4 mud, siliceous ooze
USXS5 diamicton, till
USXA
anthropogenic
USXA1 waste
USXA2 heap material
USXA3 ash (anthropogenic)
USXA4 brick
USXA5 mud
UC calcareous UCX unspecified UCXS sediment UCXS1 carbonate sand
UCXS2 carbonate mud, carbonate ooze
UCXS3 carbonatic diamicton
UCXS4 carbonatic sediment,marl
UCXA
anthropogenic
UCXA1 lime plaster, cement plaster
UCXA2 concrete
UCXA3 waste combustion ash
UO organic UOX unspecified UOXS sediment UOXS1 half-bog
UOXS2 peat
UOXS3 sapropel
UOXA
anthropogenic
UOXA1 plaggen
UOXA2 coal-, coke-dump-material
UOXA3 road construction material: tar,

asphalt, bitumen)
UY saline UYX unspecified UYXS sediment UYXS1 salt mud
UYXA
anthropogenic
UYXA1 saline material
UG gypsic UGX unspecified UGXS sediment UGXS1 gypsum-mud
UGXA
anthropogenic
UGXA1 gypsum plaster
UP phosphatic UPX unspecified UPXS sediment UPXS1 phosphoric-mud
UF iron bearing UFX unspecified UFXS sediment UFXS1 iron-sediment
UFXA
anthropogenic
UFXA1 red mud
UFXA2 metal-sludge
UR radioactive
contaminated
URX unspecified URXA
anthropogenic
URXA1 nuclear waste
X unspecified X unspecified X unspecified X unspecified x unspecified
Rock sequences
C or S or U E X X x evaporitic rock sequence
C or S or U K X X x calcareous rock sequence
C or S or U L X X x organic rock sequence
C or S or U M X X x iron bearing rock sequence
C or S or U N X X X iron and organic bearing rock sequence
1 Average SiO2 content according to OZCHEM database (2007).
2 Average SiO2 content according to Xihua et al.(1996).
44
Table 4
Event andsurface processes.
LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 8(examples)
a aeolian deposition ab sandy abs aeolian sand
as sandy-silty asi sandy loess
al silty all loess
b biological deposition bs shell marl bsx unspecified
bd diatomite bdx unspecified
bh shell bank deposition bhx unspecified
bb bioclastic sand deposition bbx unspecified
c chemical deposition ce encrusted, duricrust cec calcrete
ceg gossan
cef ferricrete
ces silcrete
cey gypcrete
cd disperse cdx unspecified
cm massive cmx unspecified
d (terrestrial) deposition da alluvial fan deposition dxx unspecified
e erosion ea water erosion eas sheet erosion
ear rill erosion
eag gully erosion
ei wind erosion eix unspecified
f fluvial deposition fm meandering river deposition fmc clay, silt and loam
fms sand and fine gravel
fb braided river deposition fbg gravel and sand
fx unspecified
g glacial deposition gi glacial gik kame and kettle deposition
gie esker deposition
gf glaciofluvial pfo glaciofluvial deposition
pfs glaciofluvial sheet deposition
gn morainic deposits, till (glacial diamicton) gng ground moraine
gne end moraine
gnp push moraine
Common examples, level 3 can be extended.

gl glaciolacustrine deposits glb beach deposition
gll lake-bed deposition
gld deltaic deposition
gs subaqueous fan deposits gsx unspecified
gm glaciomarine deposits gmd deltaic deposition
gmb beach deposition
gms subtidal sea-bed deposition
h human activity hn natural material redepostion hnx unspecified
hi industrial/artisanal deposition hix unspecified
hx unspecified hxx unspecified
l lacustrine deposition ld lacustrine deltaic deposition ldc silt and clay
lb lacustrine beach deposition lbs sand
ls lacustrine shoreface
deposition
lsx unspecified
m marine deposition mb subtidal deposition mbx unspecified
mi intertidal deposition mib beach deposition, sand
mir tidal river or creek deposition
mif tidal flat deposition, clay and silt
mu supratidal deposition mus storm beach deposition
mut tsunami deposition
muw washover fan
mub coastal barrier deposition
muc chenier deposition
md deltaic deposition mdc clay and silt
mx unspecified
n marsh formation ns desalination nsx unspecified
nc decalcification, acidification ncx unspecified
p periglacial alteration pc cryoturbation pcx unspecified
ps solifluction psx unspecified
s mass movements sl landslide slf falls
slt topples
sls slides
slp spreads
sll flows, creep
slc complex landslide
46

sc colluvial sch hillwash deposition
scd dry valley deposition
o organic accumulation op peat (mire) opg groundwater-fed bog peat
opr rainwater-fed moor peat (raised bog)
ox unspecified
t eruption th Hawaiian-type eruption thx unspecified
tp Pelean-type eruption tpx unspecified
ts Strombolian-type eruption tsx unspecified
tv Vulcanian-type eruption tvx unspecified
tx unspecified
w weathering wp physical, mechanical weathering wpf frost shattering
wpb blockfield
wc chemical weathering wcb bauxite, laterite
wcc clay-with-flints
wx unspecified weathering wxr regoliths
x deposition of unknown origin xx unspecified xxx unspecified
* Additional information can be added to the different levels, e.g. v =active ; i= inactive, fossil process; x =
unknown age of
process; c = contains carbonates. For example: fxv = fluvial deposition, active; fxi = fluvial deposition, inactive;
fxx = fluvial
deposition of unknown age; fmcvc = fluvial depositions of clay and silt, active, calcareous.
15. Permanent water surface

The proportion of the SOTER unit that is covered permanently by water (i.e. more than 10
months/year).
Conversely, bodies of water large enough to be delineated on the map, as single unit at
the considered
scale, are not considered part of a SOTER unit.
6.2 Terrain component

This section describes attributes used to characterize a terrain component. Terrain
components cannot be
mapped at the broad scale used for SOTER mapping, but their attributes are described in
the relational
database management system (RDBMS) (Section 6.3).
16. SOTER unit_ID
Primary key, as defined in Section 6.1 Terrain.
17. Terrain component number
A sequential number for the terrain components in a SOTER unit; the largest terrain
component with the
largest proportion comes first, followed by the second in size, etc. The combination
SOTER unit_ID and
terrain component number (e.g. 2034/1) forms the complete identification code for each
terrain
component in the attribute database.
18. Proportion of SOTER unit
The estimated proportion of the terrain component within the SOTER unit. As stated in
Section 5.3, a
terrain component normally covers at least 15% of a SOTER unit. Summed, the
proportion of all terrain
components within the SOTER unit is 100%. The example below is for a SOTER unit with
two terrain
components:
SOTER unit_ID: 2034 SOTER unit_ID: 2034
Terrain component number: 1 Terrain component number: 2
Proportion within SU: 70% Proportion within SU: 30%
Coding: 2034/1 Coding: 2034/2
Only in very specific cases terrain components covering less than 15% of the SOTER unit
can be used; for
example, for small but agriculturally important areas such as a wadi in a desert plain.
19. Terrain component data_ID
Different SOTER units on the map may have similar terrain components. In such cases,
the corresponding
attribute data need only be entered once in the database. The data code has the general
format SOTER
unit_ID/terrain component number. When referring to a previously described terrain
component data_ID,
the corresponding terrain component data _IDis used; see below for examples.
Case A:
SOTER unit with two terrain components, not yet described in the attribute database
SOTER unit_ID: 2034 SOTERunit_ID: 2034
Terrain component number: 1 Terrain component number: 2
Proportion within SU: 70% Proportion within SU: 30%
Terrain component data_ID: 2034/1 Terrain component data_ID: 2034/2
Case B:
SOTER unit with two terrain components, of which one terrain component is already described in
the database for
another SOTER unit
SOTER unit_ID: 2035 SOTER unit_ID: 2035

Terraincomponent number: 1 terrain component number: 2
Proportion within SU: 60% proportion within SU 40%
Terrain component data_ID: 2034/2 terrain component data_ID: 2035/2
6.3 Terrain component data

20. Terrain component data_ID
See terrain component data_IDunder Section 6.2.
Slope
racteristics
Items 21 - 23 characterize the slope of the terrain component.
21. Dominant slope

Dominant slopegradient of the terrain component, in %.
22. Length of slope
Estimated dominant length of slope, in m.
23. Form of slope
The form of the dominant slope (only entered if the dominant slope gradient is larger
than 2%).
U Uniform (straight) slope.
C Concave, lower slope with decreasing gradient downslope.
V Convex, upper slope with decreasing gradient upslope.
I Irregular (complex) slope
Surficial lithology characterics
The items 24 27 characterize the unconsolidated parent material in which the soil is
formed. The
unconsolidated regolith is described in terms of origin, texture and thickness to the
bedrock.
24. Lithology of surficial material
Code for the parent material of the individual terrain components forming a SOTER unit,
using the key and
the codes of Tables 3 and 4. An entry can be made for consolidated or unconsolidated
surficial material.
These include the types of rockmass from which parent material is derived and other
unconsolidated
mineral or organic deposits. The same list of parent materials is used for characterization
as given for
the parent material of the SOTER unit.
25. Origin of non-consolidated parent material (regolith)
The origin of the non-consolidated parent material (regolith) in which the soils have
developed.
U Unknown origin of regolith not known
R Residuum regolith formed in situ
T Transported regolith transported by water, wind, ice, etc.
M Mixed origin mixed origin of regolith
26. Texture of non-consolidated parent material
Code for the texture group of particles9 <2 mm (fine earth fraction) of the nonconsolidated parent
material at 2 m, if the soil is deeply developed. If shallower, give the dominant texture of
the
nonconsolidated material in which the soil has formed. See Figure 8.
Where the sand fraction is between 2 0.050 mm, silt fraction between 0.050 0.002 mm and the clay
fraction smaller than
9
0.002 mm.
49
Y Very clayey more than 60% clay
C Clayey sandy clay, silty clay and clay texture classes
L Loamy loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam, silt, silt loam and silty clay
loam texture classes
S Sandy loamy sand and sandy loam texture classes
X Extremely sandy sand texture classes
Figure8
Texture groups of parent material(FAO 2006).
27. Depth to bedrock

The average depth to consolidated bedrock in metre. For depths less than 2 m the depth
is rounded to
nearest 0.1 meter; for depths between 2-10 m to the nearest 1 m and for depths more
than 10 m to the
nearest 5 metres.
28. Surface drainage
Surface drainageof the terrain component classified after (Cochrane et al.1985) and (Van
Waveren and
Bos 1988).
E Extremely slow water ponds at the surface and large parts of the terrain are
waterlogged for continuous periods of more than 30 days
S Slow water drains slowly, but most of the terrain does not remain
waterlogged for more than 30 days continuously
W Well water drains well but not excessively, nowhere does the terrain
remain waterlogged for a continuous period of more than 48
hours
R Rapid excess water drains rapidly, even during periods of prolonged
rainfall
V Very rapid excess water drains very rapidly, the terrain does not support
growth of short rooted plants even if there is sufficient rainfall
29. Depth to groundwater
The mean depth in metres of the ground water level observed over a number of years as
experienced in
the majority of the terrain component. If there is no groundwater information, the depth
to the layer with
reducing conditions shown by matrix colours (Munsell) 2.5Y, 5Y, 5G, 5B or N1/ to N8/ can
be used as a
proxy for groundwater depth (FAO 2006).
Flooding
Flooding is characterized by items 29-31:
30. Frequency of flooding
Frequency of the natural flooding of the terrain component in classes after (FAO and
ISRIC 1990).
N none
D daily
W weekly
M monthly
A annually
B biennially
F once every 2-5 years
T once every 5-10 years

R rare (less than once in every 10 years)
U unknown
31. Duration of flooding
Duration, in days per year, of the flooding of the terrain component in classes (FAO and
ISRIC 1 990).
1 less than 1 day
2 1-15 days
3 15-30 days
4 30-90 days
5 90-180 days
6 180-360 days
7 continuously
32. Start of flooding
The month (indicated by a number; e.g. 1 for January) during which flooding of the
terrain component
starts in most years. Three entries are possible to cater for most likely occurrances.
6.4 Soil component

This section specifies the attributes used to characterize the soil components. General
attributes linked to the
representative soil profile and horizon attributes are described in the Sections 6.6 and
6.7. Inherently, soil
components are not mapable at the broad scale of SOTER (scales smaller than 1:250
000); they are only
characterized in the RDBMS.
33. SOTER unit_ID
See SOTER unit_IDdefined in Section 6.1, Terrain; primary keyfor the SOTER unit under
consideration.
See terrain component numberunder Section 6.2, Terrain component; primary keyfor the
terrain
component of the SOTER unit under consideration.
35. Soil component number
A sequential number for the soil component within the given terrain component;
assigned, according to
its proportional ranking from largest to smallest; primary key.
36. Proportion of SOTER unit
The estimated proportion a soil component occupies within the SOTER unit. As stated in
Section 5.3, a
soil component normally occupies at least 10% of a SOTER unit.
The proportion of the soil components summed, corresponds with the total proportion of
the
corresponding terrain components. Thus, the sum of the proportion of all soil components
in a SOTER
unit is always 100%10.
37. WRB-Legend unit
Each soil component is characterized according to the WRB Legend as given in Annex 4,
which is based
on selected classes of the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (IUSS 2006, 2007;
IUSS et al.
2010). The soil mapping units at SOTER working scales (generally > 1:250 000) are
usually soil
associations or comprise compound units. These are then converted from the traditional
soil map into
the various soil components of the SOTER unit. Soil components should at least be
characterized up to
the first prefix qualifier of the Reference Soil Group (RSG) of the WRB Legend e.g. Calcic
Vertisols, to
comprise the standard SOTER legend (see Annex 4). If more prefixes are included, they
follow the
sequential row of the RSG of the WRB Legend.
Each soil component is further characterized by a representative profile (See profile_ID,
PRID), classified
according to WRB system (IUSS 2006, 2007).
Always start with the dominant one; avoid using equal percentages of 50-50% in case two or more soil
components are
identified (i.e. rather use 55-45 %); the same rule applies for the terrain components.
10

38. WRB-Legend suffixes
Suffixes can additionally be given as characterization of the RSG of the WRB Legend if
relevant to a
mapping unit. Full characterization of a representative profile is given in Chapter 6.6 and
6.7.
39. Revised Legend FAO88
The characterization of the soil component according to the Revised Legend (FAO-Unesco
1988). The
FAO88 Revised Legend is the standard Legend for all previously compiled continental
and global SOTER
databases; it also functions as standard legend for a Global SOTER. (See also Harmonized
World Soil
Database, (FAO et al.2008, 2012)).
40. Phase 11
Phases can be introduced to reflect a potentially limiting factor for soil management
related to surface or
subsurface features of the terrain component that are not specifically described in the
classification of
the WRB unit. The coding for phases is based on selected classes of the Revised Legend
(FAO and ISRIC
1988).
41. Textural class of the topsoil
The textural class of the topsoil (see Figure 9), taking into account the upper 30 cm of the
soil. Codes
and classes are given according to (CEC 1985; ESB 1998).
X Undefined Synthetical profiles 12
0 no texture peat and organic soil layers
1 coarse clay 18 % and sand > 65 %
2 medium 18 % clay <35 % and 15 % sand, or clay 18 % and
15 % sand < 65 %
3 medium fine <35 % clay and <15 % sand
4 fine 35% clay < 60 %
5 very fine 60 % clay
11
12
WRB Legend phases are still under review.

In case there are no profile data but thje soil has a WRB name.
53
Figure9
Texture classes of the topsoil according to(CEC 1985; ESB 1998).
42. Profile_ID
Unique code for the representative profile considered typical for the corresponding soil
component. Any
code is permitted provided it is unique at national level and preceded by the ISO country
code (Annex 7);
there is room for 15 characters in the database. A logical code must be used in such a
way that the
source and the number of the profile can be traced back to its origin (example:
PEucIN50/P8; Peru,
Ucayali province, report number 50, profile 8).
43. Position in terrain component
The relative position of the soil component within the terrain component:
H high interfluve, crest or higher part of the terrain component
M middle upper and middle slope or any other medium position within the terrain
component
L low lower slope or lower part of the terrain component
D lowest depression, valley bottom or any other lowest part of the terrain component
A all all positions within the terrain component
44. Surface rockiness
The percentage coverage of rock or rock outcrops according to (FAO 2006; FAO and ISRIC
1990):
N none 0%
V very few 0 - 2%
F few 2 - 5%
C common 5 -15%
M many 15-40%
A abundant 40-80%
D dominant 80%
45. Surface stoniness
The percentage cover of coarse fragments (> 2 mm), completely or partly at the surface,
according to
(FAO 2006; FAO and ISRIC 1990):
N none 0%
V very few 0 - 2%
F Few 2 - 5%
C common 5 -15%
M many 15-40%
A abundant 40-80%
D dominant 80%
Observable erosion
Any visible signs of (accelerated) erosion are to be indicated according to type, area
affected and degree. If
more than two types of erosion are active at the same time, then only the dominant type
is indicated (items
44-47).
46. Types of erosion/deposition
Characterization of the erosion or deposition type according to FAO and ISRIC (1990):
N no visible evidence of erosion
S sheet erosion
R rill erosion
G gully erosion
T tunnel erosion
P deposition by water
W water and wind erosion
L wind deposition
A wind erosion and deposition
D shifting sand
Z salt deposition
M mass movement (landslides)
E deposition and erosion
47. Area affected
The total area affected by the above mentioned erosion, as proportion of the soil
component, according
to UNEP and ISRIC (1988).
0 0%
1 0 - 5%
2 5 - 10%
3 10 - 25%
4 25 - 50%
5 > 50%
48. Degree of erosion
Rated after FAO (2006); FAO and ISRIC (1990)
S slight Some evidence of loss of surface horizons. Original biotic functions largely
intact
M moderate Clear evidence of removal or coverage of surface horizons. Original biotic
functions partly destroyed
V severe Surface horizons completely removed (with subsurface horizons exposed) or
covered up by sedimentation of material from upslope. Original biotic
functions largely destroyed
E extreme Substantial removal of deeper subsurface horizons (badlands).
Complete destruction of original biotic functions
49. Sensitivity to capping
The degree in which the soil surface has a tendency to capping and sealing after drying
(FAO and ISRIC
1990):
N none no capping or sealing observed.
W weak the soil surface has a slight sensitivity to capping. Soft or slightly hard crust
less than 0.5 cm thick.
M moderate the soil has a moderate sensitivity to capping. Soft or slightly hard crust
more than 0.5 cm thick, or hard crust less than 0.5 cm thick.
S strong the soil surface has a strong sensitivity to capping. Hard and very hard crust
more than 0.5 cm thick.
50. Rootable depth
Estimated average depth to which root growth is not restricted by any physical or
chemical impediment,
such as impenetrable or toxic layers, to be determined as effective soil depth using land
evaluation.
Strongly fractured rocks, such as shale, may be considered as rootable. Classes after FAO
and ISRIC
(1990):
V very shallow < 30 cm

S shallow 30 - 50 cm
M moderately deep 50 - 100 cm
D deep 100 - 150 cm
X very deep 150 cm
6.5 Additional soil profiles

This Section of the attribute database can record the profile_IDof additional (reference)
soil profiles, i.e. the
set of profiles from which the representative profile was chosen to best characterize the
properties and
characteristics of the soil component under consideration. Through a unique code each of
these profiles
(see 6.4; profile_ID) is linked to a soil component and represents the soil component
together with the related
representative profile. Note that the same reference profile (PRID) can serve as
representative profile for
different SOTER units with identical soil components, making use of the relational
structure of the database.
The availability of additional soil profiles per soil component may allow the user to get a
better insight in the
attribute variations within the soil component, e.g. for land evaluation studies. The
attribute data of the
additional soil profiles is stored in the tables profileand horizondata.
51. ISO Country code
The ISO country codeis given according to ISO-3166 (ISO, 2006) (See Annex 7).
52. SOTER unit_ID
The SOTER unit_IDfor the SOTER unit. (See SOTER unit_IDunder Section 6.1).
The terrain component numberof the corresponding terrain component (See Section 6.2;
Terrain
component).
54. Soil component number
Sequential number of the soil component within the corresponding terrain component,
ranked
sequentially according to proportion. (The largest soil component is given number 1, the
second largest
number 2, etc.).
55. Profile_ID
Unique identification code for a soil profile; this key provides a logical link to the soil
component and
attribute data.
6.6 Profile
56. Profile_ID
As defined earlier in Section 6.4.
57. Soil profile database_ID
Identification code for the owner, institute or organisation that holds the national soil
profile data,
respectively the report from which these data were derived. It consists of an ISO code for
the country
(see Annex 7) and a sequential number. (See also Section 8.3).
58. Profile description status
The soil profile description statusrefers to the inferred quality of the soil description and
the
completeness of analytical data. It is indicative for the reliability of the soil profile
information entered into
the database. Classes are adapted from FAO (2006).
1 reference profile
description
All essential elements or details are complete. The accuracy and
reliability of the description, sampling and analysis permit the full
characterization of all soil horizons to a depth of 125 cm, or more if
required for classification, or down to a C or R horizon, which may be
shallower.
2 routine profile
description
No essential elements are missing from the description, sampling or
analysis. The number of samples collected is sufficient to characterize
all major soil horizons, but may not allow precise definition of all subhorizons. The profile
depth is 80 cm or more, or down to a C or R
horizon, which may be shallower.
3 incomplete
description
Certain relevant elements are missing from the description, insufficient
samples were taken, or the reliability of the analytical data does not
permit a complete characterization of the soil. However, the description
may still be useful for specific purposes and provides a satisfactory
indication of the nature of the soil at high levels of soil classification.
4 other descriptions Essential elements are missing from the description, preventing a
satisfactory soil characterization and classification. May still be useful in
data scarce regions
59. Sampling date
The date at which the profile was described and sampled. If these activities were carried
out on different
dates, the date of sampling should be given; format is MM/YYYY.
60. Lab_ID
Unique code for the soil laboratory where the samples were analysed. Given as ISO
country code
followed by a number, e.g. PE002.
61. Latitude
Latitudein decimal degrees 13, if possible to the nearest third decimal. Latitudes in the
Northern
hemisphere are positive; in the Southern hemisphere negative. The default geometric
datum for all
SOTER maps is WGS 1984.
62. Longitude
Longitudein decimal degrees, if possible to the nearest third decimal. Longitudes in the
Eastern
hemisphere are positive; in the Western hemisphere negative.
63. Profile location status
The conditions from which the profile locations were derived; it is indicative for the
accuracy of the profile
location.
1
2
3
4
derived from GPS measurements

converted from DMS data, available up to seconds
converted from DMS data, available only up to minutes
converted from other sources (location description, etc.)
13
Conversion program can be found: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/DDDMMSS-decimal.html

64. Elevation
Elevationof the profile in meter above mean sea level; indicated to the nearest 10 m
contour or taken
from the digital elevation model. Assumes locations are accurate.
65. Land use at profile location
Code for the land use observed at the location of the soil profile at time of
description/sampling,
according to Table 6 (part II, Land Use and Vegetation).
66. Vegetation at profile location
Codes for the (largely undisturbed) vegetation at the location of the profile at time of
description,
according to Table 7 (part II, Land use and Vegetation).
67. Parent material at profile location
Codes for the parent material of the soil at the profile location, according to Tables 3 and
4
68. Drainage
The drainageof the profile is described according to the classes (FAO and ISRIC 1990; Soil
Survey Staff
1993):
E excessively
drained
Water is removed from the soil very rapidly.
S somewhat
excessively
Water is removed from the soil rapidly drained.
W well drained Water is removed from the soil readily but not rapidly.
M moderately
well drained
Water is removed from the soil somewhat slowly during some periods of the
year. The soils are wet for short periods within rooting depth.
I imperfectly
drained
Water is removed slowly so that the soils are wet at shallow depth for a
considerable period.
P poorly drained Water is removed so slowly that the soils are commonly wet for
considerable
periods. The soils commonly have a shallow water table.
V very poorly
drained
Water is removed so slowly that the soils are wet at shallow depth for long
periods. The soils have a very shallow water table.
69. Reference Soil Group/prefix and suffix qualifiers
Classification of representative profiles according to the World Reference Base for Soil
Resources (IUSS
2007), preferably up to the lowest level of the Reference Soil Group (RSG) and its
qualifiers (prefixes and
suffixes). The sequential order of the lower level qualifiers follow the priority listing of the
lower level units
of the RSG; for details see Annex 3, Section 3.4.
70. WRB specifiers
Specifiers in WRB indicate the depth of occurrence or degree of expression of the soil
characteristics or
properties of the profile; for coding conventions see (ISSS et al.1998; IUSS et al.2007;
IUSS 2006,
2007).
71. Revised Legend classification
Code for classification at soil unit level according to Revised Legend of the FAO-Unesco
Soil Map of the
World (FAO 1988, 1990); needed to maintain consistency with older SOTER products
(e.g. the
SOTERLAC database (Dijkshoorn et al. 2005)) and the Harmonized World Soil Database
(FAO et al.
2008, 2012).
72. National classification
The classification according to the national system, if different from item 69 and 71.
73. Soil Taxonomy
USDA Soil Taxonomy classification (Soil Survey Division Staff 1999) or earlier version, as
provided in the
source material or indicated in the national database or relevant report.
74. Soil Taxonomy version
The year of publication of the Soil Taxonomy version.
6.7 Horizon data

This section lists the attributes for soil horizons of the profiles considered in SOTER
database. Only measured
data are accepted in SOTER.
75. Profile_ID
See profile_ID, Section 6.4.
76. Horizon number
A consecutive number, starting with the uppermost surface horizon, is allocated to each
horizon.
Horizons are identified according to FAO (2006).
77. Diagnostic horizon
Characterization of the diagnostic horizonaccording to the World Reference Base for Soil
Resources 2nd
edition (IUSS 2006, 2007).
(Note: SOTER databases completed before 2006 use criteria of the Revised Legend).
The full definition of all the diagnostic horizonsis given in Annex 3.
Organic surface horizons
FO folic the folic horizon consist of well-aerated organic material occurring at the surface
or at
shallow depth and is water saturated for less than one month in most years.
HI histic the histic horizon consists of poorly aerated organic material and is water
saturated for
more than one month in most years (unless artificially drained).
Mineral surface horizons
MO mollic the mollic horizon is a thick, well structured, dark-coloured surface horizon
with a high
base saturation and a moderate to high content in organic matter. The requirements for
a mollic horizon must be met after the first 20 cm is mixed, as in ploughing.
UM umbric resembles a mollic in all properties; in colour, organic carbon, structure and
thickness,
except that the umbric horizon has a base saturation of less than 50%.
VO voronic the voronic horizon is a special type of mollic horizon. It is a deep, well
structured,
blackish surface horizon with a high base saturation, a high content of organic matter
and a high biological activity.
OC ochric (obsolete); the ochric horizon does not meet the requirements for a mollic,
umbric or
voronic horizon. Note that stratified materials, e.g. surface layers of fresh alluvial
deposits, do not qualify as an ochric horizon.
(Sub)surface horizons with strong human influence
AH anthric the anthric horizon is a moderately thick, dark coloured surface horizon
strongly
influenced by long continued cultivation.
AQ anthraquic the anthraquic horizon comprises a puddled layer and plough pan of a soil
under
long-continued paddy cultivation.
HO hortic the hortic horizon results from deep cultivation, intensive manuring and/or
longcontinued application of human and animal wastes, and other organic residues.
HY hydragic the hydragric horizon is a human-induced subsurface horizon associated
with wet
cultivation.
IR irragric the irragric horizon is usually light coloured, and gradually builds up by a
longcontinued application of irrigation with sediment rich water.
PA plaggic the plaggic horizon is a black or brown human-induced surface horizon that
has
built up gradually from continuous addition of a mixture of sods and farmyard
manure in medieval times.
TE terric the terric horizon has developed through addition to the soil of earthy manures,
compost, beach sands or mud over a long period of time.
Dark coloured volcanic horizons high in organic carbon
FU fulvic the fulvic horizon is a thick, dark coloured horizon at or near to the surface that
is
typically associated with short-range-order minerals (commonly allophane) or with
organo-aluminium complexes. It has a low bulk density and contains highly
humified organic matter.
ME melanic the melanic horizon is a thick, black horizon at or near to the surface that is
organo-aluminium complexes. It has a low bulk density and contains highly
humified organic matter.
Eluvial horizon
AL albic the albic horizon is a light-coloured subsurface horizon from which clay and free
iron
oxides have been removed, or the oxides have been segregated to the extent that
the colour of the horizon is determined by the colour of the sand and silt particles
rather than by coatings on these particles. The albic horizon usually has coarser
textures than overlying or underlying horizons. Many albic horizons are associated
with wetness and contain evidence of reducing conditions.
61
Subsurface horizons with clay accumulation
AR argic the argic horizon is a subsurface horizon with distinct higher clay content than
the
overlying horizon. This textural differentiation may be caused by an illuvial
accumulation of clay, by predominant pedogenetic formation of clay in the subsoil or
by destruction of clay in the surface horizon, by selective surface erosion of clay, by
biological activity or by a combination of two or more of these different processes.
Sedimentation of surface materials that are coarser than the subsurface horizon
may enhance a pedogenetic textural differentiation. However, a mere lithological
discontinuity, such as may occur in alluvial deposits, does not qualify as an argic
horizon. When an argic horizon is formed by clay illuviation, clay skins may occur on
ped surfaces, in fissures, in pores and in channels.
NA natric the natric horizon is a dense subsurface horizon with distinct higher clay
content
than the overlying horizon(s) and resembles an argic horizon in all aspects, except
that it has a high content of exchangeable sodium and/or magnesium (ESP>15%).
Horizons with organic carbon accumulation
SP spodic the spodic horizon is a dark coloured subsurface horizon that contains illuvial
amorphous substances composed of organic matter and aluminium, or of illuvial
iron.
SO sombric the sombric horizon is a dark coloured subsurface horizon containing illuvial
humus
that is neither associated with aluminium nor dispersed by sodium.
(Strongly) weathered horizons
CB cambic the cambic horizon shows evidence of alteration relative to the underlying
horizon in
structure, colour, gypsum or calcium carbonate content.
NI nitic the nitic horizon is a clay-rich subsurface horizon with moderately to strongly
developed polyhedric structure breaking to flat-edged or nutty elements with many
shiny ped faces, which cannot or can only partly be attributed to clay illuviation.
FA ferralic the ferralic horizon results from long and intense weathering, in which the clay
fraction is dominated by low-activity clays, and the silt and sand fractions by highly
resistant minerals resulting in a cation exchange capacity of less than 16 cmol ckg-1
clay.
Horizons with iron (and manganese) segregration
FI ferric the ferric horizon is a subsurface horizon, in which segregation of iron and
manganese has taken place to such an extent that large mottles or discrete
nodules have formed and the intermottle/ internodular matrix is largely depleted of
iron.
PL plinthic the plinthic horizon is a subsurface horizon that consists an iron-rich, humuspoor
mixture of kaolinitic clay with quartz and other constituents, and which changes
irreversibly to a layer with hard nodules, a hardpan, or irregular fragments on
exposure to repeated wetting and drying.
PP petroplinthic the petroplinthic horizon is a continuous, fractured or broken layer of
indurated
material, in which iron is an important cement and, in which organic matter is
absent or present only in traces.
PS pisoplinthic the pisoplinthic horizon contains nodules that are strongly cemented and
indurated
with iron (and in some cases also with manganese) to a diameter of 2 mm or more.
Calcium and gypsum enriched horizons
CA calcic the calcic horizon is a horizon in which secondary calcium carbonate (CaCO 3)
has
accumulated either in a diffuse form (calcium carbonate present only in the form of
fine particles of 1 mm or less, dispersed in the matrix) or as discontinuous
concentrations (pseudomycelia, cutans, soft and hard nodules, or veins).
PC petrocalcic the petrocalcic horizon is an indurated calcic horizon that is cemented by
calcium
carbonate and, in places, by calcium and some magnesium carbonate. It is either
massive or platy in nature and extremely hard.
GY gypsic the gypsic horizon is a commonly non-cemented horizon, containing
secondary
accumulations of gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) in various forms.
PG petrogypsic the petrogypsic horizon is a cemented horizon containing secondary
accumulations
of gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O).
(Other) cemented horizons
DU duric the duric horizon is a subsurface horizon showing weakly cemented to
indurated
nodules or concretions cemented by silica (SiO2), presumably in the form of opal
and microcrystalline forms of silica (durinodes).
PD petroduric the petroduric horizon, also known as duripan or dorbank (South Africa), is
a
subsurface horizon, usually reddish or reddish brown in colour that is cemented
mainly by secondary silica. Air-dry fragments of petroduric horizons do not slake in
water, even after prolonged wetting. Calcium carbonate may be present as
accessory cementing agent. It is either massive or has a platy or laminar
structure.
FR fragic the fragic horizon is a natural non-cemented subsurface horizon with a pedality
and
a porosity pattern such that roots and percolating water penetrate the soil only
along interped faces and streaks. The natural character excludes plough pans and
surface traffic pans.
Surface horizons formed under aridic conditions
TA takyric the takyric horizon is a heavy-textured surface horizon comprising a surface
crust
and a platy structured lower part. It occurs under arid conditions in periodically
flooded soils.
YE yermic the yermic horizon is a surface horizon that usually, but not always, consists of
surface accumulations of rock fragments (desert pavement) embedded in a loamy
vesicular layer that may be covered by a thin aeolian sand or loess layer,
occurring under aridic conditions.
Horizons influenced by frost
CY cryic the cryic horizon is a perennially frozen soil horizon in mineral or organic soil
material.
Other horizons
VE vertic the vertic horizon is a clayey subsurface horizon that, as a result of shrinking
and
swelling, has slickensides and wedge-shaped structural aggregates.
SA salic the salic horizon is a surface or shallow subsurface horizon that contains a
secondary enrichment of readily soluble salts, i.e. salts more soluble than gypsum.
TH thionic the thionic horizon is an extremely acid subsurface horizon in which sulphuric
acid
is formed through oxidation of sulphides.
78. Diagnostic property
Diagnostic propertycharacterization uses the definitions described in the World Reference
Base for Soil
Resources (IUSS 2006, 2007).
(Note: SOTER databases completed before 2006 use criteria of the Revised Legend).
The full definition of all the diagnostic properties is given in Annex 3.
TC abrupt textural
change
an abrupt textural change is a very sharp increase in clay content within a limited
depth range of 7.5 cm.
TO albeluvic
tonguing
the term albeluvic tonguing is connotative for penetrations of clay- and irondepleted
material into an argic horizon. When peds are present, albeluvic tonguing
occurs along ped surfaces.
AD andic the andic properties result from moderate weathering of mainly pyroclastic
deposits. Their mineralogy is dominated by short-range-order minerals (usually
allophane) and commonly part of the weathering sequence in pyroclastic deposits
(tephric soil material vitric horizon andic horizon). An andic layer has a high
content of extractable aluminium and iron, and has low bulk density and high
phosphate retention.
AC aridic properties the term aridic properties combines a number of properties that are
common in
surface horizons of soils occurring under arid conditions and where pedogenesis
exceeds new accumulation at the soil surface by aeolian or alluvial activity.
RO continuous hard
rock
continuous hard rock is material underlying the soil, exclusive of cemented
pedogenetic horizons such as a petrocalcic, petroduric, petrogypsic and
petroplinthic horizons that is sufficiently consolidated to remain intact when airdried
specimen 25-30 mm is submerged in water for 1 hour. The material is
considered continuous if only a few cracks, 10 cm or more apart, are present and
no significant displacement of the rock has taken place.
FC ferralic the ferralic properties refer to mineral soil material that has a relative low
cation
exchange capacity. It also includes soil materials that would qualify for a ferralic
horizon except for a coarse texture.
GE geric geric properties refer to mineral soil material that has a very low effective
cation
exchange capacity (ECEC) or even acts as an anion exchanger.
GL gleyic colour
pattern
soil materials develop gleyic colour patterns if they are saturated with groundwater
(or were saturated in the past and now drained) for a period that allows reducing
conditions to occur (this may range from a few days in the tropics to a few weeks
in other areas).
LD lithological
discontinuity
lithological discontinuities are significant changes in particle-size distribution or
mineralogy that represent differences in lithology within a soil.
RC reducing
conditions
reducing conditions show the presence of free iron (Fe 2+) on a freshly broken and
smoothed surface of a field-wet soil by the appearance of a strong red colour after
wetting it with 0.2 percent alpha,alpha,dipyridyl solution.
SL secondary
carbonates
the term secondary carbonates refer to lime precipitated in place from the soil
solution rather than inherited from a soil parent material. As a diagnostic property,
it should be present in significant quantities.
ST stagnic colour
pattern
soil materials develop a stagnic colour patterns if they are, at least temporarily,
saturated with surface water, unless drained, for a period long enough that allows
reducing conditions to occur (this may range from a few days in the tropics to a
few weeks in other areas).
VC vertic the term vertic properties is used for soil material that has a clay percentage of
30 or more, and slickensides or wedge-shaped aggregates, or cracks that open
and close periodically and are 1 cm or more wide at the surface.
VI vitric vitric properties apply to layers with volcanic glass and other primary minerals
derived from volcanic ejecta and which contain a limited amount of short-rangeorder
minerals.
79. Diagnostic materials
Diagnostic (soil) materialsare intended to reflect (partly) the properties of the original
parent material, in
which pedogenetic processes have not yet been very active, so that they have only
slightly influenced the
soil and have not led to significant changes.
AF artefacts artefacts are solid or liquid substances that were created or substantially
modified by humans as part of an industrial or artisanal manufacturing process.
CO calcaric soil material that effervescences strongly with 1 MHCl in most of the fine
earth. It
applies to soil material that contains 2 percent or more calcium carbonate
equivalent.
CU colluvic colluvic material is formed by sedimentation through human induced erosion.
It
normally accumulates in footslope positions and in depressions or above hedgewalls.
FL fluvic fluvic soil material refers to fluviatile, marine and lacustrine sediments that
receive fresh materials at regular intervals, or have received it in the recent past.
Fluvic soil materials must show textural and/or organic stratification.
GP gypsiric gypsiric soil material is mineral soil that contains 5 percent or more gypsum
(by
volume).
LN limnic limnic materials occur as subaquatic deposits (or at the surface after
drainage).
Four types are distinguished; coprogenous earth or sedimentary peat,
diatomaceous earth, marl and gyttja.
MR mineral in mineral material, the soil properties are dominated by mineral
components.
OR organic organic material consists of a large amount of organic debris that
accumulates
at the surface under wet or dry conditions and in which the mineral components
does not significantly influence the soil properties.
ON ornithogenic ortnithogenic material is material with strong influence of bird
excrements. It
often has a high content of gravel that has been transported by birds.
SF sulfidic sulfidic material is a waterlogged deposit containing sulphur, mostly in the
form
of sulphides, and only moderate amounts of calcium carbonate.
TR technic technic hard rock is consolidated material resulting from an industrial process,
with properties substantially different from those of natural material.
TP tephric tephric material consists either of tephra, i.e. unconsolidated, non or only
slightly
weathered pyroclastic products of volcanic eruptions (including ash, cinders,
lapilli, pumice, pumice-like vesicular pyroclastics, blocks or volcanic bombs), or
of tephric deposits, i.e. tephra that has been reworked and mixed with material
from other sources. This includes tephric loess, tephric blown sand and
volcanogenic alluvium.
80. Horizon designation
Master horizon and layers, with subordinate characteristics, are coded according to (FAO
2006; FAO and
ISRIC 1990).
Master horizons and layers
H H horizon/layer. Layer dominated by organic material formed from accumulations of
(partially)
undecomposed organic material at the soil surface, which may be underwater. All H
horizons are
saturated with water for prolonged periods, or were once saturated but are now drained
artificially. An H
horizon may be on top of mineral soils or at any depth beneath the surface if it is buried.
O O horizon/layer. Layer dominated by organic material consisting of (partially)
undecomposed litter, such
as leaves, twigs, moss that has accumulated on the surface. It may be on top of either
mineral or organic
soils. An O horizon is not saturated with water for prolonged periods. The mineral fraction
of such
material is only a small percentage of the volume of the material and is generally much
less than half of
the weight. An O horizon may be at the surface of a mineral soil or at any depth beneath
the surface if it
is buried.
A A horizon. Mineral horizon that has formed at the surface or below an O horizon, and in
which all or much
of the original rock structure has been obliterated. The A horizon is characterised by one
or more of the
following:
- an accumulation of humified organic matter intimately mixed with the mineral fractions
and not
displaying properties characteristic of an E or B horizon (see below); or
- properties resulting from cultivation, pasturing, or similar kinds of disturbance; or
- a morphology that is different from the underlying B or C horizon, resulting from

processes related to
the surface (e.g. for Vertisols).
E E horizon. Mineral horizon in which the main feature is loss of silicate clay, iron,
aluminium, or some
combination of these, leaving a concentration of sand and silt particles, and in which all
or much of the
original rock structure has been obliterated.
An E horizon is most commonly differentiated from an underlying B horizon: by colour of
higher value or
lower chroma, or both; by coarser texture; or by a combination of these. An E horizon is
commonly near
the surface, below an O or A horizon, and above a B horizon. The symbol E may be used
without regard
to position in the profile for any horizon that meets the requirements and that has
resulted from soil
genesis.
B B horizon. The B horizon has formed below an A, E, O or H horizon, and has as
dominant feature the
obliteration of all or much of the original rock structure, together with one or a
combination of the
following:
- illuvial concentration, alone or in combination, of silicate clay, iron, aluminium, humus,
carbonates,
gypsum or silica;
- evidence of removal of carbonates;
- residual concentration of sesquioxides;
- coatings of sesquioxides that make the horizon conspicuously lower in value, higher in
chroma, or
redder in hue than overlying and underlying horizons without apparent illuviation of iron;
- alteration that forms silicate clay or liberates oxides or both and that forms a granular,
blocky or
prismatic structure if volume changes accompany the changes in moisture content; or
brittleness.
Included in B horizons are layers of illuvial concentrations of gypsum, carbonates, or
silica that are the
result of pedogenetic processes and brittle layers that have other evidence of alteration,
such as
prismatic structure or illuvial accumulation of clay. Layers with gleying but no other
pedogenetic changes
are not considered a B horizon.
C C horizon/layer. The C horizon or layer, excluding hard bedrock, is little affected by
pedogenetic
processes and lacks properties of H, O, A, E or B horizons. Most are mineral layers, but
some siliceous
or calcareous layers (e.g. shells, coral and diatomaceous earth) are included. Sediments,
saprolite and
unconsolidated bedrock and other geological materials that commonly slake within 24
hours are included
as C layers. Some soils form in already highly weathered material that does not meet the
requirements of
an A, E or B horizon, is considered a C horizon. Changes not considered pedogenetic are

those not
related to overlying horizons. Layers having accumulation of silica, carbonates, or
gypsum, may be
included in the C horizon, unless the layer is obviously affected by pedogenetic
processes; then it is a B
horizon.
R R layer. Hard rock underlying the soil. Air-dry chunks of an R layer will not slake within
24 hours if placed
in water. The R layer is sufficiently coherent when moist to make hand digging with a
spade impractical,
although it may be chipped or scraped.
I I layer. Ice lenses and wedges that contain at least 75 percent ice (by volume) and that
distinctly
separate organic or mineral layers in the soil.
L L layer. Sediments deposited in a body of water (sub-aqueous) and composed of both
organic and
inorganic materials, also known as limnic material.
W Water layer. Water layer in soils or water submerging soils, either permanently or
cyclic within the time
frame of 24 hours.
Subordinate characteristics
Subordinate distinctions and features within master horizons and layers are based on
profile characteristics
observable in the field and are indicated with lower case letters used as suffixes. The
following suffixes for
subordinate distinction may be used; (FAO 2006; FAO and ISRIC 1990).
a highly decomposed organic material
b buried genetic horizon
c concretions or nodules. In combination with L layer; coprogenous earth
d dense layer. In combination with L layer; diatomaceous earth
e moderately decomposed organic material
f frozen soil
g stagnic (and gleyic) conditions, reflected in mottling
h accumulation of organic matter
i slickensides (in mineral soils) or slightly decomposed organic material (in organic soils)
j jarosite mottling
k accumulation of pedogenetic carbonates
l capillary fringe mottling (gleying)
m strong cementation or induration (mineral soils) or marl (in combination with L layer)
n pedogenetic accumulation of exchangeable sodium
o residual accumulation of sesquioxides
p ploughing or other artificial disturbance by man
q accumulation of pedogenetic silica
r strong reduction
s illuvial accumulation of sesquioxides
t accumulation of silicate clay
u urban and other man-made materials
v occurrence of plinthite
w development of colour or structure in B horizons
x fragipan characteristics
y pedogenetic accumulation of gypsum

z pedogenetic accumulation of salts more soluble than gypsum
@ evidence of cryoturbation
81. Upper horizon boundary
The average depth in cm of the upper (top) boundary of each horizon. Note that all
horizons have positive
depths measured from the top of the surface of the soil downwards, including organic
and mineral
horizons or layers. See FAO (2006); when necessary old depths should be converted to
the new
standard.
82. Lower horizon boundary
The average depth in cm of the lower boundary of each horizon.
83. Distinctness of transition
Abruptness of horizon boundary to underlying horizon (FAO 2006; FAO and ISRIC 1990).
A abrupt 0 - 2 cm
C clear 2 - 5 cm
G gradual 5 - 15 cm
D diffuse 15 cm
84. Moist colour
The Munsell colours (moist soil) using integer figures for values and chroma.
85. Dry colour
The Munsell colours (dry soil) using integer figures for values and chroma.
Mottling
The colour, abundance and size of mottles according to guidelines for soil description
(FAO 2006; FAO and
ISRIC 1990).
86. Colour of mottles
The Munsell colour of the dominant mottles.
87. Abundance of mottles
The abundance of mottlesin the horizon as percentage of exposed surface:
N none 0%
V very few 0 - 2%
F few 2 - 5%
C common 5 - 15%
M many 15 - 40%
A abundant >40%
88. Size of mottles
Size classes of the individual mottles:
V very fine < 2 mm
F fine 2 - 6 mm
M medium 6 - 20 mm
C coarse > 20 mm
Structure
The grade, size and type of the primary structure elements, defined according to
guidelines for soil description
(FAO 2006; FAO and ISRIC 1990).
89. Grade of structure
N structureless apedal soil with no observable aggregation or no orderly arrangement of
natural
planes of weakness (massive or single grain)
W weak soil with poorly formed indistinct peds, that are barely observable in place even
in
dry soil, breaks up into very few intact peds, many broken peds and much apedal
material
M moderate soil with well-formed distinct peds, durable and evident in disturbed soil that
produces many entire peds, some broken peds and little apedal material
S strong soil with durable peds that is clearly evident in undisturbed (dry) soil, which
breaks
up mainly into entire peds
90. Size of structure elements
Table 5
Size classes for structure elements of various types according to guidelines for soil description(FAO
2006; FAO and ISRIC 1990;
Soil Survey Staff 1951).
Size classes Ranges of size of structure elements (mm)
platy prismatic/
columnar
(sub)angular
blocky
granular crumb
V very fine/thin <1 <10 <5 <1 <1
F fine/thin 1 -2 10-20 5-10 1 -2 1 -2
M medium 2-5 20-50 10-20 2-5 2-5
C coarse/thick 5-10 50-100 20-50 5-10
X very coarse >10 100-500 >50 >10
E extremely coarse >500
91. Type of structure

P platy particles arranged around a generally horizontal plane
R prismatic prisms without rounded upper end
C columnar prisms with rounded caps
A angular blocky bounded by plains intersecting at largely sharp angles
S subangular blocky mixed rounded and plane faces with vertices mostly rounded
G granular spheroidical or polyhedral, relatively non-porous
B crumb spheroidical or polyhedral, porous
M massive no structure visible, coherent porous (apedal soil)
N single grain no structure, individual grains
W wedge shaped structure in horizons with slickensides
K rock structure includes fine stratification in unconsolidated materials to unweathered
minerals
retaining their original position in the saprolite of consolidated rocks
Mineral concretions and coarse fragments
The presence of coarse mineral concretions and any rock and/or coarse fragments (>2
mm) in the horizons
are described in nature, abundance and size classes; items 92 96. Coarse fragments
are described here in
the same way as mineral concretions and nodules.
92. Nature of concretions and nodules
The nature of mineral nodules and concretions according to general classes of the
dominant constituents
(FAO 2006; FAO and ISRIC 1990).
R residual rock fragments
Q silica (siliceous)
F iron (ferruginous)
M manganese (manganiferous)
I iron-manganese (sesquioxides)
K carbonates (calcareous)
G gypsum (gypsiferous)
S salt (saline)
U sulphur (sulphurous)
N not known
93. Abundance of concretions and nodules
Classes of volume percentages of concretions and/or mineral nodules in the soil matrix
after (FAO 2006;
FAO and ISRIC 1990).
N none 0%
V very few 0 - 2%
F few 2 - 5%
C common 5 - 15%
M many 15 - 40%
A abundant 40 - 80%
D dominant 80%
94. Size of concretions and nodules
Size of dominant concretions and/or nodules (FAO 2006; FAO and ISRIC 1990).
V very fine <2 mm
F fine 2 - 6 mm
M medium 6 20 mm
C coarse >20 mm
95. Abundance of coarse fragments
Classes of volume percentages of rock and/or coarse fragments in the soil matrix after
(FAO 2006; FAO
and ISRIC 1990).
N none 0%
V very few 0 - 2%
F few 2 - 5%
C common 5 - 15%
M many 15 - 40%
A abundant 40 - 80%
D dominant >80%
96. Size of coarse fragments
Size of dominant rock and/or coarse fragments in classes (FAO 2006; FAO and ISRIC
1990).
F fine gravel 0.2 - 0.6 cm
M medium gravel 0.6 - 2 cm
C coarse gravel 2 - 6 cm
S stones 6 - 20 cm
B boulders 20 - 60 cm
L large boulders > 60 cm
Laboratory measured analytical attributes
97. Very coarse sand
Weight percentage of very coarse sandparticles in fine earth fraction; esd 14 is specified in
the methods
section (see Section 8.2 Analytical methods).
14
esd = equivalent spherical diameter.
71
98. Coarse sand
Weight percentage of coarse sandparticles in fine earth fraction, according to specified

methods. (see
Section 8.2 Analytical methods).
99. Medium sand
Weight percentage of medium sandparticles in fine earth fraction. (see Section 8.2
Analytical methods).
100.Fine sand
Weight percentage of fine sandparticles in fine earth fraction. (see Section 8.2, Analytical
methods).
101.Very fine sand
Weight percentage of very fine sandparticles in fine earth fraction. (see Section 8.2,
Analytical methods).
102.Total sand
Weight percentage of total sandparticles in the fine earth fraction (esd). 15 The total sand
fraction, either
as an absolute value, or as the sum of the subfractions. (see Section 8.2, Analytical
methods).
103.Silt
Weight percentage of siltparticles in fine earth fraction (esd). (see Section 8.2, Analytical
methods).
104.Clay
Weight percentage of clayparticles in fine earth fraction. (see Section 8.2, Analytical
methods).
105.Particle size class
The particle size classof the fine earth, derived from Soil Service Division Staff Figure 10.
15
esd = equivalent spherical diameter.
72
Figure10
USDA texture classes of fine earth fraction (<2 mm). Source:Soil Survey Division Staff (1993).
The particle size class of the fine earth, derived from Figure 10, which assumes particle
size fractions (esd)
defined according to (Soil Survey Division Staff 1993): sand (2 0.05 mm); silt (0.050
0.002 mm) and clay
(>0.002 mm).
106. Bulk density
The oven-dry bulk densityin kg dm-3; for methods see Section 8.2, Analytical methods.
107. Soil moisture content at various tensions
Soil moisture contentexpressed (in volume percentage) at 5 predefined tensions,
formerly referred to
as pF-values, can be accommodated in the database. The tensions include the moisture
content at
saturation (-0.1 kPa), the moisture content at -33 kPa (field capacity, according to USDA
standards) and
the moisture content at wilting point (-1.5 MPa). (see Section 8.2 Analytical methods). For
analyses of
the soil moisture data, moisture content at fixed suctions is preferable. If data are
available the
following soil moisture contents could be entered. For intermediate tensions interpolate,
e.g.:
kPa 16 -0.1 -10 -20 -33 -50 -100 -330 -1500
soil moisture (vol. %) 56 41 35 31 27 22 17 9
16
10 kPa (pressure unit) refers to 0.1 bar (obsolete) or 100 cm water head or pF2.0 (obsolete, but often used).
Coding of texture classes

S sand
LS loamy sand
SL sandy loam
SIL silty loam
SI silt
L loam
SCL sandy clay loam
CL clay loam
SICL silty clay loam
SC sandy clay
SIC silty clay
C clay
108. Electrical conductivity (EC)
The electrical conductivitydetermined in a 1:x soilwater mixture, in dS m -1 17, often
measured in the
same run as pH-H2O. See Section 8.2 for coding of analytical methods.
109. pH (H2O)
The pH determined in a 1:x soil-water mixture. See Section 8.2 for coding of analytical
methods.
110. pH (KCl)
The pH is determined in the supernatant suspension of a 1:x soil-1 MKCl mixture. See
Section 8.2 for
coding of analytical methods.
111. pH (CaCl2)
The pH is determined in the supernatant suspension of a 1:x soil-0.01 MCaCl 2 mixture
(USDA-SCS
1992). See Section 8.2 for coding of analytical methods.
Soluble salts
The type and amount of soluble salts of a saturated paste, particularly when the EC e 4
dS m-1, are described
in items 11 2-120.
112. Electrical conductivity saturation extract (ECe)
The electrical conductivityof the saturation extracts, dS m -1; only given if the soil contains
salts.
113. Soluble Na+
The soluble Na+ content of the saturated paste in cmolc l-1 18. See Section 8.2 for coding of
analytical
methods.
114. Soluble Ca++
The soluble Ca++ content of the saturated paste in cmolc l-1. See Section 8.2 for coding of
analytical
methods.
115. Soluble Mg++
The soluble Mg++ content of the saturated paste in cmolc l-1. See Section 8.2 for coding of
analytical
methods.
116. Soluble K+
The soluble K+ content of the saturated paste in cmolc l-1. See Section 8.2 for coding of
analytical
methods.
117. Soluble ClThe soluble Cl- content of the saturated paste in mmolc l-1. See Section
8.2 for coding of analytical
methods.
17
18
1dS m-1 = 1mS cm-1 = 1mMhos cm-1 = 1000S cm-1

Note: cmolc = 10 x mmol

118. Soluble SO
4
The solubleSO
--
content of the saturated paste in cmolc l-1. See Section 8.2 for coding of analytical
methods.
119. Soluble HCO
--
3
-
The solubleHCO
-3
methods.
120. Soluble CO
3
--
The soluble HCO

-3
methods.
Exchangeable cations
121. Exchangeable Ca++
Exchangeable Ca++ in cmolc kg-1 (= meq/100 g), according to methods specified under
analytical
methods. See Section 8.2 for coding of analytical methods.
122. Exchangeable Mg++
Exchangeable Mg++ in cmolc kg-1. See Section 8.2 for coding of analytical methods.
123. Exchangeable Na+
Exchangeable Na+ in cmolc kg-1. See Section 8.2 for coding of analytical methods.
124. Exchangeable K+
Exchangeable K+ in cmolc kg-1. See Section 8.2 for coding of analytical methods.
125. Exchangeable Al+++
Exchangeable Al+++ in cmolc kg-1. See Section 8.2 for coding of analytical methods.
126. Exchangeable acidity
Exchangeable acidity(H+ + Al+++), as determined in 1N KCl, in cmol c kg-1. See Section 8.2
for coding of
analytical methods.
127. Cation exchange capacity of the soil
The cation exchange capacity(CEC) of the soil at pH 7.0 in cmol c kg-1. See Section 8.2 for
coding of
analytical methods.
128. Total carbonate content
The content of (inorganic) carbonates of the soil in g kg-1. See Section 8.2 for coding
analytical
methods.
Note: expressed in g kg-1 of soil or promille (1% is 10).
129. Gypsum
The gypsum content in g kg-1. See Section 8.2 for coding analytical methods.
Note: expressed in g kg-1 of soil or promille (1% is10).

130. Total carbon
The total content of organic and inorganic carbon of the soil layer in g kg-1 See Section
8.2 for coding
analytical methods.
Note: expressed in g kg-1 of soil or promille (1% is10).
131. Organic carbon
The content of organic carbonin g kg-1 (desirable of the A horizon or of the first 25 cm,
whichever is
deeper). See Section 8.2 for coding of analytical methods.
Note: expressed in g kg-1 of soil or promille (1% OC is 10 OC)
132. Total nitrogen
The content of total nitrogenof the soil in g kg-1. See Section 8.2 for coding analytical
methods.
Note:expressed in g kg-1 of soil or promille (1% N is 10 N)
133. Available P
The available P-content of the soil in mg kg-1. See Section 8.2 for coding analytical
methods.
134. Total P
The total P-content of the soil in mg kg-1. See Section 8.2 for coding analytical methods.
135. Phosphate retention
The phosphate retentionin %. See Section 8.2 for coding analytical methods.
136. Fe, dithionite extractable
The Fe fraction, in weight %, extractable in dithionite citrate.
137. Al, oxalate extractable
The Al fraction, in weight %, extractable in oxalate acid.
138. Fe, oxalate extractable
The Fe fraction, in weight %, extractable in oxalate acid.
139. Clay mineralogy
The dominant type of mineral in the clay size fraction.
AL allophane
CH chloritic
IL illitic
IN interstratified or mixed
KA kaolinitic (and halloysite)
MO montmorillonitic (smectite group)
SE sesquioxidic
VE vermiculitic (including mica)
PART II LAND USE AND VEGETATION

78
79
7 Coding convention
In the SOTER database (version 2), land use and land cover data are needed at the soil
profile location,
recorded at the time of sampling or profile description. This information can be related to
the organic matter
content measured in the profile and differ often completely from the land cover at the
SOTER unit level, as

derived from auxiliary datasets e.g. from remote sensing data.
7.1 Land use

Hierarchical system of land use according to Remmelzwaal (1990). The land use class
codes, as used for
characterization at the profile level in the SOTER database, can be derived from Table 6.
A full description of
the land use classes is given in Annex 5.
7.2 Vegetation
Vegetation can be derived from auxiliary datasets, created by FAO, JRC and others. The
vegetation codes as
used for the characterization of the profile in the SOTER database can be derived from
Table 7 (Unesco
1973). A full description of the vegetation classes is given in Annex 6.
Table6
Hierarchy of land use.
Order Group System
A AGRICULTURE AA annual field cropping AA1 shifting cultivation
AA2 fallow system cultivation
AA3 ley system cultivation
AA4 rainfed arable cultivation
AA5 wet rice cultivation
AA6 irrigated cultivation
AP perennial field croppingAP1 non-irrigated
AP2 irrigated
AT tree & shrub cropping AT1 non-irrigated tree crop
cultivation
AT2 irrigated tree crop cultivation
AT3 non-irrigated shrub crop
cultivation
AT4 irrigated shrub crop
cultivation
H ANIMAL HUSBANDRY HE extensive grazing HE1 nomadism
HE2 semi-nomadism
HE3 ranching
HI intensive grazing HI1 animal production
HI2 dairying
F FORESTRY FN exploitation of natural
forest and woodland
FN1 selective felling
FN2 clear felling
FP plantation forestry
M MIXED FARMING MF agro-forestry
MP agro-pastoralism
(cropping & livestock
systems)
E EXTRACTION/
COLLECTING
EV exploitation of natural
vegetation
EH hunting and fishing
P NATURE
PROTECTION
PN nature and game
preservation
PN1 reserves
PN2 parks
PN3 wildlife management
PD degradation control PD1 non-interference
PD2 with interference

Order Group System
S SETTLEMENT/
INDUSTRIES
SR residential use
SI industrial use
ST transport
SC recreational
SX excavations
SD disposal sites
Y MILITARY AREA
O OTHER LAND AREAS
U UNUSED
N NOT KNOWN
82
Table7
Hierarchy of vegetation classes.
Class Subclass Group
I closed forest IA mainly evergreen forest IA1 tropical ombrophilous forest
IA2 tropical and subtropical evergreen seasonal forest
IA3 tropical and subtropical semi-deciduous forest
IA4 subtropical ombrophilous forest
IA5 mangrove forest
IA6 temperate and subpolar evergreen ombrophilous forest
IA7 temperate evergreen seasonal broad-leaved forest
IA8 winter-rain evergreen broad-leaved sclerophyllous
forest
IA9 tropical and subtropical evergreen needle-leaved forest
IA10 temperate and subpolar evergreen needle-leaved forest
.. IB mainly deciduous forest IB1 tropical and subtropical drought-forest
IB2 cold-deciduous forest with evergreen trees (or shrubs)
IB3 cold-deciduous forest without evergreen trees
.. IC extremely xeromorphic forest IC1 sclerophyllous-dominated extremely xeromorphic forest
IC2 thorn-forest
IC3 mainly succulent forest
II woodland IIA mainly evergreen woodland IIA1 evergreen broad-leaved woodland
IIA2 evergreen needle-leaved woodland
IIB mainly deciduous woodland IIB1 drought-deciduous woodland
IIB2 cold-deciduous woodland with evergreen trees
IIB3 cold-deciduous woodland without evergreen trees
.. IIC extremely xeromorphic
woodland
IICX subdivisions as extremely xeromorphic forest (See IC)
III scrub IIIA mainly evergreen scrub IIIA1 evergreen broad-leaved shrubland (or thicket)
IIIA2 evergreen needle-leaved and microphyllous shrubland
.. IIIB mainly deciduous scrub IIIB1 drought-deciduous scrub with evergreen woody plants
admixed
IIIB2 drought-deciduous scrub without evergreen woody
plants admixed
IIIB3 cold-deciduous scrub
.. IIIC extremely xeromorphic
(subdesert) shrubland
IIIC1 mainly evergreen subdesert shrubland
IIIC2 deciduous subdesert shrubland
IV dwarf scrub and related
communities
IVA mainly evergreen dwarf-scrub IVA1 evergreen dwarf-scrub thicket
IVA2 evergreen dwarf shrubland
IVA3 mixed evergreen dwarf-shrubland and herbaceous
formation
.. IVB mainly deciduous dwarf-scrub IVB1 facultatively drought-deciduous dwarf-thicket (or dwarfshrubland)
IVB2 obligatory, drought-deciduous dwarf-thicket (or dwarfshrubland)

IVB3 cold-deciduous dwarf-thicket (or dwarf-shrubland)
.. IVC extremely xeromorphic dwarfshrubland
IVCX subdivisions as extremely xeromorphic (subdesert)
shrubland (See IIIC)
.. IVD tundra IVD1 mainly bryophyte tundra
IVD2 mainly lichen tundra
.. IVE mossy bog formations with
dwarf-shrub
IVE1 raised bog
IVE2 non-raised bog
V herbaceous vegetation VA tall graminoid vegetation VA1 tall grassland with a tree synusia covering 10-40%
VA2 tall grassland with a tree synusia <10%
VA3 tall grassland with a synusia of shrubs
VA4 tall grassland with a woody synusia
VA5 tall grassland practically without woody synusia
.. VB medium tall grassland VB1 medium tall grassland with a tree synusia covering 1040%
VB2 medium tall grassland with a synusia <10%
84

VB3 medium tall grassland with a synusia of shrubs
VB4 medium tall grassland with an open synusia of tuft
plants (usually palms)
VB5 medium tall grassland practically without woody
synusia
.. VC short grassland VC1 short grassland with a tree synusia covering 10-40%
VC2 short grassland with a tree synusia <10%
VC3 short grassland with a synusia of shrubs
VC4 short grassland with an open synusia of tuft plants
VC5 short grassland practically without woody synusia
VC6 short to medium tall mesophytic grassland
VC7 graminoid tundra
.. VD forb vegetation VD1 tall forb communities
VD2 low forb communities
.. VE hydromorphic fresh-water
vegetation
VE1 rooted fresh-water communities
VE2 free-floating fresh-water communities
VI barren VIB barren VIB non vegetated or very sparse vegetation less than 5%
85
PART III MISCELLANEOUS FILES

86
87
8 Reference files
Tables containing information on the source materials used for the compilation of SOTER
units, generally soil
maps, the laboratories that analysed the soil samples, the laboratory methods and the
organisations
responsible for the national profile database are described in this Chapter.
Table8
Attributes of source material related tables.
SOURCE MAP LABORATORY PROFILE DATABASE
1 map_ID 1 lab_ID 1 soil profile database_ID
2 map title 2 laboratory name 2 main author (s)
3 year 3 year
4 scale 4 title of document
5 minimum latitude (y)
LABORATORY METHOD 5 name of institute and/or reference
6 minimum longitude (x) document

7 maximum latitude (y) 3 lab_ID 6 publisher
8 maximum longitude(x) 4 year 7 chapter /page
9 UTM zonetype of map 5 month 8 digital source (url)
10 geodetic datum 6 attribute
11 minimum easting 7 method of analysis_ID
12 minimum northing
ANALYTICAL METHOD
13 maximum easting
14 maximum northing 8 method of analysis_ID
15 type of map 9 brief description
Note: for coding conventions see text.
8.1 Source map

Information on type of map, scale, location and date are stored in the table source map
(see Table 8). The
location in maximum and minimum X and Y-coordinates or in easting and northing can be
used in GIS to
overlay this information on the SOTER map.
1 map_ID
Code for the source map from which the primary data were derived; it is a combination of
the ISO
country codeand a sequential number for the source map. See map_IDin Section 6.1.
2 map title
Title of the source map; there is room to cover 200 characters.
3 year
The yearof publication of the source map.
4 scale
The scaleof the source map as a representative fraction. For example 1000000 for a 1:1
million map.
5 minimum latitude
The minimum latitude(Y-coordinate) of the source map, in decimal degrees North.
Latitude South is a
negative figure (-).
6 minimum longitude
The minimum longitude(X-coordinate) of the source map, in decimal degrees East.
Longitude West gets
a negative number (-).
7 maximum latitude
The maximum latitude(Y-coordinate) of the source map, in decimal degrees North (+).
8 maximum longitude
The maximum longitude(X-coordinate) of the source map, in decimal degrees East (+).
9 UTM zone
The UTM zone of the source map. A number for the longitudinal belt (1-60) combined by
a letter for the
latitudinal belt (C-X).
10 geodetic datum
The geodetic datumof the source map.
11 minimum easting
The minimum eastingof the source map.
12 minimum northing
The minimum northingof the source map.
13 maximum easting
The maximum eastingof the source map.
14 m
mum northing
The maximum northingof the source map.
15 type of source map
The type of source map:
S (conventional) soil map
D digital soil map
M morpho-pedological map (soil-landscapes)
O other
8.2 Laboratory information

Analytical method applied in a particular laboratory and coded as separate entities.
Laboratory
1 lab_ID
Unique code for the laboratory where the reference soil profiles were analysed.
Constitutes of an ISO
country codeplus a sequential number (e.g. BR001).
2 laboratory name
Name of the laboratory in full (up to 200 characters).
Laboratory method
3 lab_ID
Unique laboratory code.
4 year
The yearin which the laboratory introduced a method for a given attribute. Format is
YYYY.
5 month
The monthin which the laboratory introduced a method for a given attribute. Format MM;
in combination
with 4 (year of introduction).
6 attribute
The soil horizon attributefor which the laboratory method applies. See Annex 8 for
attribute coding
conventions.
7 method of analysis_ID
Unique code for the analytical method applied. This code consists of the attribute code
(item 6),
separated by a slash, and followed by a sequential number for the analytical method
(e.g. 104/2 =
percentage clay according to hydrometer method). This is now obsolete and replaced by
e.g. 104/TE03;
clay percentage measured by hydrometer method with dispersion treatment. TE03 is the
method of
analysis_ID (AM_ID). See also Annex 8.
Analytical method
8 method of analysis_ID
Method ofanalysis_IDcode as given under 7.
9 description
A short descriptionof the analytical method, including references up to 256 characters
long.
8.3 Soil profile database

Holds information on the (national) soil profile database that has been consulted for the
selection of the SOTER
profile data. Coded using ISO country code.
1 profile database_ID
The identification code for the owner, institute or organisation that holds (part of) the
reference soil
profile database. Code consists of an ISO country code(see Annex 7) and a sequential
number.
2 main author(s)
The name of the main authorof the report, study, database or other data source.
Sometimes this can be
substituted by the name of the institute or organization that is owner of the dataset (200
characters).
3 year
The yearof publishing the report, study or data source.
4 title
The titleof the report, study, database or other data source (up to 100 characters).
5 name of the owner of the data
Name (in full) of the owner, institute or organisation of the (inter-) national soil profile
database and
address, or the name of the original soil survey report, regional study, or other reference
document from
which the profiles were retrieved (up to 100 characters).
6 publisher
Publisherof the document or original source
7 chapter/page
Chapter and/or pages in the document where the original description and analytical data
can be found.
8 digital data source
The URL of the digital data sourcefrom which the data can be downloaded or consulted.
Annex 1 Miscellaneous polygons

Miscellaneous polygons in SOTER are areas of land that have a non-soil cover, an ice
mantle or water body,
etc. These non-soil areas were mapped as miscellaneous land units (FAO-Unesco 1974).
In the Harmonized
World Soil Database (FAO et al.2008) they are recoded and harmonized.
Non-soil units and non-soil parts
Non soil units (coded ns) correspond with regions where there is no soil mantle, such as
bare rock expanses;
glaciers or land ice; shifting sands; urban areas; etc. In principle two situations can exist:
a) the entire SOTER unit is covered and mapable.
b) parts or areas where the non-soil cover represent a proportion of the SOTER unit and
can thus be
considered at soil component level.
a) Differentiation at SOTER unit level
When the entire polygon consists of a non-soil unit (Table 9), a special entry is made in
the GIS database for
identification in the map legend; however, they are not treated as SOTER units. In the GIS
file these polygons
are coded according to the SOTER code (FAO et al.2008); the list can still be extended.
See Table 9. In the
GIS file, the polygon will be labelled as:
ISO (country code) + (SOTER code): e.g. BRns1, signifying a lake (ns1) in Brazil.
Table9
Codes for non-soil units in the GIS file and attribute database.
SOTER code FAO symbolsa) Description
ns1 WR lakes, permanent inland water bodies
ns2 GG glaciers, land ice, permanent snow fields
ns3 ST salt plains, salt flats
ns4 DS dunes, (shifting) sands
ns5 RK rock outcrops, crumbly rocks
ns6 UR urban, building areas
ns7 QU quarry, open air mining (coal) and other excavations, etc.
ns8 SW perennial swamps, inaccessible marshes
ns9 SL salt lakes
ns10 BL bad lands
ns11 FP fish ponds
--ns99 NI no data
a) Symbols are according to FAO et al.(2008).

b) Differentiation at soil component level
When small areas of lakes, land ice, rock outcrops, etc., cannot be mapped as a mapping
unit, they are coded
at soil component level as follows:
The normal SOTER_Unit_IDis given, including the terrain- and soil component number,
but under the
field/column where the profile_ID (PRID)is stored: the ISO (country code) # (SOTER
code) is entered; for
example BR#ns1 for say 15% lakes within a SOTER unit in Brazil.
NOTE: The difference in the code (#mark) separates the ISO country code from SOTER
code
(Table 9).
In a legend, the non-soil coding can follow the FAO code (column: FAO symbol). It
substitutes SOTER code
for the non-soil units in the listing of the classification according to Revised Legend (FAOUnesco 1988) or Soil
Reference Group of WRB (IUSS 2006).
Annex 2 Hierarchy of landforms

The term landform, as used here, is defined as land with a characteristic slope and relief
index (Remmelzwaal
1991). Landform separation (first and second level) is thus based on morphometric
criteria, starting with the
slope gradient. The relief index is the second most important criterion for subdividing the
landscape.
Subdivisions of level land also take into account the position of the landform vis--vis the
surrounding land.
Further separation of the landforms according to hypsometric criteria is different for each
1st level landform
(see Chapter 6, item 13). Exceptions to this are noted with the description of the 2nd
level landforms. The
classification as presented here has first been tested for a 1:5 million physiographic
inventory of Latin America

and Africa (Eschweiler 1993; Wen 1993) and more recently in the e-SOTER project
(www.esoter.net).
1st Level landforms
Level land
Level land comprises land with dominant slopes between 0 and 10% (0 o and 5o42').
Moreover, the relief index
is such that the difference between the highest and the lowest point within one slope unit
is mostly less than
50 m.
Sloping land
Sloping land embraces all landforms that have dominant slopes between 10% and 30%,
usually combined with
a relief index of more than 50 m per slope unit. In general, sloping land will be more
heterogeneous with
respect to its slope than level land.
Steep land
Steep land is mainly confined to mountainous country, where average slopes are over
30% (the variability of
slope gradients may be so great as to make it difficult to recognize a dominant slope)
and the relief index is
more than 300 m km-1 (within a radius of 500 meters).
2nd Level landforms
L Level land
Except for low-gradient footslope, all types of level land that can be distinguished meet
the same
criteria, although they differ in their relationship towards the surrounding land. As the
upper slope limit
for level land is a gradient of 10%, areas with a perceptible slope may still be considered
level land.
LP Plains
Plain is all level land that is not enclosed between higher lying land, or that do not
protrude above the
surrounding country, or do not rise against land with a considerable steeper slope.
LL Plateaus
Plateau is level land that is, compared with the surrounding landscape, situated at
relatively elevated
position. Plateau can be very extensive, but must always on at least one side be bounded
by a slope or
escarpment (with a slope of 10% or more), connecting it with lower lying land. Many socalled plateaus
are in fact elevated plains, and should be classified as such.
LD Depressions
A depression is an area of level land that is on all sides surrounded by higher lying level
or sloping land.
The area occupied by the band of sloping land that forms the transition from the higher
ground to the
floor of the depression is small compared to the area within the depression taken up by
level land.
LF Low-gradient foot slopes
Steadily rising level land, abutting strongly sloping or steep land, is classified as low
gradient footslope.
They merge into other types of level land, including low gradient foot slopes that rise in
an opposite
direction. Pediments, (coalescing) alluvial fans and other similar landforms can all be
considered low
gradient foot slopes. Foot slopes with a higher gradient than 10% are accommodated
under hills, as
such slopes are usually incised to the extent that they take a hilly character.
LV Valley floors
Elongated strips of level land, often on both sides flanked by areas of flat, sloping or
steep land located
near a natural drainage channel (river), constitute valley floors. Valley floors normally
taper off at one
end, where they are often embraced by steeper land on three sides. They may connect
with other types
of level land or sloping land at the other end. In flat land the floodplains are considered
as valley floors.
S Sloping land
Sloping land is land with a gradient between 10 and 30%. In most cases the relief index
of sloping land
is more than 50 m per slope unit.
SE Medium-gradient escarpment zone
Relatively gently sloping (usually 15-30% gradient) zone that forms a transition between
high and low
lying country with distinct lower gradients. The local relief index of this landform is
normally less than
300 m km-1.
SH Medium-gradient hills
All sloping land with an undulating relief (minimum relief index 50 m per slope unit) and
that is, not more
than 300 m high, and not incorporated in mountainous terrain, are considered hills. This
group does not
only include hilly landforms, but also accommodates other landforms such as mediumgradient
footslope, ridges, etc.
SM Medium-gradient mountains
Relatively gentle sloping (15-30% gradient) mountains with a local relief index of more
than 300 m km-1.
Many volcanoes will fall into this category, as do several foothill zones of major mountain
systems.
SP Dissected plains
Sloping land with a more or less constant crest level, resulting in slope gradients of less
than 10%, but
with relief intensities between 50 and 100 m km-1.
SV Medium gradient valleys
Elongated strips of sloping land, often on both sides flanked by areas, of strongly sloping
or steep land,
constitute medium gradient valley floors. Valley floors normally taper off at one end,
where they are
embraced by steeper land on three sides. They may connect with other types of sloping
land at the
other end. In mountainous areas valley floors can be surrounded on all sides by steep
land, and do not
necessarily have to be elongated.
T Steep land
All land with slope gradients in excess of 30% is considered steep land. The main
landform in this
category is mountainous land.
TE High-gradient escarpment zone
Steep land that forms the transition between high and low lying country and lacks
outstanding peaks.
The relief index is normally more than 300 m km-1.
TH High-gradient hills
Steep but low relief land (relief index of less than 300 m km-1). Bad lands would be a
landform taken
care of by this group.
TM High-gradient mountains
All steep land with a relief index of more than 300 m km-1, and surrounded by one or
more outstanding
peaks.
TV High-gradient valleys
Very steep valleys, with normally very little valley floor. No height limit is given, as the
lack of valley floor
and the presence of steep slopes ensure that only deep valleys will cover sufficient area
to produce
mapable delineations. Mostly found in incised elevated sedimentary plateaus.
Annex 3 Diagnostic horizons,

properties and
materials of Soil Reference Groups and
WRB
Legend
3.1 Diagnostic horizons
Characterization of diagnostic horizons, diagnostic properties and diagnostic materials is
according to the
World Reference Base for Soil Resources (IUSS 2006, 2007).
AL albic The albic horizon is a light-coloured subsurface horizon from which clay and free
iron
oxides have been removed, or in which the oxides have been segregated to the
extent that the colour of the horizon is determined by the colour of the sand and silt
particles rather than by coatings of these particles. It generally has a weakly
expressed soil structure or lacks structural development altogether. The upper and
lower boundaries are normally abrupt or clear. Albic horizons usually have coarser
textures than the overlying or under lying horizons. However, with respect to an
underlying spodichorizon, this difference may only be slight. Many albic horizons are
associated with wetness and contain evidence of reducing conditions. An albic
horizon has:
1. a Munsell colour (dry) either:

a) a value of 7 or 8 and a chroma of 3 or less; or
b) a value of 5 or 6 and a chroma of 2 or less; and
2. a Munsell colour (moist) either:
a) a value of 6, 7 or 8 and a chroma 4 or less; or
b) a value of 5 and chroma of 3 or less; or
c) a value of 4 and a chroma 2 or less. A chroma of 3 is permitted if the parent
materials have a hue of 5YR or
redder, and the chroma is due to the colour of uncoated silt or sand grains;
and
3. a thickness of 1 cm or more
AH anthric The anthric horizon is a moderately thick, dark-coloured surface horizon that
is the
result of long-term cultivation (ploughing, liming, fertilization, etc.). An anthric
horizon is a mineral surface horizon and:
1. meets all colour, structure and organic matter requirements of a mollic or
umbrichorizon; and
2. shows evidence of human disturbance by having one or more of the following:
a) an abrupt lower boundary change at ploughing depth, a plough pan; or
b) lumps of applied lime; or
c) mixing of soil layers by cultivation; or
d) 1.5 g kg-1 or more P2O5 soluble in 1% citric acid; and
3. has less than 5% (by volume) of animal pores, coprolites or other traces of soil
animal activity below tillage depth; and
4. has a thickness of 20 cm or more.
AQ anthraquic The anthraquic horizon is a human-induced surface horizon that
comprises a puddled
layerand plough pan. An anthraquic horizon has:
1. a puddled layer with both:
a) a Munsell colour hue of 7.5YR or yellower, or GY, B or BG hues; a value
(moist) of 4 or less, and chroma (moist) of 2 or less; and
b) sorted soil aggregates and vesicular pores; and
2. a plough pan underlying the puddled layer with all of the following:
a) a platy structure; and
b) a bulk density higher by 20% or more (relative) than that of the puddled
layer; and
c) yellowish-brown, brown or reddish-brown Fe-Mn mottles or coatings; and
3. a thickness of 20 cm or more.
AR argic The argic horizon is a subsurface horizon with distinct higher clay content than
the
overlying horizon. This textural differentiation may be caused by an illuvial
accumulation of clay, by a predominant pedogenetic formation of clay in the subsoil,
by destruction of clay in the surface horizon, by selective surface erosion of clay, by
upward movement of coarser particles due to swelling and shrinking, by biological
activity or by a combination of two or more of these different processes.
Sedimentation of surface materials that are coarser than the subsurface horizon may
enhance a pedogenetic textural differentiation. However, a mere lithological
discontinuity, such as may occur in alluvial deposits, does not qualify as an argic
horizon. An argic horizon has:
1. a texture of sandy loam or finer and 8% or more clay in the fine earth fraction;
and
2. one or both of the following:

a) if an overlying coarser textured horizon is present that is not ploughed and
not separated from the argic horizon by a lithological discontinuity, more
total clay than this overlying horizon such that:
i) if the overlying horizon has less than 15% clay in the fine earth
fraction, the argic horizon must contain at least 3% more clay; or
ii) if the overlying horizon has 15% or more but less than 40% clay in
the fine earth fraction, the ratio of clay in the argic horizon to that of
the overlying horizon must be 1.2 or more; or
iii) if the overlying horizon has 40% or more clay in the fine earth
fraction, the argic horizon must contain at least 8% more clay; or
b) evidence of clay illuviation in one or more of the following forms:
i) oriented clay bridging of the sand grains; or
ii) clay films lining pores; or
iii) clay films on both vertical and horizontal surfaces of soil
aggregates; or
iv) in thin section, oriented clay bodies that constitute 1% or more of
the section; or
v) a COLE of 0.04 or higher, anda ratio of fine clay to total clay in the
argic horizon greater by 1.2 or more than the ratio in the overlying
coarser textured horizon; and
3. if an overlying coarser textured horizon is present that is not ploughed and not
separated from the argic horizon by a lithological discontinuity, an increase in
clay content within a vertical distance of one of the following:
a) 30 cm, if there is evidence of clay illuviation; or
b) 15 cm, in all other cases; and
4. does not form part of a natrichorizon; and
5. a thickness of one tenth or more of the sum of the thickness of all overlying
mineral horizons, if present, and one of the following:
a) 7.5 cm or more, if it is not entirely composed of lamellae (that are 0.5
cm or more thick) and the texture is finer than loamy sand; or
b) 15 cm or more (combined thickness, if composed entirely of lamellae
that are 0.5 cm or more thick).
CA calcic The calcic horizon is a horizon in which secondary calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
has
accumulated in a diffuse form (calcium carbonate present only in the form of fine
particles of less than 1 mm, dispersed in the matrix) or as discontinuous
concentrations (pseudomycelia, cutans, soft and hard nodules, or veins). A calcic
horizon has:
1. a calcium carbonate equivalent content in the fine earth fraction of 15% or
more; and
2. 5% or more (by volume) secondary carbonates or a calcium carbonate
equivalent of 5% or more higher (absolute, by mass) than that of an underlying
layer; and
CB cambic The cambic horizon is a subsurface horizon showing evidence of alteration
relative to
the underlying horizons. A cambic horizon has:
1. a texture in the fine earth fraction of very fine sand, loamy very fine sand or
finer; and
2. soil structure or absence of rock structure in 50% or more of the volume of
the fine earth; and

3. shows evidence of alteration in one or more of the following:
a) higher Munsell chroma (moist), higher value (moist), redder hue, or higher
clay content than the underlying or an overlying layer; or
b) evidence of removal of carbonates or gypsum; or
c) presence of soil structure and absence of rock structure in the entire fine
earth, if carbonates and gypsum are absent in the parent material and in
the dust that falls on the soil; and
4. does not form part of a plough layer, does not consist of organicmaterial and
does not form part of an anthraquic, argic, calcic, duric, ferralic, fragic,
gypsic, hortic, hydragric, irragric, mollic, natric, nitic, petrocalcic, petroduric,
petrogypsic, petroplinthic, pisoplinthic, plaggic, plinthic, salic, sombric,
spodic,umbric, terric, verticor voronichorizon; and
CY cryic The cryic horizon is a perennially frozen soil horizon in mineralor
organicmaterials.
A cryic horizon has:
1. continuously for two or more consecutive years one of the following:
a) massive ice, cementation by ice or readily visible ice crystals; or
b) a soil temperature of 0o C or less and insufficient water to form readily
visible ice crystals; and
2. a thickness of 5 cm or more
DU duric The duric horizon is a subsurface horizon showing weakly cemented to
indurated
nodules or concretions cemented by silica (SiO2), presumably in the form of opal
and micro-crystalline forms of silica (durinodes). A duric horizon has:
1. 10% or more (by volume) of weakly cemented to indurated, silica-enriched
nodules (durinodes) or fragments of a broken-up petrodurichorizon that show
all of the following:
a) when air-dry, less than 50% slake in 1 M HCl even after prolonged
soaking, but 50% or more slake in concentrated KOH, concentrated
NaOH or in alternating acid and alkali; and
b) are firm or very firm and brittle when wet, both before and after
treatment with acid; and
c) have a diameter of 1 cm or more; and
FA ferralic The ferralic horizon is a subsurface horizon resulting from long and intense
weathering in which the clay fraction is dominated by low-activity clays, and the silt
and sand fractions by highly resistant minerals, such as (hydr)oxides of Fe, Al, Mn
and titanium (Ti). A ferralic horizon has:
1. a sandy loam or finer particle size and less than 80% (by volume) gravel,
stones, pisoplinthic or petroplinthic concretions; and
2. a CEC (by 1 M NH4OAc) of less than 16 cmolckg-1 clay and an ECEC (sum of
exchangeable bases plus exchangeable acidity in 1 M KCl) of less than 12
cmol
c kg-1 clay; and
3. less than 10% water-dispersible clay, unless it has one or both of the
following:
a) gericproperties; or
b) 1.4% or more organic carbon; and
4. less than 10% (by grain count) weatherable minerals in the 0.05-0.2 mm
fraction; and
5. does not have andicor vitricproperties; and
FI ferric The ferric horizon is a subsurface horizon in which segregation of Fe, or Fe and
Mn,
has taken place to such an extent that large mottles or discrete nodules have
formed and the intermottle/internodular matrix is largely depleted of Fe. Generally,
such segregation leads to poor aggregation of the soil particles in Fe-depleted
zones and compaction of the horizon. A ferric horizon:
1. has one or both of the following:
a) 15% or more of the exposed area occupied by coarse mottles with a
Munsell hue redder than 7.5YR and a chroma of more than 5 (moist); or
b) 5% or more of the volume consisting of discrete reddish to blackish nodules
with a diameter of 2 mm or more, with the exteriors of the nodules being at
least weakly cemented or indurated, and the exteriors having redder hue or
stronger chroma than the interiors; and
2. does not form part of a petroplinthic, pisoplinthic or plinthic horizon; and
FO folic The folic horizon is a (sub-)surface horizon occurring at shallow depth that
consists
of well-aerated organicmaterial. A folic horizon consist of organicmaterial that:
1. is saturated with water for less than 30 consecutive days in most years; and
FR fragic The fragic horizon is a natural non-cemented subsurface horizon with pedality
and a
porosity pattern such that roots and percolating water penetrate the soil only along
interped faces and streaks. The natural character excludes plough pans and
surface traffic pans.
A fragic horizon:
1. show evidence of alteration, as defined in cambic horizon, at least on the
faces of structural units; separations between these units which allow roots to
enter, have an average horizontal spacing of 10 cm or more; and
2. contains less than 0.5% (by mass) organic carbon; and
3. shows in 50% or more of the volume slaking or fracturing of air-dry clods of 510 cm in diameter, within 10 minutes when placed in water; and
4. does not cement upon repeated wetting and drying; and
5. has a penetration resistance at field capacity of 4 MPa or more in 90% or
more of the volume; and
6. does not show effervescence after adding a 1 MHCl solution: and
FU fulvic The fulvic horizon is a thick, dark coloured horizon at or near to the surface that
is
organo-aluminium complexes. It has a low bulk density and contains highly humified
organic matter that shows a lower ratio of humic acids to fulvic acids compared
with the melanichorizon.
A fulvic horizon has:
1. andicproperties; and
a) a Munsell colour value or chroma (moist) of more than 2; or
b) a melanic index of 1.70 or more; and

3. a weighted average of 6% or more organic carbon, and 4% or more organic
carbon in all parts; and
4. a cumulative thickness of 30 cm or more with less than 10 cm non-fulvic
material in between.
GY gypsic The gypsic horizon is a commonly non-cemented horizon containing secondary
accumulations of gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) in various forms. A gypsic horizon has:
1. 5% or more gypsum (the percentage gypsum can be calculated as the product
of gypsum content, expressed as cmolc kg-1 soil, and the equivalent mass of
gypsum (86) expressed as a percentage) and 1% or more (by volume) visible
secondary gypsum; and
2. a product of thickness (in cm) times gypsum content (percentage) of 150 or
more; and
HI histic The histic horizon is a (sub-)surface horizon occurring at shallow depth that
consists
of poorly aerated organic material. A histic horizon consists of organic material
that:
1. is saturated with water for 30 consecutive days or more in most years (unless
drained); and
2. has a thickness of 10 cm or more. If the histic horizon is less than 20 cm
thick, the upper 20 cm of the soil after mixing, or if continuous rock is present
within 20 cm depth, the entire soil above, after mixing, must contain 20% or
more organic carbon.
HO hortic The hortic horizon is a human-induced mineral surface horizon that results
from
deep cultivation, intensive fertilization and/or long-continued application of human
and animal wastes and other organic residues (e.g. manures, kitchen refuse,
compost, etc). A hortic horizon has:
1. a Munsell colour value and chroma (moist) of 3 or less; and
2. a weighted average organic carbon content of 1% or more; and
3. a 0.5 MNaHCO
3 extractable P2O5 content of 100 mg kg-1 fine earth or more in
the upper 25 cm; and
4. a base saturation (by1 MNH4OAc) of 50% or more; and
5. 25% (by volume) or more of animal pores, coprolites or other traces of soil
animal activity; and
HY hydragric The hydragric horizon is a human-induced subsurface horizon associated
with wet
cultivation. A hydragric horizon has:
1. one or more of the following:
a) Fe or Mn coatings or Fe or Mn concretions; or
b) dithionite-citrate extractable Fe 2 times or more, or dithionite-citrate
extractable Mn 4 times or more that of the surface horizon; or
c) redox depletion zones with a Munsell colour value of 4 or more and
chroma of 2 or less (moist) in macropores; and
IR irragric The irragric horizon is a human-induced mineral surface horizon that builds up
gradually through continuous application of irrigation water with substantial
amounts of sediments and which may include fertilizers, soluble salts, organic
matter, etc. An irragric horizon has:

1. a uniformly structured surface layer; and
2. a higher clay content, particularly fine clay, than the underlying original soil;
and
3. a relative difference among medium, fine and very fine sand, clay and
carbonates of less than 20% among parts within the horizon; and
4. a weighted average organic carbon content of 0.5% or more, decreasing with
depth, but remaining at 0.3% or more at the lower limit of the irragric horizon;
and
5. 25% (by volume) or more of animal pores, coprolites or other traces of soil
animal activity; and
ME melanic The melanic horizon is a thick, black horizon at or near to the surface that is
organo-aluminium complexes. It has a low bulk density and contains highly humified
organic matter that shows a lower ratio of fulvic acids to humic acids compared
with the fulvic horizon. A melanic horizon has:
1. andicproperties; and
2. a Munsell colour value and chroma (moist) of 2 or less; and
3. a melanic index of less than 1.70; and
4. a weighted average of 6% or more organic carbon, and 4% or more organic
carbon in all parts; and
5. a cumulative thickness of 30 cm or more with less than 10 cm non-melanic
material in between.
MO mollic The mollic horizon is a thick, well-structured, dark coloured surface horizon
with a
high base saturation and a moderate to high content of organic matter.
A mollic horizon, after mixing either the upper 20 cm of the mineral soil or, if
continuous rock, a cryic, petrocalcic, petroduric, petrogypsic or petroplinthic
horizon is present within 20 cm from the mineral soil surface, the entire mineral soil
above, has:
1. a soil structure sufficiently strong that the horizon is not both massive and hard
or very hard when dry in both the mixed part and the underlying unmixed part of
the horizon, if the minimum thickness is larger than 20 cm (prisms larger than
30 cm in diameter are included in the meaning of massive if there is no
secondary structure within the prisms); and
2. Munsell colours with a chroma of 3 or less when moist, a value of 3 or less
when moist and 5 or less when dry on broken samples in both the mixed part
and the underlying unmixed part of the horizon, if the minimum thickness is
larger than 20 cm. If there is 40% or more finely divided lime, the limits of the
dry colour value are waived; the colour value, moist, is 5 or less. The colour
value is one unit or more, darker than that of the parent material (both moist and
dry), unless the parent material has a colour value of 4 or less, moist, in which
case the colour contrast requirement is waived. If a parent material is not
present, comparison must be made with the layer immediately underlying the
surface layer; and
3. an organic carbon content of 0.6% or more in both the mixed part and the
underlying unmixed part of the horizon if the minimum thickness is larger than
20 cm. The organic carbon content is 2.5% or more if the colour requirements
are waived because of finely divided lime, or 0.6% more than in the parent
material if the colour requirements are waived because of dark coloured parent
materials; and
4. a base saturation (by 1 M NH4OAc) of 50% or more on a weighted average
throughout the depth of the horizon; and
5. a thickness of one of the following:
a) 10 cm or more if directly overlying continuous rock, or a cryic,petrocalcic,
petroduric, petrogypsic, or petroplinthichorizon; or
b) 20 cm or more and 1/3 or more of the thickness between the mineral soil
surface and the upper boundary of continuous rock, or a calcic, cryic,
gypsic, petrocalcic, petroduric, petrogypsic, petroplinthicor salichorizon
or calcaric, fluvicor gypsyricmaterial within 75 cm; or
c) 20 cm or more and 1/3 or more of the thickness between the mineral soil
surface and the lower boundary of the lowest diagnostic horizon within 75
cm and, if present, above any of the diagnostic horizons or materials listed
under b; or
d) 25 cm or more in all other cases.
NA natric The natric horizon is a dense subsurface horizon with distinct higher clay
content
than the overlying horizon(s). It has a high content in exchangeable Na and/or Mg.
A natric horizon is an argic horizon that has the properties 1 to 3, and 5 of the
argichorizon and additionally:
a) a columnar or prismatic structure in some part of the horizon; or
b) a blocky structure with tongues of an overlying coarser textured horizon in
which there are uncoated silt or sand grains, extending 2.5 cm or more
into the natric horizon; or
c) a massive appearance; and
2. an exchangeable Na percentage (ESP) of 15% or more within the upper 40
cm; or more exchangeable Mg plus Na than Ca plus exchange acidity (at pH
8.2) within the same depth, if the saturation with exchangeable Na is 15% or
more in some sub-horizon within 200 cm of the soil surface.
NI nitic The nitic horizon is a clay-rich subsurface horizon. It has a moderately to strongly
developed polyhedric structure breaking to flat-edged or nutty elements with many
shiny ped faces, which cannot or can only partially be attributed to clay illuviation. A
nitic horizon has:
1. less than 20% change (relative) in clay content over 12 cm to layers
immediately above and below; and
2. all of the following:
a) 30% or more clay; and
b) a water-dispersible clay to total clay ratio less than 0.10; and
c) a silt to clay ratio less than 0.40; and
3. moderate to strong, angular blocky structure breaking to flat-edged or nutshaped
elements with shiny ped faces. The shiny ped faces are not, or only
partially, associated with clay coatings; and
4. all of the following:
a) 4% or more citrate-dithionite extractable Fe (free iron) in the fine earth
fraction; and
b) 0.20% or more acid oxalate (pH 3) extractable Fe (activeiron) in the fine
earth fraction; and
c) a ratio between activeand freeiron of 0.05 or more; and
OC ochric The ochric A horizon is a surface horizon that is too light in colour, has too high
chroma, too little organic carbon, or is too thin to be mollic, umbric or voronic, or
is both hard and massive when dry. Stratified materials, e.g. surface layers of fresh
alluvial deposits, do not qualify as an ochric horizon.
PA plaggic The plaggic horizon is a black or brown human-induced mineral surface
horizon that
has been produced gradually by long-continued manuring. In medieval times, sod
and other materials were commonly used for bedding of livestock and the manure
was spread on fields being cultivated. The mineral materials brought in by this kind
of manuring eventually produced an appreciably thickened horizon (in places as
much as 100 cm or more thick) that is rich in organic carbon. Base saturation is
typically low. A plaggic horizon has:
1. a texture of sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, or loam or a combination of them;
and
2. contains artefacts, but less than 20%, has spade marks below 30 cm depth or
other evidence of agricultural activity below 30 cm depth; and
3. Munsell colours with a value of 4 or less, moist, or 5 or less, dry, and a
chroma of 2 or less; and
4. an organic carbon content of 0.6% or more; and
5. occurs in locally raised land surfaces; and
PC petrocalcic The petrocalcic horizon is an indurated calcichorizon that is cemented by
calcium
carbonate and, in places, by calcium and some magnesium carbonate. It is either
massive or platy in nature, and extremely hard. A petrocalcic horizon has:
1. very strong effervescence after adding a 1 MHCl solution; and
2. induration or cementation, at least partially by secondary carbonates, to the
extent that air-dry fragments do not slake in water and roots cannot enter
except along vertical fractures (which have an average horizontal spacing of
10 cm or more and which occupy less than 20% (by volume) of the layer); and
3. an extremely hard consistence when dry, so that it cannot be penetrated by
spade or auger; and
4. a thickness of 10 cm or more, or 1 cm or more if it is laminar and rests
directly on continuous rock.
PD petroduric The petroduric horizon, also known as duripan or dorbank (South Africa), is
a
subsurface horizon, usually reddish or reddish brown in colour that is cemented
mainly by secondary silica (SiO2, presumably opal and microcrystalline forms of
silica). Air-dry fragments of petroduric horizons do not slake in water, even after
prolonged wetting. Calcium carbonate may be present as accessory cementing
agent. A petroduric horizon has:
1. induration or cementation in 50% or more (by volume) of some subhorizon;
and
2. evidence of silica accumulation (opal or other forms of silica) e.g. as coatings
in some pores, on some structural faces or as bridges between sand grains;
and
3. when air-dry, less than 50% (by volume) that slakes in 1 M HCl even after
prolonged soaking but 50% or more that slakes in concentrated KOH,
concentrated NaOH or in alternating acid and alkali; and
4. a lateral continuity such that roots cannot penetrate except along vertical
fractures (which have an average horizontal spacing of 10 cm or more and
which occupy less than 20% (by volume) of the layer); and
PG petro
gypsic
The petrogypsic horizon is a cemented horizon containing secondary
accumulations of gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O).
A petrogypsic horizon has:
1. 5% or more gypsum (the percentage gypsum is calculated as the product of
gypsum content, expressed as cmolc kg-1 soil, and the equivalent mass of
gypsum (86) expressed as a percentage) and 1% or more (by volume) visible
secondary gypsum; and
2. induration or cementation, at least partially by secondary gypsum, to the extent
that air-dry fragments do not slake in water and that roots cannot enter except
along vertical fractures (which have a horizontal spacing of 10 cm or more and
which occupy less than 20% (by volume) of the layer); and
PP petro-plinthic The petroplinthic horizon is a continuous, fractured or broken layer of
indurated
material, in which Fe (and in cases also Mn) is an important cement and in which
organic matter is either absent or present only in traces. A petroplinthic horizon
has:
1. a continuous, fractured or broken sheet of connected, strongly cemented to
indurated
a) reddish to blackish nodules; or
b) reddish, yellowish to blackish mottles in platy, polygonal, or reticulate
pattern; and
2. a penetration resistance of 4.5 MPa or more in 50% or more of the volume;
and
3. a ratio between acid oxalate (pH 3) extractable Fe and citrate-dithionite
extractable Fe of less than 0.10; and
PS piso
plinthic
The pisoplinthic horizon contains nodules that are strongly cemented to indurated
with Fe (and in some cases also with Mn). A pisoplinthic horizon has:
1. 40% or more of the volume occupied by discrete, strongly cemented to
indurated, reddish to blackish nodules with a diameter of 2 mm or more; and
2. a thickness of 15 or more.
PL plinthic The plinthic horizon is a subsurface horizon that consists of an Fe-rich (in
some
cases also Mn-rich), humus-poor mixture of kaolinitic clay (and other products of
strong weathering, such as gibbsite) with quartz and other constituents, and which
changes irreversibly to a layer with hard nodules, a hardpan or irregular fragments
on exposure to repeated wetting and drying with free access of oxygen.
A plinthic horizon:
1. has within 15% or more of the volume single or in combination:
a) discrete nodules that are firm to weakly cemented, with a redder hue or
stronger chroma than the surrounding material, and which change
irreversibly to strongly cemented or indurated nodules on exposure to
repeated wetting and drying with free access of oxygen; or
b) mottles in platy, polygonal or reticulate patterns that are firm to weakly
cemented, with a redder hue or stronger chroma than the surrounding
material, and, which changes irreversibly to strongly cemented or

indurated nodules or mottles on exposure to repeated wetting and
drying with free access of oxygen; and
2. does not form part of a petroplinthicor pisoplinthichorizon; and
3. has both:
a) 2.5% (by mass) or more citrate-dithionite extractable Fe in the fine earth
fraction, or 10% or more in the nodules or mottles; and
b) a ratio between acid oxalate (pH 3) extractable Fe and citrate-dithionite
extractable Fe of less than 0.10; and
SA salic The salic horizon is a surface or shallow subsurface horizon that contains a
secondary enrichment of readily soluble salts, i.e. salts more soluble than gypsum.
A salic horizon has:
1. averaged over its depth at some time of the year an electrical conductivity of
the saturation extract (ECe) of 15 dS m-1 or more at 25C, or an ECe of 8 dS
m-1 or more at 25C if the pH (H2O) of the saturation extract is 8.5 or more;
and
2. averaged over its depth at some time of the year a product of thickness (in
cm) times ECe (in dS m-1) of 450 or more; and
SP spodic The spodic horizon is a subsurface horizon that contains illuvial amorphous
substances composed of organic matter and Al, or of illuvial Fe. The illuvial
materials are characterized by a high pH-dependent charge, a relatively large
surface area and high water retention. A spodic horizon has:
1. a pH (1:1 in water) of less than 5.9 in 85% or more of the horizon, unless the
soil is cultivated; and
2. an organic carbon content of 0.5% or more, or an optical density of the oxalate
extract (ODOE) value of 0.25 or more, at least in some part of the horizon;
and;
a) an albic horizon directly overlying the spodic horizon and has, directly
under the albic horizon, one of the following Munsell colours, when moist
(crushed and smoothed sample):
i. a hue of 5YR or redder; or
ii. a hue of 7.5YR with value of 5 or less and a chroma of 4 or less;
or
iii. a hue of 10YR or neutral and a value and a chroma of 2 or less; or
iv. a colour of 10YR 3/1; or
b) with or without an albichorizon, one of the colours listed above, or hue of
7.5YR, a value of 5 or less and a chroma of 5 or 6, both when moist
(crushed and smoothed sample), andone or more of the following:
i. cementation by organic matter and Al with or without Fe, in 50%
or more of the volume and a very firm or firmer consistency in
the cemented part; or
ii. 10% or more of the sand grains showing cracked coatings; or
iii. 0.50% or more Al
ox + Feox and an overlying mineral horizon that
has a value less than one-half that amount; or
iv. an optimal density of the oxalate extract (ODOE) value of 0.25 or
more, and a value less than one-half that amount in an overlying
mineral horizon; or
v. 10% or more (by volume) Fe lamellae in a layer 25 cm or more
thick; and
4. does not form part of a natrichorizon; and
5. has a C
py/OC and a Cf/Cpy of 0.5 or more, if occurring under tephricmaterial
that meets the requirements of an albichorizon; and
6. a thickness of at least 2.5 cm or more.
SO sombric The sombric horizon is a dark-coloured subsurface horizon containing illuvial
humus
that is neither associated with Al nor dispersed by Na. A sombric horizon has:
1. a lower Munsell colour value or chroma than the overlying horizon; and
2. a base saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) less than 50%; and
3. evidence of humus accumulation, by a higher organic carbon content with
respect to the overlying horizon, or through illuvial humus on ped surfaces or
in pores visible in thin sections; and
4. does not underlie an albichorizon; and
TA takyric The takyric horizon is a heavy-textured surface horizon comprising a surface
crust
and a platy structured lower part. It occurs under arid conditions in periodically
flooded soils. A takyric horizon has:
1. aridicproperties; and
2. a platy or massive structure; and
3. a surface crust which has allof the following:
a) thickness enough that it does not curl entirely upon drying; and
b) polygonal cracks extending at least 2 cm deep when the soil is dry; and
c) clay loam, silty clay loam or finer texture; and
d) very hard consistence when dry, and plastic or very plastic and sticky or
very sticky consistence when wet; and
e) an electrical conductivity of the saturated extract (ECe) of less than 4 dS
m-1, or less than that of the layer immediately below the takyric horizon.
TE terric The terric horizon is a human-induced mineral surface horizon that develops
through
addition of earthy manures, compost, beach sand or mud over a long period of
time. It builds up gradually and may contain stones, randomly sorted and
distributed. A terric horizon has:
1. a colour related to the source material; and
2. less than 20% artefacts (by volume); and
3. a base saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) of 50% or more; and
4. occurs in locally raised land surfaces; and
5. does not show stratification, but has an irregular textural differentiation; and
6. a lithological discontinuityat its base; and
TH thionic The thionic horizon is an extremely acid subsurface horizon in which sulphuric
acid
is formed through oxidation of sulphides. A thionic horizon has:
1. a pH (1:1 in water)of less than 4.0 ; and
a) yellow jarosite or yellowish-brown schwertmannite mottles or coatings; or
b) concentrations with a Munsell hue of 2.5Y or yellower and a chroma of 6
or more, moist; or
c) direct superposition on sulfidic material; or
d) 0.05% (by mass) or more water-soluble sulphate; and
UM umbric The umbric horizon is a thick, dark-coloured surface horizon with low base
saturation
and a moderate to high content of organic matter. An umbric horizon is comparable
to a mollicin all its properties, such as colour, organic carbon content, structure and
thickness, except for its low base saturation. An umbric horizon must have:
1. allproperties of a mollichorizon, except for base saturation; and
2. a base saturation (by 1 M NH4OAc) of less than 50% on a weighted average
throughout the depth of the horizon.
VE vertic The vertic horizon is a clayey subsurface horizon that, as a result of shrinking
and
swelling, has slickensides and wedge-shaped structural aggregates. A vertic
horizon has:
1. 30% or more clay throughout; and
2. wedge-shaped structural aggregates with a longitudinal axis tilted between 10
and 60 from the horizontal; and
3. slickensides; and
VO voronic The voronic horizon is a special type of mollic horizon. It is a deep, wellstructured,
blackish surface horizon with a high base saturation, a high content of organic
matter and a high biological activity. A voronic horizon has:
1. a granular or fine subangular blocky soil structure; and
2. Munsell colours with a chroma of less than 2.0 when moist, a value less than
2.0 when moist and less than 3.0 when dry on broken samples. If there is 40%
or more finely divided lime, or if the texture of the horizon is loamy sand or
coarser, the limits of colour value when dry are waived; the colour value when
moist is 3 or less. The colour value is one unit or more, darker than that of the
parent material (both moist and dry), unless the parent material has a colour
value less than 4.0, moist. If a parent material is not present, comparison
must be made with the layer immediately underlying the surface layer. The
above colour requirements apply to the upper 15 cm of the voronic horizon, or
immediately below any plough layer; and
3. 50% or more (by volume) of the horizon consisting of worm burrows, worm
casts, and filled burrows; and
4. an organic carbon content of 1.5% or more. The organic carbon content is 6%
or more if the colour requirements are waived because of finely divide lime, or
1.5% more than in the parent material, if the colour requirements are waived
because of dark coloured parent materials; and
5. a base saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) of 80% or more; and
6. a thickness of 35 cm or more,
YE yermic The yermic horizon is a surface horizon that usually, but not always, consists
of
surface accumulations of rock fragments (desert pavement) embedded in a loamy
vesicular layer that may be covered by a thin aeolian sand or loess layer. A yermic
horizon has:
1. aridicproperties; and
a) a pavement that is varnished or includes wind-shaped gravel or stones

(ventifacts); or
b) a pavement associated with a vesicular layer; or
c) a vesicular layer below a platy surface layer.
3.2 Diagnostic properties

Characterization of the diagnostic property is according to the definitions described in the
World Reference
Base for Soil Resources (IUSS 2006, 2007).
TC abrupt textural
change
An abrupt textural change is a very sharp increase in clay content within a limited
depth range. It requires 8% or more clay in the underlying layer; and
1. a doubling of the clay content within 7.5 cm if the overlying horizon has less
than 20% clay; or
2. 20% (absolute) increase in clay content within 7.5 cm if the overlying
horizon has 20% or more clay.
TO albeluvic
tonguing
The term albeluvic tonguing is connotative of penetrations of clay- and Fedepleted
material into an argichorizon. When peds are present, albeluvic
tongues occur along ped surfaces. Albeluvic tongues have:
1. the colour of an albichorizon; and
2. greater depth than width, with the following horizontal dimensions:
a) 5 mm or more in clayey argichorizons; or
b) 10 mm or more in clay loam and silty argichorizons; or
c) 15 mm or more in coarser (silt loam, loam or sandy loam) argic
horizons; and
3. occupy 10% or more of the volume in the first 10 cm of the argichorizon,
measured on both vertical and horizontal sections; and
4. a particle size distribution matching that of the coarser textured horizon
overlying the argichorizon.
AC aridic properties The term aridic properties combines a number of properties that are
common in
surface horizons of soils occurring under arid conditions and where pedogenesis
exceeds new accumulation at the soil surface by aeolian or alluvial activity.
Aridic properties require:
1. an organic carbon content of less than 0.6% if texture is sandy loam or
finer, or less than 0.2% if texture is coarser than sandy loam, as a weighted
average in the upper 20 cm of the soil or down to the top of a diagnostic
subsurface horizon, a cemented layer, or to continuous rock, whichever is
shallower; and
2. evidence of aeolian activity in one or more of the following forms:
a) the sand fraction in some layer or in in-blown material filling cracks
contains rounded or subangular sand particles showing a matt surface
(use a 10 x hand-lens). These particles make up 10% or more of the
medium and coarser quartz sand fraction; or
b) wind-shaped rock fragments (ventifacts) at the surface; or
c) aeroturbation (e.g. cross-bedding); or
d) evidence of wind erosion or deposition; and
3. both broken and crushed samples with a Munsell colour value of 3 or more
when moist and 4.5 or more when dry, and a chroma of 2 or more when
moist; and
4. a base saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) of 75% or more.
AD andic properties Andic properties result from moderate weathering of mainly
pyroclastic deposits.
However, some soils develop andic properties from non-volcanic materials (e.g.
loess, argillite and ferralitic weathering products). The presence of short-rangeorder
minerals (allophane) and/or organo-metallic complexes is characteristic for
andic properties. These minerals and complexes are commonly part of the
weathering sequence in pyroclastic deposits (tephric material vitric properties
andic properties) Andic properties require the following physical and chemical
characteristics:
1. an Al
ox + Feox (acid oxalate extractable Al plus 1/2 acid oxalate extractable
Fe) value of 2.0% or more; and
2. a bulk density of the soil at field capacity (no prior drying) of 0.90 kg dm -3 or
less; and
3. a phosphate retention of 85% or more; and
4. less than 25% (by mass) organic carbon.
RO continuous rock Continuous rock is consolidated material underlying the soil,
exclusive of
cemented pedogenetic horizons, such as petrocalcic, petroduric, petrogypsic
and petroplinthichorizons. Continuous rock is sufficiently consolidated to remain
intact when an air-dry specimen 25-30 mm on a side is submerged in water for 1
hour. The material is considered continuous only if cracks, into which roots can
enter, are on average 10 cm or more apart and occupy less than 20% (by
volume) of the continuous rock, and no significant displacement of rock has
taken place.
FC ferralic
properties
Ferralic properties refer to mineralsoil material that has a relative low CEC. It
also includes soil materials that fulfil the requirements of a ferralichorizon except
texture. Ferralic properties require in some subsurface layer:
1. a CEC (by 1 MNH4OAc) of less than 24 cmolc kg-1 clay; or
2. a CEC (by 1 MNH4OAc) of less than 4 cmolc kg-1 soil and a Munsell chroma
of 5 or more, moist.
GE geric properties Geric properties refer to mineralsoil material that has a very low
ECEC or even
acts as an anion exchanger. Geric properties require:
1. an ECEC (sum of exchangeable bases plus exchangeable acidity in 1 MKCl)
of less than 1.5 cmol
c kg-1 clay; or
2. a delta pH (pHKCl minus pHH2O) of +0.1 unit or more.
GL gleyic colour
pattern
Soil materials develop a gleyic colour pattern if they are saturated with
groundwater (or were saturated in the past, if now drained) for a period that
allows reducing conditionsto occur (this may range from a few days in the
tropics to a few weeks in other areas), and show a gleyic colour pattern. A gleyic
colour patterns shows one or both of the following:
1. 90% or more of (exposed area) reductimorphic colours, which comprise
neutral white to black (Munsell hue N1/ to N8/) or bluish to greenish

(Munsell hue 2.5Y, 5Y, 5G, 5B) colours; or
2. 5% or more of (exposed area) mottles of oximorphic colours, which
comprise any colour, excluding reductimorphic colours.
LD lithologic
discontinuity
Lithological discontinuities are significant changes in particle-size distribution or
mineralogy that represents differences in lithology within a soil. A lithological
discontinuity can also denote an age difference. Lithological discontinuity
requires one or more of the following:
1. an abrupt change in particle size distribution that is not solely associated
with a change in clay content resulting from pedogenesis; or
2. a relative change of 20% or more in the ratios between coarse sand,
medium sand, and fine sand; or
3. rock fragments that do not have the same lithology as the underlying
continuous rock;or
4. a layer containing rock fragments without weathering rinds overlying a layer
containing rocks with weathering rinds; or
5. layers with angular rock fragments overlying or underlying layers with
rounded rock fragments; or
6. abrupt changes in colour not resulting from pedogenesis; or
7. marked differences in size and shape of resistant minerals between
superimposed layers (as shown by micro-morphological or mineralogical
methods).
RC reducing
conditions
Reducing conditions show one or more of the following:
1. a negative logarithm of the Hydrogen partial pressure (rH) of less than 20;
or
2. the presence of free Fe2+, as shown on a freshly broken and smoothed
surface of a field-wet soil by the appearance of a strong red colour after
wetting it with a 0.2% ,,dipyridyl solution in 10% acetic acid; or.
3. the presence of iron sulphide; or
4. the presence of methane.
SL secondary
carbonates
The term secondary carbonates refer to lime, precipitated in place from the soil
solution rather than inherited from a soil parent material. As a diagnostic
property, it should be present in significant quantities. Secondary carbonates
may be present in soil fabric, forming masses, nodules, concretions, or
spheroidal aggregates (white eyes) that are soft and powdery when dry, or may
be present as soft coatings in pores, on structural faces or on the undersides of
rock or cemented fragments. If present as coatings, secondary carbonates
cover 50% or more of the structural faces and are thick enough to be visible
when moist. If present as soft nodules, they occupy 5% or more of the soil
volume.
ST stagnic colour
pattern
Soil materials develop a stagnic colour pattern if they are, at least temporarily,
saturated with surface water (or were saturated in the past, if now drained) for a
period long enough that allows reducing conditionsto occur (this may range
from a few days in the tropics to a few weeks in other areas). A stagnic colour
pattern shows mottling in such a way that:
1. the surfaces of the peds (or parts of the soil matrix) are lighter (at least one
Munsell value unit more) and paler (at least one chroma unit less), and
2. the interiors of the peds (or parts of the soil matrix) are more reddish (at
least one hue unit) and brighter (at least one chroma unit more) than the
non-redoximorphic parts of the layer, or than the mixed average of the
interior and surface parts.
VE vertic properties The term vertic properties is used in connexion with clayey soils that
have one or
both of the following:
1. 30% or more clay throughout a thickness of 15 cm or more and one or
a) slickensides or wedge-shaped aggregates; or
b) cracks that open and close periodically and are 1 cm or more wide; or
2. a COLE of 0.06 or more averaged over a depth of 100 cm from the soil
surface.
VI vitric properties Vitric properties apply to layers with volcanic glass and other primary
minerals
derived from volcanic ejecta and which contain a limited amount of short-rangeorder
minerals or organo-metallic complexes.
Vitric properties require:
1. 5% or more (by grain count) volcanic glass, glassy aggregates and other
glass-coated primary minerals, in the fraction between 0.05-2 mm, or in the
fraction between 0.02- 0.25 mm; and
2. an Al
ox + Feox value of 0.4% or more; and
3. a phosphate retention of 25% or more; and
4. do not meet one or more of the criteria of the andicproperties; and
5. has less than 25% (by mass) organic carbon.
3.3 Diagnostic materials

Diagnostic materials (IUSS 2006, 2007) are intended to reflect original parent materials,
in which pedogenetic
processes have not yet been very active so that they have only slightly influenced the
soil and have not yet
lead to significant changes.
AF artefacts Artefacts are solid or liquid substances that have:
a) created or substantially modified by humans as part of an industrial or
artisanal manufacturing process; or
b) brought to the surface by human activity from a depth where they were
not influenced by surface processes, with properties substantially
different from the environment where they are placed; and
2. substantially the same properties as when first manufactured, modified or
excavated (e.g. pieces of bricks, pottery, glass, garbage, etc.).
CO calcaric
material
Soil material that show strong effervescence with 10% HCl in most of the fine earth.
It applies to soil material that contains 2% or more calcium carbonate equivalent.
CU colluvic
material
Colluvic material is formed by sedimentation through human- induced erosion. It

normally accumulates in footslope positions, in depressions or above hedge walls.
The erosion may have taken place since Neolithic times. Many colluvic materials
have artefactssuch as pieces of bricks, ceramics and glass, and may have a
lithological discontinuityat its base.
FL fluvic material Fluvic material refers to fluviatile, marine and lacustrine sediments
that receive fresh
materials at regular intervals, or have received it in the recent past. It shows one or
1. stratification in at least 25% of the soil volume over a specified depth;
2. stratification may also be evident from an organic carbon content decreasing
irregularly with depth, or remaining above 0.2% to a depth of 100 cm from
the mineral soil surface. Thin strata of sand may have less organic carbon if
the finer sediments below meet the latter requirement.
GP gypsiric
material
Gypsiric material is mineral soil material that contains 5% or more gypsum (by
volume).
LN limnic material Limnic materials occur as subaquatic deposits (at the surface after
drainage).
Four types are distinguished; coprogenous earth or sedimentary peat,
diatomaceous earth, marl and gyttja. Limnic material includes both organic and
mineral material that are:
1. deposited in water by precipitation or through action of aquatic organisms,
such as diatoms on other algae; or
2. derived from underwater and floating aquatic plants and subsequently
modified by aquatic animals.
MR mineral
material
In mineral material the soil properties are dominated by mineral components.
Mineral material has one or both of the following:
1. less than 20% organic carbon in the fine earth (by mass), if saturated with
water for less than 30 consecutive days in most years without being
drained ; or
a) less than [12+(clay% of the mineral fraction x0.1)]% organic carbon in
the fine earth (by mass); or
b) less than 18% organic carbon in the fine earth (by mass), if the mineral
fraction has 60% or more clay.
OR organic
material
Organic material has one or both of the following:
1. 20% or more organic carbon in the fine earth (by mass); or
2. if saturated with water for 30 consecutive days or more in most years (unless
drained) one or both of the following:
a) [12+(clay% of the mineral fraction x 0.1)]% or more organic carbon in the
fine earth fraction (by mass); or
b) 18% or more organic carbon in the fine earth fraction (by mass).
ON ornitho
genic material
Ortnithogenic material is material with strong influence of bird excrement. It often
has a high content of gravel that has been transported by birds. Ortnithogenic
material has:
1. remnants of birds or bird activity (bones, feathers, sorted gravel of similar
size); and
2. a P
2O5 content of 0.25% or more in 1% citric acid.
SF sulphidic
material
Sulphidic material is a waterlogged deposit containing sulphur, mostly in the form of
sulphides, and only moderate amounts of calcium carbonate. Sulfidic materials has:
1. a pH (1:1 in water) of 4.0 or more and 0.75% or more sulphur (dry mass)
and less than three times as much calcium carbonate equivalent as S; or
2. a pH (1:1 in water) of 4.0 or more that, if the material is incubated as a layer
1 cm thick, at field capacity at room temperature, drops 0.5 or more units to
a pH of 4.0 or less (1:1 in water) within 8 weeks.
TR technic hard
rock
Technic hard rock is non-natural material created by humans. It is defined as
consolidated material resulting from industrial processes, with properties
substantially different from those of natural materials.
TP tephric material Tephric material consists either of tephra, i.e. unconsolidated, non- or
only slightly
weathered pyroclastic products of volcanic eruptions (including ash, cinders,
lapilli, pumice, pumice-like vesicular pyroclastics, blocks or volcanic bombs), or of
tephric deposits, i.e. tephra that has been reworked and mixed with material from
other sources. This includes tephric loess, tephric blown sand and volcanogenic
alluvium. Tephric soil material has:
1. 30% or more (by grain count) volcanic glass, glassy aggregates and other
glass-coated primary minerals in the fraction 0.02 - 2 mm; and
2. no andicor vitricproperties.
3.4 Key to Reference Soil Groups with prefix and suffix qualifiers
The classification of the soil according to the Reference Soil Group (RSG) and subsequent
subdivision is done
in two steps: expression, thickness and depth of horizons are checked against the
requirements of WRB
diagnostic horizons, properties and materials, which are defined in terms of
morphological
characteristics and/or analytical criteria. The key of the WRB-RSG is compared with the
described combination
of diagnostic horizons, properties and materials to key out the Reference Soil Group.
For the second level
of WRB classification, prefix and suffix qualifiers are used from the priority list
provided with each RSG (for
definitions see Annex 3.5). Specifiers are only used in combination with suffix
qualifiers. However,
subdivisions of prefix qualifiers listed in 3.5, may be used to substitute that prefix
qualifier, i.e. Epipetric
instead of Petric.
Key to the Reference Soil Groups Prefix qualifiers Suffix qualifiers
Soils having organicmaterial, either
1. 10 cm or more thick starting at the soil surface and
immediately overlying ice, continuous rock, or fragmental

materials, the interstices of which are filled with organic
material; or
2. cumulatively within 100 cm of the soil surface either 60 cm or
more thick if 75% (by volume) or more of the material consists
of moss fibres or40 cm or more thick in other materials and
starting within 40 cm of the soil surface.
HISTOSOLS...(HS)
Folic
Limnic
Lignic
Fibric
Hemic
Sapric
Floatic
Subaquatic
Glacic
Ombric
(cont.)
Rheic
Technic
Cryic
Hyperskeletic
Leptic
Vitric
Andic
Salic
Calcic
Thionic
Ornithic
Calcaric
Sodic
Alcalic
Toxic
Dystric
Eutric
Turbic
Gelic
(cont.)
Petrogleyic
Placic
Skeletic
Tidalic
Drainic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils having either
1. a hortic, irragric, plaggicor terrichorizon 50 cm or more
thick; or
2. an anthraquichorizon and an underlying hydragrichorizon with
a combined thickness of 50 cm or more.
ANTHROSOLS...(AT)
Hydragric
Irragric
Terric
Plaggic
Hortic
Escalic
Technic
Flu
Salic
Gleyic
Spodic
Ferralic
Stagnic
Regic
Sodic
Alcalic
Dystric
Eutric
Oxyaquic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Novic
Other soils having
1. 20% or more (by volume, by weighted average) artefactsin
the upper 100 cm from the soil surface or to continuous rock
or a cemented or indurated layer, whichever is shallower; or
2. a continuous, very slowly permeable to impermeable,
constructed geo-membrane of any thickness starting within
100 cm of the soil surface; or
3. technic hard rockstarting within 5 cm of the soil surface and
covering 95% or more of the horizontal extent of the soil.
TECHNOSOLS1...(TC)
1 Buried layers occur frequently in this RSG and can be indicated with the specifier thaptofollowed by a qualifier or a RSG
Ekranic
Linic
Urbic
Spolic
Garbic
Folic
Histic
Cryic
Leptic
Fluvic
Gleyic
Vitric
(cont.)
Stagnic
Mollic
Alic
Acric
Luvic
Lixic
Umbric
Calcaric
Toxic
Reductic
Humic
Oxyaquic
Densic
Skeletic
Arenic
(cont.)
Siltic
Clayic
Drainic
Novic
Other soils having
1. a cryichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface; or

2. a cryichorizon starting within 200 cm of the soil surface and
evidence of cryoturbation1 in some layer within 100 cm of the
soil surface.
CRYOSOLS(CR)
1 Evidence of cryoturbation includes frost heave, cryogenic sorting, thermal cracking, ice
segregation, patterned ground, etc.
Glacic
Turbic
Folic
Histic
Technic
Hyperskeletic
Lithic
Leptic
Natric
Salic
Vitric
Spodic
Mollic
Calcic
Umbric
Cambic
Haplic
Gypsiric
Calcaric
Ornithic
Dystric
Eutric
Reductaquic
Oxyaquic
Thixotropic
Aridic
Skeletic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Drainic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils having
1. one of the following:
a.
limitation of depth by continuous rockwithin 25 cm of the
soil surface; or
b.
less than 20% (by volume) fine earth averaged over a depth
of 75 cm from the soil surface or to continuous rock,

whichever is shallower; and
2. no calcic, gypsic, petrocalcic ,petrogypsic or spodic horizon
LEPTOSOLS...(LP)
Nudilithic
Lithic
Hyperskeletic
Rendzic
Folic
Histic
Technic
Vertic
Salic
Gleyic
Vitric
Andic
Stagnic
Mollic
Umbric
Cambic
Haplic
Brunic
Gypsiric
Calcaric
Ornithic
Tephric
Protothionic
Humic
Sodic
Dystric
Eutric
Oxyaquic
Gelic
Placic
Greyic
Yermic
Aridic
Skeletic
Drainic
Novic
120

Other soils having
1. a vertichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface; and
2. after the upper 20 cm have been mixed, 30% or more clay
between the soil surface and the vertichorizon throughout;
and
3. cracks1 that open and close periodically.
VERTISOLS...(VR)
1) A crack is a separation between big blocks of soil. If the surface is self-mulching, or if
the soil is cultivated while cracks are open, the cracks may be filled mainly by granular
materials from the soil surface but they are open in the sense that the blocks are
separated; it controls the infiltration and percolation of water. If the soil is irrigated, the
upper 50 cm has a COLE of 0.06 or more.
Grumic
Mazic
Technic
Endoleptic
Salic
Gleyic
Sodic
Stagnic
Mollic
..(cont.)
Gypsic
Duric
Calcic
Haplic
Thionic
Albic
Manganiferric
Ferric
Gypsiric
Calcaric
Humic
Hyposalic
..(cont.)
Hyposodic
Mesotrophic
Hypereutric
Pellic
Chromic
Novic
Other soils having

1. fluvicmaterial starting within 25 cm of the soil surface and
continuing to a depth of 50 cm or more orstarting at the
lower limit of a plough layer and continuing to a depth of 50
cm or more; and
2. no argic, cambic, natric, petroplinthicor plinthichorizon
starting within 50 cm of the soil surface; and
3. no layers with andicor vitricproperties with a combined
thickness of 30 cm or more within 100 cm of the soil surface
andstarting within 25 cm of the soil surface.
FLUVISOLS1...(FL)
1 Buried layers occur frequently in this RSG and can be indicated with the specifier thaptofollowed by a qualifier or a RSG.
Subaquatic
Tidalic
Limnic
Folic
Histic
Technic
Salic
Gleyic
Stagnic
Vertic
Mollic
Gypsic
Calcic
Umbric
Haplic
Thionic
Anthric
Gypsiric
Calcaric
Tephric
Petrogleyic
Gelic
Oxyaquic
Humic
Sodic
Dystric
Eutric
Greyic
Takyric
Yermic
Aridic
Densic
Skeletic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Drainic
Transportic
Other soils having
1. a natrichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
SOLONETZ...(SN)
Technic
Vertic
Gleyic
Salic
Stagnic
Mollic
Gypsic
Duric
Petrocalcic
Calcic
Haplic
Glossalbic
Albic
Abruptic
Colluvic
Ruptic
Magnesic
Humic
Oxyaquic
Takyric
Yermic
Aridic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils having
1. a salichorizon starting within 50 cm of the soil surface; and
2. no thionichorizon starting within 50 cm of the soil surface.
SOLONCHAKS(SC)
Petrosalic
Hypersalic
Puffic
Folic
Histic
Technic
..(cont.)
Vertic
Gleyic
Stagnic
Mollic
Gypsic
Duric
Calcic
Haplic
Sodic
Aceric
Chloridic
Sulphatic
Carbonatic
Gelic
Oxyaquic
Takyric
..(cont.)
Yermic
Aridic
Densic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Drainic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils having
1. within 50 cm of the mineral soil surface a layer 25 cm or more
thick, that has reducingconditionsin some parts and a gleyic
colour patternthroughout; and
thickness of either
a.
30 cm or more within 100 cm of the soil surface and
starting within 25 cm of the soil surface; or
b.
60% or more of the entire thickness of the soil when
continuous rockor a cemented or indurated layer is

starting between 25 and 50 cm from the soil surface.
GLEYSOLS(GL)
Folic
Histic
Anthraquic
Technic
Fluvic
Endosalic
Vitric
Andic
Spodic
Plinthic
Mollic
Gypsic
Calcic
Alic
Acric
Luvic
Lixic
Umbric
Haplic
Thionic
Abruptic
Calcaric
Tephric
Colluvic
Humic
Sodic
Alcalic
Alumic
Toxic
Dystric
Eutric
Petrogleyic
Turbic
Gelic
Greyic
Takyric
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Drainic
Novic
Other soils having
1. one or more layers with andicor vitricproperties with
combined thickness of either
a.
30 cm or more within 100 cm of the soil surface and
starting within 25 cm of the soil surface; or
b.
60% or more of the entire thickness of the soil when
continuous rockor a cemented or indurated layer is

starting between 25 and 50 cm from the soil surface; and
2. no argic, ferralic, petroplinthic, pisoplinthic, plinthicor spodic
horizon (unless buried deeper than 50 cm).
ANDOSOLS1(AN)
1 Buried layers occur frequently in this RSG and can be indicated with the specifier thaptofollowed by a qualifier or a RSG.
Vitric
Aluandic
Eutrosilic
Silandic
Melanic
Fulvic
Hydric
Folic
Histic
Technic
Leptic
Gleyic
Mollic
Gypsic
Petroduric
Duric
Calcic
Umbric
Haplic
Anthric
Fragic
Calcaric
Colluvic
Acroxic
Sodic
Dystric
Eutric
Turbic
Gelic
Oxyaquic
Placic
Greyic
Thixotropic
Skeletic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Drainic
Transportic
Novic
122

Other soils having
1. a spodichorizon starting within 200 cm of the mineral soil
surface.
PODZOLS(PZ)
Placic
Ortsteinic
Carbic
Rustic
Entic
Albic
Folic
Histic
Technic
(cont.)
Hyperskeletic
Leptic
Gleyic
Vitric
Andic
Stagnic
Umbric
Haplic
Hortic
Plaggic
Terric
Anthric
Ornithic
Fragic
Ruptic
Turbic
(cont.)
Gelic
Oxyaquic
Lamellic
Densic
Skeletic
Drainic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils having either
1. a plinthic, petroplinthicor pisoplinthichorizon starting within
50 cm of the soil surface; or
2. a plinthichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface
and, directly above, a layer 10 cm or more thick, that has in
some parts reducing conditionsfor some time during the year
and in half or more of the soil volume, single or in combination
a.
b.
a stagnic colourpattern; or
an albichorizon.
PLINTHOSOLS(PT)
Petric
Fractipetric
Pisoplinthic
Gibbsic
Posic
Geric
Vetic
Folic
Histic
Technic
Stagnic
Acric
Lixic
Umbric
Haplic
Albic
Manganiferric
Ferric
Endoduric
Abruptic
Colluvic
Ruptic
Alumic
Humic
Dystric
Eutric
Oxyaquic
Pachic
Umbriglossic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Drainic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils having
1. a nitichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface; and
2. gradual to diffuse1 horizon boundaries between the soil surface
and the nitichorizon; and
3. no ferric, petroplinthic, pisoplinthic, plinthicor vertichorizon
starting within 100 cm of the soil surface; and
4. no gleyicor stagnic colour patternstarting within 100 cm of

the soil surface.
NITISOLS...(NT)
1
as defined in FAO (2006).
Vetic
Technic
Andic
Ferralic
Mollic
Alic
Acric
Luvic
Lixic
Umbric
Haplic
Humic
Alumic
Dystric
Eutric
Oxyaquic
Colluvic
Densic
Rhodic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils having
1. a ferralichorizon starting within 150 cm of the soil surface;
and
2. no argichorizon that has, in the upper 30 cm, 10% or more
water-dispersible clay unless the upper 30 cm of the argic
horizon has one or both of the following:
a. gericproperties; or
b. 1.4% or more organic carbon.
FERRALSOLS...(FR)
Gibbsic
Posic
Geric
Vetic
Folic
Technic
Andic
Fractiplinthic
Petroplinthic
(cont.)
Pisoplinthic
Plinthic
Mollic
Acric
Lixic
Umbric
Haplic
Sombric
Manganiferric
Ferric
Colluvic
Humic
Alumic
Dystric
Eutric
(cont.)
Ruptic
Oxyaquic
Densic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Rhodic
Xanthic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils having
1. an abrupt textural changewithin 100 cm of the soil surface
and, directly above or below, a layer 5 cm or more thick, that
has in some parts reducing conditionsfor some time during
the year and in half or more of the soil volume, single or in
combination
a. stagnic colour pattern; or

b. an albichorizon; and
2. no albeluvic tonguingstarting within 100 cm of the soil
surface.
PLANOSOLS...(PL)
Solodic
Folic
Histic
Technic
Vertic
Endosalic
Plinthic
Endogleyic
Mollic
Gypsic
Petrocalcic
Calcic
Alic
Acric
Luvic
Lixic
Umbric
Haplic
Thionic
Albic
Manganiferric
Ferric
Geric
Ruptic
Calcaric
Sodic
Alcalic
Alumic
Dystric
Eutric
Gelic
Greyic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Chromic
Drainic
Transportic
Other soils having
1. within 50 cm of the mineral soil surface in some parts
reducing conditionsfor some time during the year and in half
or more of the soil volume, single or in combination,
a.
a stagniccolour pattern; or
b.
an albichorizon; and
2. no albeluvic tonguingstarting within 100 cm of the soil

surface.
STAGNOSOLS...(ST)
Folic
Histic
Technic
Vertic
Endosalic
Plinthic
Endogleyic
Mollic
Gypsic
Petrocalcic
Calcic
Alic
Acric
Luvic
Lixic
Umbric
Haplic
Thionic
Albic
Manganiferric
Ferric
Ruptic
Geric
Calcaric
Ornithic
Sodic
Alcalic
Alumic
Dystric
Eutric
Gelic
Greyic
Placic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Rhodic
Chromic
Drainic
124

Other soils having
1. a mollichorizon; and
2. a Munsell chroma, moist, of 2 or less from the soils surface
to a depth of 20 cm or more, or having this chroma directly
below any plough layer that is 20 cm or more deep; and
3. a calcichorizon, or concentrations of secondary carbonates
starting within 50 cm below the lower limit of the mollic
horizon and, if present, above a cemented or indurated layer;
and
4. a base saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) of 50% or more from the
soil surface to the calcichorizon or the concentrations of
secondarycarbonatesthroughout.
CHERNOZEMS...(CH)
Voronic
Vermic
Technic
Leptic
Vertic
Endofluvic
Endosalic
Gleyic
Vitric
Andic
Stagnic
(cont.)
Petrogypsic
Gypsic
Petroduric
Duric
Petrocalcic
Calcic
Luvic
Haplic
Anthric
Glossic
Tephric
Sodic
Pachic
Oxyaquic
Greyic
Densic
Skeletic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Novic
(cont.)
Other soils having
2. a calcichorizon, or concentrations of secondary carbonates
starting within 50 cm below the lower limit of the mollic
horizon and, if present, above a cemented or indurated layer;
and
3. a base saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) of 50% or more from the
soil surface to the calcichorizon or the concentrations of
secondary carbonatesthroughout.
KASTANOZEMS(KS)
Vermic
Technic
Leptic
Vertic
Endosalic
Gleyic
Vitric
Andic
Stagnic
Petrogypsic
Gypsic
Petro duric
Duric
Petrocalcic
Calcic
Luvic
Haplic
Anthric
Glossic
Tephric
Sodic
Oxyaquic
Greyic
Densic
Skeletic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Chromic
Novic
Other soils having
2. a base saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) of 50% or more throughout
to a depth of 100 cm or more from the soil surface or to
continuous rockor a cemented or indurated layer, whichever
is shallower.
PHAEOZEMS(PH)
Vermic
Greyic
Technic
Rendzic
Leptic
Vertic
Endosalic
Gleyic
Vitric
Andic
Ferralic
Stagnic
Petrogypsic
Petroduric
Duric
Petrocalcic
Calcic
Luvic
Haplic
Anthric
Albic
Abruptic
Glossic
Calcaric
Tephric
Sodic
Pachic
Oxyaquic
Densic
Skeletic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Chromic
Novic
Other soils having
1. a petrogypsichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil
surface; or
2. a gypsichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface and
no argichorizon unless the argichorizon is permeated with
gypsum or calcium carbonate.
GYPSISOLS...(GY)
Petric
Hypergypsic
Hypogypsic
Arzic
Technic
Hyperskeletic
Leptic
Vertic
Endosalic
(cont.)
Endogleyic
Petroduric
Duric
Petrocalcic
Calcic
Luvic
Haplic
Ruptic
Sodic
Hyperochric
Takyric
Yermic
Aridic
Skeletic
(cont.)
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils having
1. a petroduricor durichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil
surface.
DURISOLS...(DU)
Petric
Fractipetric
Technic
Leptic
Vertic
Endogleyic
Gypsic
Petrocalcic
Calcic
Luvic
Lixic
Haplic
Ruptic
Sodic
Takyric
Yermic
Aridic
Hyperochric
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Chromic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils having
1. a petrocalcichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil
surface; or
2. a calcichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface and
no argichorizon unless the argichorizon is permeated with
calcium carbonate.
CALCISOLS...(CL)
Petric
Hypercalcic
Hypocalcic
Technic
Hyper
skeletic
Leptic
Vertic
Endosalic
Endogleyic
Gypsic
Luvic
Lixic
Haplic
Ruptic
Sodic
Takyric
Yermic
Aridic
Hyperochric
Densic
Skeletic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Chromic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils having
1. an argichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface with
albeluvic tonguingat its upper boundary.

ALBELUVISOLS...(AB)
Fragic
Cutanic
Folic
Histic
Technic
Gleyic
Stagnic
Umbric
Cambic
Haplic
Anthric
Manganiferric
Ferric
Abruptic
Ruptic
Alumic
Dystric
Eutric
Gelic
Oxyaquic
Greyic
Densic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Drainic
Transportic
Novic
126

Other soils having
1. an argichorizon, which has a CEC (by 1 MNH4OAc) of 24
cmolc kg-1 clay or more throughout or to a depth of 50 cm
below its upper limit, whichever is shallower, either starting
within 100 cm of the soil surface, or within 200 cm of the soil
surface if the argichorizon is overlain by loamy sand or
coarser textures throughout; and
2. a base saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) of less than 50% in the
major part between 50 and 100 cm.

ALISOLS...(AL)
Hyperalic
Lamellic
Cutanic
Albic
Technic
Leptic
Vertic
Fractiplinthic
Petroplinthic
Pisoplinthic
(cont.)
Plinthic
Gleyic
Vitric
Andic
Nitic
Stagnic
Umbric
Haplic
Anthric
Fragic
Manganiferric
Ferric
Abruptic
Ruptic
Alumic
Humic
Hyperdystric
Epieutric
Turbic
Gelic
Oxyaquic
(cont.)
Greyic
Profondic
Hyperochric
Nudiargic
Densic
Skeletic
Arenic
Silltic
Clayic
Rhodic
Chromic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils having
1. an argichorizon that has a CEC (by 1 MNH4OAc) of less than
24 cmolc kg-1 clay in some part to a maximum depth of 50 cm
below its upper limit, either starting within 100 cm of the soil
surface, or within 200 cm of the soil surface if the argic
horizon is overlain by loamy sand or coarser textures
throughout; and
2. a base saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) of less than 50% in the
major part between 50 and 100 cm.
ACRISOLS...(AC)
Vetic
Lamellic
Cutanic
Technic
Leptic
Fractiplinthic
Petroplinthic
Pisoplinthic
Plinthic
Gleyic
Vitric
Andic
Nitic
Stagnic
Umbric
Haplic
Anthric
Albic
Fragic
Sombric
Manganiferric
Ferric
Abruptic
Ruptic
Alumic
Humic
Hyperdystric
Epieutric
Oxyaquic
Greyic
Profondic
Hyperochric
Nudiargic
Densic
Skeletic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Rhodic
Chromic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils having
1. an argichorizon with a CEC (by 1 MNH4OAc) of 24 cmolc kg-1
clay or more throughout or to a depth of 50 cm below its
upper limit, whichever is shallower, either starting within 100
cm of the soil surface or within 200 cm of the soil surface if
the argichorizon is overlain by loamy sand or coarser textures
throughout.
LUVISOLS...(LV)
Lamellic
Cutanic
Albic
Escalic
Technic
Leptic
Vertic
Gleyic
Vitric
(cont)
(cont)
Andic
Nitic
Stagnic
Calcic
Haplic
Anthric
Fragic
Manganiferric
Ferric
Abruptic
Ruptic
Humic
Sodic
Epidystric
Hypereutric
Turbic
Gelic
Oxyaquic
Greyic
(cont)
(cont)
Profondic
Hyperochric
Nudiargic
Densic
Skeletic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Rhodic
Chromic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils having
1. an argichorizon, either starting within 100 cm of the soil
surface or within 200 cm of the soil surface if the argic
horizon is overlain by loamy sand or coarser textures
throughout.
LIXISOLS...(LX)
Vetic
Lamellic
Cutanic
Technic
Leptic
Gleyic
Vitric
Andic
Fractiplinthic
Petroplinthic
Pisoplinthic
Plinthic
Nitic
Stagnic
Calcic
Haplic
Anthric
Albic
Fragic
Manganiferric
Ferric
Abruptic
Ruptic
Humic
Epidystric
Hypereutric
Oxyaquic
Greyic
Profondic
Hyperochric
Nudiargic
Densic
Skeletic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Rhodic
Chromic
Transportic
Novic
128

Other soils having
1. an umbricor mollichorizon.
UMBRISOLS...(UM)
Folic
Histic
Technic
Leptic
Fluvic
Endogleyic
Vitric
Andic
(cont.)
Ferralic
Stagnic
Mollic
Cambic
Haplic
Anthric
Albic
Brunic
Ornithic
Thionic
Glossic
Humic
Alumic
Hyperdystric
Endoeutric
Pachic
Turbic
(cont.)
Gelic
Oxyaquic
Greyic
Laxic
Placic
Densic
Skeletic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Chromic
Drainic
Novic
Other soils having
1. a weighted average texture of loamy sand or coarser, if
cumulative layers of finer texture are less than 15 cm thick,
either to a depth of 100 cm from the soil surface or to a
petroplinthic, pisoplinthic, plinthicor salichorizon starting
between 50 and 1 00 cm from the soil surface; and
2. less than 40% (by volume) of gravels or coarser fragments in
all layers within 100 cm of the soil surface or to a
petroplinthic, pisoplinthic, plinthicor salichorizon starting
between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface; and
3. no fragic, irragric, hortic, plaggicor terrichorizon; and

thickness of 15 cm or more.
ARENOSOLS...(AR)
Lamellic
Hypoluvic
Hyperalbic
Albic
Rubic
Brunic
Hydrophobic
Protic
Folic
Technic
Endosalic
Endogleyic
Fractiplinthic
Petroplinthic
Pisoplinthic
Plinthic
Ferralic
Endostagnic
Haplic
Ornithic
Gypsiric
Calcaric
Tephric
Hyposalic
Dystric
Eutric
Petrogleyic
Turbic
Gelic
Greyic
Placic
Hyperochric
Yermic
Aridic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils having
1. a cambichorizon starting within 50 cm of the soil surface and
having its base 25 cm or more below the soil surface or 15
cm or more below any plough layer; or
2. an anthraquic, hortic, hydragric, irragric, plaggicor terric
horizon; or
3. a fragic, petroplinthic, pisoplinthic, plinthic, salic, thionicor
vertichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface; or

4. one or more layers with andicor vitricproperties with a
combined thickness of 15 cm or more within 100 cm of the
soil surface.
CAMBISOLS...(CM)
Folic
Anthraquic
Hortic
Irragric
Plaggic
Terric
Technic
Leptic
Vertic
Thionic
Fluvic
Endosalic
Endogleyic
Vitric
(cont.)
Andic
Fractiplinthic
Petroplinthic
Pisoplinthic
Plinthic
Ferralic
Fragic
Gelistagnic
Stagnic
Haplic
Manganiferric
Ferric
Ornithic
Colluvic
Gypsiric
Calcaric
Tephric
Alumic
Sodic
Alcalic
Humic
Dystric
Eutric
Laxic
Turbic
Gelic
Oxyaquic
(cont.)
Greyic
Ruptic
Pisocalcic
Hyperochric
Takyric
Yermic
Aridic
Densic
Skeletic
Siltic
Clayic
Rhodic
Chromic
Escalic
Transportic
Novic
Other soils.
REGOSOLS...(RG)
Folic
Aric
Colluvic
Technic
Leptic
Endogleyic
Thaptovitric
Thaptandic
Gelistagnic
Stagnic
Haplic
Brunic
Ornithic
Gypsiric
Calcaric
Tephric
Humic
Hyposalic
Sodic
Dystric
Eutric
Turbic
Gelic
Oxyaquic
Vermic
Hyperochric
Takyric
Yermic
Aridic
Densic
Skeletic
Arenic
Siltic
Clayic
Escalic
Transportic
3.5 Definitions of formative elements for second-level units of the WRB

The definitions of the formative elements for the second-level units relate to the
Reference Soil Group (RSG),
diagnostic horizons, properties and materials, and to attributes such as colour, chemical
conditions, texture,
etc. They reference to the RSGs defined in Annex 3.4 and the diagnostic features listed in
Annex 3.1, 3.2 and
3.3 are given in italics.
Usually, only a limited number of combinations will be possible; most of the definitions
are mutually exclusive.
Abruptic (ap)
Having an abrupt textural changewithin 100 cm of the soil surface.
Aceric (ae)
Having a pH (1:1 in water) between 3.5 and 5 and jarosite mottles in some layer within 100 cm of
the soil surface (in
Solonchaks only).
Acric (ac)
Having an argichorizon that has a CEC (by 1 MNH4OAc) of less than 24 cmolc kg-1 clay in some part
to a maximum
depth of 50 cm below its upper limit, either starting within 100 cm of the soil surface or within 200
cm of the soil
surface if the argichorizon is overlain by loamy sand or coarser textures throughout, and a base
saturation (by 1 M
NH
4OAc) of less than 50% in the major part between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface.
Acroxic (ao)
Having less than 2 cmolc kg-1 fine earth exchangeable bases plus 1 MKCl exchangeable Al3+ in one
or more layers
with a combined thickness of 30 cm or more within 100 cm of the soil surface ( in Andosols only).
Albic (ab)
Having an albichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Hyperalbic (ha)
Having an albichorizon starting within 50 cm of the soil surface and its lower boundary at a depth
of 100
cm or more from the soil surface.
Glossalbic (gb)
Showing tonguing of an albicinto an argicor natrichorizon.
Alcalic (ax)
Having a pH (1:1 in water) of 8.5 or more throughout within 50 cm of the soil surface or to
continuous rockor a
cemented or indurated layer, whichever is shallower.
Alic (al)
Having an argichorizon that has a CEC (by 1 MNH4OAc) of 24 cmolc kg-1 clay or more throughout or
to a depth of 50
cm below its upper limit, whichever is shallower, either starting within 100 cm of the soil surface or
within 200 cm of
the soil surface if the argichorizon is overlain by loamy sand or coarser textures throughout, and a
base saturation
(by 1 MNH4OAc) of less than 50% in the major part between 50 and100 cm from the soil surface.
Aluandic (aa)
Having one or more layers, cumulatively 15 cm or more thick, with andicproperties and an acid
oxalate (pH 3)
extractable silica content of less than 0.6%, and an Al
py/Alox of 0.5 or more, within 100 cm of the soil surface (in
Andosols only).
Thaptaluandic (aab)
Having one or more buried layers, cumulatively 15 cm or more thick, with andicproperties and an
acid
oxalate (pH 3) extractable silica content of less than 0.6%, or an Al py/Alox of 0.5 or more, within 100
cm of
the soil surface.
Alumic (au)
Having an Al saturation (effective) of 50% or more in some layer between 50 and 100 cm from the
soil surface.
131
Andic (an)
Having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more layers with andicor vitricproperties with a
combined thickness
of 30 cm or more (in Cambisols15 cm or more), of which 15 cm or more (in Cambisols7.5 cm or
more) have andic
properties.
Thaptandic (ba)
Having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more buried layers with andicor vitricproperties
with a
combined thickness of 30 cm or more (in Cambisols15 cm or more), of which 15 cm or more (in
Cambisols7.5 cm or more) have andicproperties.
Anthraquic (aq)
Having an anthraquichorizon.
Anthric (am)
Having an anthrichorizon.
Arenic (ar)
Having a texture of loamy fine sand or coarser in a layer, 30 cm or more thick, within 100 cm of the
soil surface.
Epiarenic (arp)
Having a texture of loamy fine sand or coarser in a layer, 30 cm or more thick, within 50 cm of the
soil
surface.
Endoarenic (arn)
Having a texture of loamy fine sand or coarser in a layer, 30 cm or more thick, between 50 and 100
cm
from the soil surface.
Aric (ai)
Having only remnants of diagnostic horizons, disturbed by deep ploughing.
Aridic (ad)
Having aridicproperties without a takyricor yermichorizon.
Arzic (az)
Having sulphate-rich groundwater in some layer within 50 cm of the soil surface during some time
in most years and
containing 15% or more gypsum averaged over a depth of 100 cm from the soil surface or to
continuous rockor a
cemented or indurated layer, whichever is shallower (in Gypsisols only).
Brunic (br)
Having a layer, 15 cm or more thick, which meets criteria 24 of the cambichorizon but fails
criterion 1 and does
not form part of an albic horizon, starting within 50 cm of the soil surface.
Calcaric (ca)
Having calcaricmaterial between 20 and 50 cm from the soil surface or between 20 cm and
continuous rockor a
Calcic (cc)
Having a calcichorizon or concentrations of secondary carbonatesstarting within 100 cm of the
soil surface.
Pisocalcic (cp)
Having only concentrations of secondary carbonates starting within 100 cm of the soil surface .

Cambic (cm)
Having a cambichorizon, which does not form part of an albic horizon, starting within 50 cm of the
soil surface.
Carbic (cb)
Having a spodichorizon that does not turn redder on ignition throughout (in Podzolsonly).
Carbonatic (cn)
Having a salichorizon with a soil solution (1:1 in water) with a pH of 8.5 or more and [HCO 3-] >
[SO42-] >> [Cl-] (in
Solonchaks only).
Chloridic (cl)
Having a salichorizon with a soil solution (1:1 in water) with [Cl-] >> [SO42-] > [HCO3-] (in
Solonchaks only)
Chromic (cr)
Having within 150 cm of the soil surface a subsurface layer, 30 cm or more thick, that has a
Munsell hue redder
than 7.5 YR or that has both, a hue of 7.5 YR and a chroma, moist, of more than 4.
Clayic (ce)
Having a texture of clay in a layer, 30 cm or more thick, within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Epiclayic (cep)
Having a texture of clay in a layer, 30 cm or more thick, within 50 cm of the soil surface.
Endoclayic (cen)
Having a texture of clay in a layer, 30 cm or more thick, within 50 and 100 cm of the soil surface.
Colluvic (co)
Having colluvicmaterial, 20 cm or more thick, created by human-induced lateral movement.
Cryic (cy)
Having a cryichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface or a cryichorizon starting within
200 cm of the soil
surface with evidence of cryoturbation in some layer within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Cutanic (ct)
Having clay coatings in some parts of an argichorizon either starting within 100 cm of the soil
surface or within
200 cm of the soil surface if the argichorizon is overlain by loamy sand or coarser textures
throughout.
Densic (dn)
Having natural or artificial compaction within 50 cm of the soil surface to the extent that roots
cannot penetrate.
Drainic (dr)
Having a histichorizon that is drained artificially starting within 40 cm of the soil surface.
Duric (du)
Having a durichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Endoduric (nd)
Having a durichorizon starting between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface.
Hyperduric (duh)
Having a durichorizon with 50% or more (by volume) durinodes or fragments of a broken-up
petroduric
horizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
133
Dystric (dy)
Having a base saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) of less than 50% in the major part between 20 and 100
cm from the soil
surface or between 20 cm and continuous rockor a cemented or indurated layer, or in a layer, 5
cm or more thick,
directly above continuous rock,if the continuous rockstarts within 25 cm of the soil surface.
Endodystric (ny)
Having a base saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) of less than 50% throughout between 50 and 100 cm
from the
soil surface.
Epidystric (ed)
Having a base saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) of less than 50% throughout between 20 and 50 cm from
the
soil surface.
Hyperdystric (hd)
from the
soil surface, and less than 20% in some layer within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Orthodystric (dyo)
from the
soil surface.
Ekranic (ek)
Having technic hard rockstarting within 5 cm of the soil surface and covering 95% or more of the
horizontal extent
of the soil (in Technosols only).
Endoduric (nd)
See Duric.
Endodystric (ny)
See Dystric.
Endoeutric (ne)
See Eutric.
Endofluvic (nf)
See Fluvic.
Endogleyic (ng)
See Gleyic.
Endoleptic (nl)
See Leptic.
Endosalic (ns)
See Salic.
Entic (et)
Not an albichorizon and a loose spodichorizon (in Podzolsonly).
Epidystric (ed)
See Dystric.
Epieutric (ee)
See Eutric.
Epileptic (el)
See Leptic.
Episalic (ea)
See Salic.
Escalic (ec)
Occurring in human-made terraces.
Eutric (eu)
Having a base saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) of 50% or more in the major part between 20 and 100
cm from the soil
surface or between 20 cm and continuous rockor a cemented or indurated layer, or in a layer, 5
cm or more thick,
directly above continuous rock,if the continuous rockstarts within 25 cm of the soil surface.
Endoeutric (ne)
Having a base saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) of 50% or more throughout between 50 and 100 cm from
the
soil surface.
Epieutric (ee)
the soil
surface.
Hypereutric (he)
the
soil surface and 80% or more in some layer within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Orthoeutric (euo)
the
soil surface.
Eutrosilic (es)
Having one or more layers, cumulatively 30 cm or more thick, with andicproperties and a sum of
exchangeable
bases of 15 cmol
c kg-1 fine earth or more within 100 cm of the surface ( in Andosols only).
Ferralic (fl)
Having a ferralichorizon starting within 200 cm of the soil surface (in Anthrosols only), or
ferralicproperties in at
least some layer starting within 100 cm of the soil surface (in othersoils).
Hyperferralic (flh)
Having ferralicproperties and a CEC (by 1 MNH4OAc) of less than 16 cmolc kg-1 clay in at least
some layer
starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Hypoferralic (flw)
Having in a layer, 30 cm or more thick, starting within 100 cm of the soil surface a CEC (by 1
MNH4OAc)
of less than 4 cmol
c kg-1 fine earth and a Munsell chroma, moist, of 5 or more or a hue redder than 10 YR
(in Arenosols only).
135
Ferric (fr)
Having a ferrichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Hyperferric (frh)
Having a ferrichorizon with 40% or more of the volume discrete reddish to blackish nodules
starting within
100 cm of the soil surface.
Fibric (fi)
Having, after rubbing, two-thirds or more (by volume) of the organicmaterial consisting of
recognizable plant tissue
within 100 cm of the soil surface (in Histosolsonly).
Floatic (ft)
Having organicmaterial floating on water (in Histosols only).
Fluvic (fv)
Having fluvicmaterial in a layer, 25 cm or more thick, within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Endofluvic (nf)
Having fluvicmaterial in a layer, 25 cm or more thick, between 50 and 100 cm from the soil
surface.
Folic (fo)
Having a folichorizon starting within 40 cm of the soil surface.
Thaptofolic (fob)
Having a buried folichorizon starting between 40 and 100 cm from the soil surface.
Fractipetric (fp)
Having a strongly cemented or indurated horizon consisting of fractured or broken clods with an
average horizontal
length of less than 10 cm, starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Fractiplinthic (fa)
Having a petroplinthichorizon consisting of fractured or broken clods with an average horizontal
length of less than
10 cm, starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Fragic (fg)
Having a fragichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Fulvic (fu)
Having a fulvichorizon starting within 30 cm of the soil surface.
Garbic (ga)
Having a layer, 20 cm or more thick, starting within 100 cm of the soil surface, with 20% or more
(by volume, by
weighted average) artefactscontaining 35% or more (by volume) organic waste materials (in
Technosols only).
Gelic (ge)
Having a layer with a soil temperature of 0 C or less for two or more consecutive years starting
within 200 cm of
the soil surface.
Gelistagnic (gt)
Having temporary water saturation at the soil surface caused by a frozen subsoil.

Geric (gr)
Having gericproperties in some layer starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Gibbsic (gi)
Having a layer, 30 cm or more thicker, containing 25% or more gibbsite in the fine earth fraction
starting within 100
cm of the soil surface.
Glacic (gc)
Having a layer, 30 cm or more, containing 75% (by volume) or more ice starting within 100 cm of
the soil surface.
Gleyic (gl)
Having within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface a layer, 25 cm or more thick, which has reducing
conditionsin
some parts and a gleyic colour patternthroughout.
Endogleyic (ng)
Having between 50 and 100 cm from the mineral soil surface a layer, 25 cm or more thick, that has
reducing conditionsin some parts and a gleyic colour patternthroughout.
Epigleyic (glp)
Having within 50 cm of the mineral soil surface a layer, 25 cm or more thick, which has reducing
conditions
in some parts and a gleyic colour patternthroughout.
Glossalbic (gb)
See Albic.
Glossic (gs)
Showing tonguing of a mollicor umbrichorizon into an underlying layer.
Molliglossic (mi)
Showing tonguing of a mollichorizon into an underlying layer.
Umbriglossic (ug)
Showing tonguing of an umbrichorizon into an underlying layer.
Greyic (gz)
Having Munsell colours with a chroma of 3 or less when moist, a value of 3 or less when moist and
5 or less when
dry and uncoated silt and sand grains on structural faces within 5 cm of the mineral soil surface.
Grumic (gm)
Having a soil surface layer with a thickness of 3 cm or more with a strong structure finer than very
coarse granular
(in Vertisols only).
Gypsic (gy)
Having a gypsichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Gypsiric (gp)
Having a gypsiricmaterial between 20 and 50 cm from the soil surface or between 20 cm and
continuous rockor a
137
Haplic (ha)
Having a typical expression of certain features (typical in the sense that there is no further or
meaningful
characterization) and only used if none of the preceding qualifiers applies.
Hemic (hm)
Having, after rubbing, between two-thirds and one-sixth (by volume) of the organicmaterial
consisting of recognizable
plant tissue within 100 cm from the soil surface (in Histosols only).
Histic (hi)
Having a histichorizon starting within 40 cm of the soil surface.
Thaptohistic (hib)
Having a buried histichorizon starting between 40 and 100 cm from the soil surface.
Hortic (ht)
Having a hortichorizon.
Humic (hu)
Having the following organic carbon contents in the fine earth fraction as a weighted average in
Ferralsolsand
Nitisols, 1.4% or more to a depth of 100 cm from the mineral soil surface; in Leptosolsto which
the Hyperskeletic
qualifier applies, 2% or more to a depth of 25 cm from the mineral soil surface; in all other soils,
1% or more to a
depth of 50 cm from the mineral soil surface.
Hyperhumic (huh)
Having an organic carbon content of 5% or more as a weighted average in the fine earth fraction to
a depth
of 50 cm from the mineral soil surface.
Hydragric (hg)
Having an anthraquichorizon and an underlying hydragrichorizon, the latter starting within 100
cm of the soil
surface.
Hydric (hy)
Having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more layers with a combined thickness of 35 cm or
more, which
have a water retention at 1500 kPa (in undried samples) of 100% or more (in Andosols only).
Hydrophobic (hf)
Water-repellent, i.e. water stands on a dry soil for the duration of 60 seconds or more (in
Arenosols only).
Hyperalbic (hb)
See Albic.
Hyperalic (hl)
Having an argichorizon, either starting within 100 cm of the soil surface, orwithin 200 cm of the
soil surface if the
argichorizon is overlain by loamy sand or coarser textures throughout, that has a silt to clay ratio
of less than 0.6
and an Al saturation (effective) of 50% or more, throughout or to a depth of 50 cm below its upper
limit, whichever is
shallower (in Alisols only).
Hypercalcic (hc)
Having a calcichorizon with 50% or more (by mass) calcium carbonate equivalent and starting
within 100 cm of the
soil surface (in Calcisols only).

Hyperdystric (hd)
See Dystric.
Hypereutric (he)
See Eutric.
Hypergypsic (hp)
Having a gypsichorizon with 50% or more (by mass) gypsum and starting within 100 cm of the soil
surface (in
Gypsisols only).
Hyperochric (ho)
Having a mineral topsoil layer, 5 cm or more thick, with a Munsell value, dry, of 5.5 or more that
turns darker on
moistening, an organic carbon content of less than 0.4%, a platy structure in 50% or more of the
volume, and a
surface crust.
Hypersalic (hs)
See Salic.
Hyperskeletic (hk)
Containing less than 20% (by volume) fine earth averaged over a depth of 75 cm from the soil
surface or to
continuous rock, whichever is shallower.
Hypocalcic (wc)
Having a calcichorizon with a calcium carbonate equivalent content in the fine earth fraction of
less than 25% and
starting within 100 cm of the soil surface (in
Calcisols only).
Hypogypsic (wg)
Having a gypsichorizon with a gypsum content in the fine earth fraction of less than 25% and
starting within 100 cm
of the soil surface (in Gypsisols only).
Hypoluvic (wl)
Having an absolute clay increase of 3% or more within 100 cm of the soil surface ( in Arenosols
only).
Hyposalic (ws)
See Salic.
Hyposodic (wn)
See Sodic.
Irragric (ir)
Having an irragrichorizon.
Lamellic (ll)
Having clay lamellae with a combined thickness of 15 cm or more within 200 cm of the soil surface.
Laxic (la)
Having a bulk density of less than 0.9 kg dm-3, in a mineral soil layer, 20 cm or more thick, starting
within 75 cm of
the soil surface.
139
Leptic (le)
Having continuous rockstarting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Endoleptic (nl)
Having continuous rockstarting between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface.
Epileptic (el)
Having continuous rockstarting within 50 cm of the soil surface.
Lignic (lg)
Having inclusions of intact wood fragments, which make up one-quarter or more of the soil volume,
within 50 cm of
the soil surface (in Histosols only).
Limnic (lm)
Having limnic material, cumulatively 10 cm or more thick, within 50 cm of the soil surface.
Linic (lc)
Having a continuous, very slowly permeable to impermeable constructed geomembrane of any
thickness starting
within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Lithic (li)
Having continuous rockstarting within 10 cm of the soil surface (in Leptosols only).
Nudilithic (nt)
Having continuous rockat the soil surface (in Leptosols only).
Lixic (lx)
Having an argichorizon that has a CEC (by 1 MNH4OAc) of less than 24 cmolc kg-1 clay in some part
to a maximum
depth of 50 cm below its upper limit, either starting within 100 cm of the soil surface or within 200
cm of the soil
surface if the argichorizon is overlain by loamy sand or coarser textures throughout, and a base
saturation (by 1 M
NH
4OAc) of 50% or more in the major part between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface.
Luvic (lv)
Having an argichorizon that has a CEC (by 1 MNH4OAc) of 24 cmolc kg-1 clay or more throughout or
to a depth of
50 cm below its upper limit, whichever is shallower, either starting within 100 cm of the soil surface
or within 200
cm of the soil surface if the argichorizon is overlain by loamy sand or coarser textures throughout,
and a base
saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) of 50% or more in the major part between 50 and 100 cm from the soil
surface.
Magnesic (mg)
Having an exchangeable Ca to Mg ratio of less than 1 in the major part within 100 cm of the soil
surface or to
continuous rockor a cemented or indurated layer, whichever is shallower.
Manganiferric (mf)
Having a ferrichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface in which half or more of the
nodules or mottles are
black.
Mazic (mz)
Massive and hard to very hard in the upper 20 cm of the soil ( in Vertisols only).
Melanic (ml)
Having a melanichorizon starting within 30 cm of the soil surface (in Andosols only).
Mesotrophic (ms)
Having a base saturation (by 1 MNH4OAc) of less than 75% at a depth of 20 cm from the soil
surface (in Vertisols
only).
Mollic (mo)
Having a mollichorizon.
Molliglossic (mi)
See Glossic.
Natric (na)
Having a natrichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Nitic (ni)
Having a nitichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Novic (nv)
Having above the soil that is classified at the RSG level, a layer with recent sediments (new
material), 5 cm or more
and less than 50 cm thick.
Areninovic (anv)
material), 5 cm
or more and less than 50 cm thick, which has a texture of loamy fine sand or coarser in its major
part.
Clayinovic (cnv)
material), 5 cm
or more and less than 50 cm thick, which has a texture of clay in its major part.
Siltinovic (snv)
material), 5 cm
or more and less than 50 cm thick, which has a texture of silt, silt loam, silty clay loam or silty clay
in its
major part.
Nudiargic (ng)
Having an argichorizon starting at the mineral soil surface
Nudilithic (nt)
See Lithic.
Ombric (om)
Having a histichorizon saturated predominantly with rainwater starting within 40 cm of the soil
surface (in Histosols
only).
Ornithic (oc)
Having a layer 15 cm or more thick with ornithogenicmaterial starting within 50 cm of the soil
surface.
Ortsteinic (os)
Having a cemented spodichorizon (ortstein) (in Podzols only).
141
Oxyaquic (oa)
Saturated with oxygen-rich water during a period of 20 or more consecutive days and not a
gleyicor stagnic colour
patternin some layer within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Pachic (ph)
Having a mollicor umbrichorizon 50 cm or more thick.
Pellic (pe)
Having in the upper 30 cm of the soil a Munsell value, moist, of 3.5 or less and a chroma, moist, of
1.5 or less (in
Vertisols only).
Petric (pt)
Having a strongly cemented or indurated layer starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Endopetric (ptn)
Having a strongly cemented or indurated layer starting between 50 and 100 cm from the soil
surface.
Epipetric (ptp)
Having a strongly cemented or indurated layer starting within 50 cm of the soil surface.
Petrocalcic (pc)
Having a petrocalcichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Petroduric (pd)
Having a petrodurichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Petrogleyic (py)
Having a layer, 10 cm or more thick, with an oximorphic colour pattern
more (by volume) is
cemented (bog iron), within 100 cm of the soil surface.
19
and of which 15% or
Petrogypsic (pg)
Having a petrogypsichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Petroplinthic (pp)
Having a petroplinthichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Petrosalic (ps)
Having within 100 cm of the soil surface, a layer, 10 cm or more thick, which is cemented by salts
more soluble
than gypsum.
Pisocalcic (cp)
See Calcic
Pisoplinthic (px)
Having a pisoplinthichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
19
As defined in the gleyic colour pattern.

Placic (pi)
Having within 100 cm of the soil surface, an iron pan, between 1 and 25 mm thick, that is
continuously cemented by
a combination of organic matter, Fe and/or Al.
Plaggic (pa)
Having a plaggichorizon.
Plinthic (pl)
Having a plinthichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Posic (po)
Having a zero or positive charge (pHKCl - pHwater 0, both in 1:1 solution) in a layer, 30 cm or more
thick, starting
within 100 cm of the soil surface (in Plinthosols and Ferralsols only).
Profondic (pf)
Having an argichorizon in which the clay content does not decrease by 20% or more (relative) from
its maximum
within 150 cm of the soil surface.
Protic (pr)
Showing no soil horizon development (in Arenosols only).
Puffic (pu)
Having a crust pushed up by salt crystals (in Solonchaks only).
Reductaquic (ra)
Saturated with water during the thawing period and at some time of the year reducing
conditionsabove a cryic
horizon and within 100 cm of the soil surface (in Cryosols only).
Reductic (rd)
Having reducing conditionsin 25% or more of the soil volume within 100 cm of the soil surface
caused by gaseous
emissions, e.g. methane or carbon dioxide (inTechnosols only).
Regic (rg)
Not having buried horizons (in Anthrosols only).
Rendzic (rz)
Having a mollichorizon that contains, or immediately overlies calcaricmaterials or calcareous rock
containing 40%
or more calcium carbonate equivalent.
Rheic (rh)
Having a histichorizon saturated predominantly with groundwater or flowing surface water starting
within 40 cm of
the soil surface (in Histosols only).
Rhodic (ro)
Having within 150 cm of the soil surface a subsurface layer, 30 cm or more thick, with a Munsell
hue of 2.5 YR or
redder, a value, moist, of less than 3.5 and a value, dry, no more than one unit higher than the
moist value.
Rubic (ru)
Within 100 cm of the soil surface a subsurface layer, 30 cm or more thick, with a Munsell hue
redder than 10 YR or
a chroma, moist, of 5 or more (in Arenosols only).
143
Ruptic (rp)
Having a lithological discontinuitywithin 100 cm of the soil surface.
Rustic (rs)
Having a spodichorizon in which the ratio of the percentage of acid oxalate (pH 3) extractable iron
to the percentage
of organic carbon is 6 or more throughout (in Podzols only).
Salic (sz)
Having a salichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Endosalic (ns)
Having a salichorizon starting between 50 and 100 cm from the soil surface.
Episalic (ea)
Having a salichorizon starting within 50 cm of the soil surface.
Hypersalic (hs)
Having an ECe of 30 dS m-1 or more at 25 C in some layer within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Hyposalic (ws)
Having an ECe of 4 dS m-1 or more at 25 C in some layer within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Sapric (sa)
Having, after rubbing, less than one-sixth (by volume) of the organicmaterial consisting of
recognizable plant tissue
within 100 cm of the soil surface (in Histosols only).
Silandic (sn)
Having one or more layers, cumulatively 15 cm or more thick, with andicproperties and an acid
oxalate (pH 3)
extractable silica (Siox) content of 0.6% or more, or an Alpy to Alox ratio of less than 0.5 within 100
cm of the soil
surface (in Andosols only).
Thaptosilandic (snb)
Having one or more buried layers, cumulatively 15 cm or more thick, with andicproperties and an
acid
oxalate (pH 3) extractable silica (Siox) content of 0.6% or more, or an Alpy to Alox ratio of less than
0.5 within
Siltic (sl)
Having a texture of silt, silt loam, silty clay loam or silty clay in a layer, 30 cm or more thick, within
100 cm of the
soil surface.
Endosiltic (sln)
50 and
Episiltic (slp)
50 cm
of the soil surface.

Skeletic (sk)
40% or more (by volume) gravel or other coarse fragments averaged over a depth of 100 cm from
the soil surface
or to continuous rockor a cemented or indurated layer, whichever is shallower.
Endoskeletic (skn)
Having 40% or more (by volume) gravel or other coarse fragments averaged over a depth between
50 and
100 cm from the soil surface.
Episkeletic (skp)
Having 40% or more (by volume) gravel or other coarse fragments averaged over a depth of 50 cm
from
the soil surface.
Sodic (so)
Having 15% or more exchangeable Na, or Na plus Mg>Ca on the exchange complex, within 50 cm
of the soil
surface throughout.
Endosodic (son)
Having 15% or more exchangeable Na or Na plus Mg>Ca on the exchange complex between 50
and 100
cm from the soil surface throughout.
Hyposodic (sow)
Having 6% or more exchangeable Na on the exchange complex in a layer, 20 cm or more thick,
within 100
cm of the soil surface.
Solodic (sc)
Having a layer, 15 cm or more thick within 100 cm of the soil surface, with the columnar or
prismatic structure of
the natrichorizon, but lacking its sodium saturation requirements.
Sombric (sm)
Having a sombrichorizon starting within 150 cm of the soil surface.
Spodic (sd)
Having a spodichorizon starting within 200 cm of the mineral soil surface.
Spolic (sp)
Having a layer, 20 cm or more thick within 100 cm of the soil surface, with 20% or more (by
volume, by weighted
average) artefactscontaining 35% or more (by volume) of industrial waste (mine spoil, dredgings,
rubble, etc.) (in
Technosols only).
Stagnic (st)
Having within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface in some parts reducing conditionsfor some time
during the year
and in 25% or more of the soil volume, single or in combination, a stagnic colour patternor an
albichorizon.
Endostagnic (stn)
Having between 50 and 100 cm from the mineral soil surface in some parts reducing
conditionsfor some time
during the year and in 25% or more of the soil volume, single or in combination, a stagnic colour
patternor an albic
horizon.
Epistagnic (stn)
Having within 50 cm of the mineral soil surface in some parts reducing conditionsfor some time
during the year and
in 25% or more of the soil volume, single or in combination, a stagnic colour patternor an
albichorizon.
145
Subaquatic (sq)
Being permanently submerged under water not deeper than 200 cm.
Sulphatic (su)
Having a salichorizon with a soil solution (1:1 in water) with [SO42-] >> [HCO3-] >[Cl-] (in
Solonchaks only).
Takyric (ty)
Having a takyrichorizon.
Technic (te)
Having 10% or more (by volume, by weighted average) artefactsin the upper 100 cm from the soil
surface or to
continuous rockor a cemented or indurated layer, whichever is shallower.
Tephric (tf)
Having tephricmaterial to a depth of 30 cm or more from the soil surface or to continuous rock,
whichever is
shallower.
Terric (tr)
Having a terrichorizon.
Thaptandic (ba)
See Andic.
Thaptovitric (bv)
See Vitric.
Thionic (ti)
Having a thionichorizon or a layer with sulphidicmaterial, 15 cm or more thick, starting within 100
cm of the soil
surface.
Hyperthionic (tih)
Having a thionichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface and a pH (1:1 in water) less than
3.5.
Orthothionic (tio)
Having a thionichorizon starting within 100 cm of the soil surface and a pH (1:1 in water) between
3.5 and
4.0.
Protothionic (tip)
Having a layer with sulphidicmaterial, 15 cm or more thick, starting within 100 cm of the soil
surface.
Thixotropic (tp)
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 the solid condition.
Tidalic (td)
Being flooded by tidewater but not covered by water at mean low tide.
Toxic (tx)
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.

Anthrotoxic (atx)
Having in some layer within 50 cm of the soil surface sufficiently high and persistent
concentrations of
organic or inorganic substances to markedly affect the health of humans who come in regular
contact with
the soil.
Ecotoxic (etx)
concentrations of
organic or inorganic substances to markedly affect soil ecology, in particular the populations of the
mesofauna.
Phytotoxic (ptx)
Having in some layer within 50 cm of the soil surface sufficiently high or low concentrations of ions
other
than Al, Fe, Na, Ca and Mg, to markedly affect plant growth.
Zootoxic (ztx)
concentrations of
organic or inorganic substances to markedly affect the health of animals, including humans, that
ingest
plants grown on these soils.
Transportic (tn)
Having at the surface a layer, 30 cm or more thick, with solid or liquid material that has been
moved from a source
area outside the immediate vicinity of the soil by intentional human activity, usually with the aid of
machinery, and
without substantial reworking or displacement by natural forces
Turbic (tu)
Having cryoturbation features (mixed material, disrupted soil horizons, involutions, organic
intrusions, frost heave,
separation of coarse from fine materials, cracks or patterned ground) at the soil surface or above a
cryichorizon
and within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Umbric (um)
Having an umbrichorizon.
Umbriglossic (ug)
See Glossic.
Urbic (ub)
Having a layer, 20 cm or more thick within 100 cm of the soil surface, with 20% or more (by
volume, by weighted
average) artefactscontaining 35% or more (by volume) of rubble and refuse of human settlements
(in Technosols only).
Vermic (vm)
Having 50% or more (by volume, by weighted average) of worm holes, casts, or filled animal
burrows in the upper
100 cm of the soil or to continuous rockor a cemented or indurated layer, whichever is shallower.
Vertic (vr)
Having a vertichorizon or verticproperties starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Vetic (vt)
Having an ECEC (sum of exchangeable bases plus exchangeable acidity in 1 MKCl) of less than 6
cmolc kg-1 clay in
some subsurface layer within 100 cm of the soil surface.
147
Vitric (vi)
Having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more layers with andicor vitricproperties, with a
combined
thickness of 30 cm or more (in Cambisols 15 cm or more), of which 15 cm or more have
vitricproperties
Thaptovitric (bv)
Having within 100 cm of the soil surface one or more buried layers with andicor vitricproperties,
with a
combined thickness of 30 cm or more (in Cambisols 15 cm or more), of which 15 cm or more have
vitric
properties.
Voronic (vo)
Having a voronichorizon (in Chernozems only).
Xanthic (xa)
Having a ferralichorizon that has in a subhorizon, 30 cm or more thick within 150 cm of the soil
surface, a Munsell
hue of 7.5 YR or yellower and a value, moist, of 4 or more and a chroma, moist, of 5 or more.
Yermic (ye)
Having a yermichorizon, including a desert pavement.
Nudiyermic (yes)
Having a yermichorizon without a desert pavement.
3.5.1 Specifiers
The following specifiers may be used to indicate depth of occurrence, or to express the
intensity of soil
characteristics. Their code is always added after the qualifier code. The specifiers are
combined with other
elements into one word, e.g. Endoskeletic. A triple combination, e.g. Epihyperdystric, is
allowed.
Bathy (..d)
The criteria of the qualifier are full filled for the required thickness somewhere between
100 and 200 cm from
the soil surface.
Cumuli (..c)
Having a repetitive accumulation of material with a cumulative thickness of 50 cm or
more at the soil surface
(e.g. cumulinovic and cumulimollic).
Endo (..n)
The criteria of the qualifier are full filled for the required thickness somewhere starting
between 50 and 100
cm from the soil surface.
Epi (..p)
The criteria of the qualifier are full filled for the required thickness somewhere starting
within 50 cm of the soil
surface.
Hyper (..h)
Having a strong expression of certain features.
Hypo (..w)
Having a weak expression of certain features.
Ortho (..o)
Having a typical expression of certain features (typical in the sense that no further or
meaningful
characterization is made).
Para (..r)
Having a resemblance to certain features (e.g. Paralithic).
Proto (..t)
Indicating a precondition or an early stage of development of certain features (e.g.
Protothionic).
Thapto (..b)
Having a buried layer relating to diagnostic horizon, properties or materials starting
within 100 cm of the
surface (e.g. Thaptomollic).
Annex 4 Legends
4.1 Guidelines for constructing small-scale map legend using the World
Reference
Base for Soil Resources
Addendum to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (IUSS 2006, 2007).
These guidelines are based on the following considerations:
The soil units and their ranking in the FAO-UNESCO Legend and Revised Legend of the
Soil Map of the
World (SMW).
The occurrence and significance of soil properties in other classification systems.
The relevance of differentiation characteristics for environmental and management
functions.
The availability of soil information (legacy and modern).
The mapability of soil characteristics at scales of 1:250 000 and smaller.
For every Reference Soil Group (RSG), the qualifiers are given that can be used to
construct small-scale map
units and map legends. They are divided into lists of main map unit qualifiers and
optional map unit qualifiers.
The main map unit qualifiers are ranked and have to be used in the given order. The
optional map unit
qualifiers are listed alphabetically and may be added according to the need of the user.
The following rules
apply:
A map unit consists either of the dominant soil only or of the dominant soil plus a codominant soil or one
or more associate soils; dominant soils represent 50% or more of the soil cover, codominant soils 25% or
more, and associated soils are mentioned only if they represent 5% or more of the soil
cover or are of high
relevance in the landscape ecology; instead of one dominant soil, a combination of at
least two codominant soils is also possible; if co-dominant or associated soils are
indicated, the words dominant:, codominant: and associated: are written before the
name of the soil; the soils are separated by semicolons.
The number of qualifiers specified below refers to the dominant soil; for co-dominant or
associated soils,
smaller numbers of qualifiers (or even no qualifier) may be appropriate.
For map scales of 1 : 5 000 000 and smaller, either the Reference Soil Group (RSG)
name or the RSG
name plus the first applicable qualifier of the main list is used; the qualifier is placed
before the RSG name.
For map scales from 1 : 1 000 000 to 1 : 5 000 000, the RSG name plus the first two
applicable qualifiers
of the main list is used; the qualifiers are placed before the RSG name; the first
applicable qualifier stands
closest to the RSG name.
For map scales from 1 : 250 000 to 1 : 1 000 000, the RSG name plus the first three
applicable qualifiers
of the main list is used; the qualifiers are placed before the RSG name; the first
applicable qualifier stands
closest to the RSG name, the second one stands in the middle.
Additional qualifiers of the main list or qualifiers of the optional list may be used in
brackets behind the
Reference Soil Group name; if two or more qualifiers behind the RSG are used, the
following rules apply: (a)
the qualifiers are separated by commas, (b) the additional qualifiers from the main list
are placed first and
out of them the first applicable qualifier stands first, (c) the sequence of qualifiers from
the optional list is
according to the preference of the soil scientist making the map.

In case two or more main map unit qualifiers are listed separated by a slash (/), only the
dominant one is
used.
If there are less qualifiers applying than described above, the smaller number is used.
Redundant qualifiers (the characteristics of which are included in a previously used
qualifier) are not added;
the qualifier Haplic cannot be used in combination with other qualifiers before the RSG
name.
The use of the specifiers Epi- (the qualifier applies only between 0 and 50 cm from the
mineral soil surface)
and Endo- (the qualifier applies only between 50 and 100 cm from the mineral soil
surface) is encouraged,
where applicable.
These guidelines are based on the understanding that satisfactory (quality) data are
necessary to determine
the elements of the map units.
Reference Soil Groups (RSG) with legend qualifiers for small scale maps.
RSG Main map unit qualifiers
(in front of the soil name)
Optional map unit qualifiers
(in brackets behind the soil name)
ACRISOLS
AC
Leptic
Fractiplinthic / Petroplinthic /
Pisoplinthic / Plinthic
Gleyic
Stagnic
Umbric
Albic
Manganiferric / Ferric
Arenic / Siltic
Humic
Rhodic / Chromic
Haplic
Abruptic
Alumic
Andic
Anthric
Clayic
Cutanic
Densic
Epieutric
Fragic
Greyic
Hyperdystric
Hyperochric
cont.
cont.
Lamellic
Nitic
Novic
Nudiargic
Oxyaquic
Profondic
Ruptic
Skeletic
Sombric
Technic
Transportic
Vetic
Vitric
ALBELUVISOLS
AB
Gleyic
Stagnic
Folic / Histic
Umbric
Alumic
Dystric / Eutric
Abruptic
Anthric
Arenic
Cambic
Clayic
Cutanic
Densic
Drainic
Fragic
Gelic
Greyic
Novic
Oxyaquic
Ruptic
Siltic
Technic
Transportic
ALISOLS
AL
Leptic / Skeletic
Gleyic
Stagnic
Umbric
Albic
Arenic / Silltic
Humic
Rhodic / Chromic
Haplic
Abruptic
Alumic
Andic
Anthric
Clayic
Cutanic
Densic
Epieutric
Fragic
Gelic
Greyic
Hyperalic
Hyperdystric
cont.
Hyperochric
Lamellic
Nitic
Novic
Nudiargic
Oxyaquic
Profondic
Ruptic
Technic
Transportic
Turbic
Vertic
Vitric
ANTHROSOLS
AT
Hydragric / Irragric / Terric/
Plaggic / Hortic
Dystric / Eutric
Alcalic
Arenic
Clayic
Escalic
Ferralic
Fluvic
Gleyic
Novic
Oxyaquic
Regic
Salic
Siltic
Sodic
Spodic
Stagnic
Technic
ANDOSOLS
AN
Vitric
Aluandic / Silandic
Melanic / Fulvic
Leptic
Gleyic
Folic / Histic
Mollic / Umbric
Petroduric / Duric
Calcic
Dystric / Eutric
Acroxic
Anthric
Arenic
Calcaric
Clayic
Colluvic
Drainic
Eutrosilic
Fragic
Gelic
Greyic
Gypsic
Hydric
Novic
Oxyaquic
Placic
Siltic
Skeletic
Sodic
Technic
Thixotropic
Transportic
Turbic
152

ARENOSOLS
AR
Gleyic
Salic
Folic
Albic
Ferralic
Hypoluvic / Lamellic
Rubic / Brunic
Protic
Gypsiric / Calcaric
Dystric / Eutric
Aridic
Gelic
Greyic
Hydrophobic
Hyperalbic
Hyperochric
Novic
Ornithic
Petrogleyic
Placic
Stagnic
cont.
Technic
Tephric
Transportic
Turbic
Yermic
CALCISOLS
CL
Petric
Hyperskeletic / Leptic
Luvic / Lixic
Arenic
Haplic
Aridic
Chromic
Clayic
Densic
Endogleyic
Endosalic
Gypsic
Hypercalcic
Hyperochric
Hypocalcic
Novic
Ruptic
Siltic
Skeletic
Sodic
Takyric
Technic
Transportic
Vertic
Yermic
CRYOSOLS
CR
Glacic
Turbic
Folic / Histic
Mollic / Umbric
Spodic
Reductaquic / Oxyaquic
Haplic
Arenic
Aridic
Calcaric
Calcic
Cambic
Clayic
Drainic
Dystric
Eutric
Gypsiric
Natric
Novic
Ornithic
Salic
Siltic
Skeletic
Thixotropic
Transportic
Vitric
CAMBISOLS
CM
Leptic / Skeletic
Vertic
Thionic
Gleyic
Gelistagnic / Stagnic
Salic
Vitric / Andic
Ferralic
Fluvic
Gypsiric / Calcaric
Rhodic / Chromic
Dystric / Eutric
Alcalic
Alumic
Anthraquic
Aridic
Clayic
Colluvic
Densic
Escalic
Ferric
Folic
Fragic
Gelic
Greyic
Hortic
Humic
Hyperochric
Irragric
cont.
Laxic
Manganiferric
Novic
Ornithic
Oxyaquic
Pisocalcic
Plaggic
Ruptic
Siltic
Sodic
Takyric
Technic
Tephric
Terric
Transportic
Turbic
Yermic
CHERNOZEMS
CH
Voronic
Glossic
Petrocalcic
Vertic
Arenic
Gleyic
Luvic
Calcic
Haplic
Andic
Anthric
Clayic
Densic
Duric
Endofluvic
Endosalic
Greyic
Gypsic
Leptic
Novic
Oxyaquic
Pachic
Petroduric
Petrogypsic
Siltic
Skeletic
Sodic
Stagnic
Technic
Tephric
Vermic
Vitric
DURISOLS
DU
Petric / Fractipetric
Petrocalcic / Calcic
Luvic / Lixic
Arenic
Haplic
Aridic
Chromic
Clayic
Endogleyic
Gypsic
Hyperochric
Leptic
Novic
Ruptic
Siltic
Sodic
Takyric
Technic
Transportic
Vertic
Yermic
154

FERRALSOLS
FR
Gibbsic
Posic / Geric
Folic
Mollic / Umbric
Acric / Lixic
Humic
Rhodic / Xanthic
Haplic
Alumic
Andic
Arenic
Clayic
Colluvic
Densic
Dystric
Eutric
Ferric
cont.
Manganiferric
Novic
Oxyaquic
Ruptic
Siltic
Sombric
Technic
Transportic
Vetic
FLUVISOLS
FL
Subaquatic/ Tidalic
Thionic
Skeletic
Salic
Gleyic
Stagnic
Vertic
Folic/ Histic
Mollic/ Umbric
Calcaric
Dystric / Eutric
Anthric
Arenic
Aridic
cic
Clayic
Densic
Drainic
Gelic
Greyic
Gypsic
Gypsiric
Humic
Limnic
Oxyaquic
Petrogleyic
Siltic
Sodic
Takyric
Technic
Tephric
Transportic
Yermic
GLEYSOLS
GL
Thionic
Folic / Histic
Mollic / Umbric
Gypsic
Calcic / Calcaric
Arenic
Dystric / Eutric
Abruptic
Acric
Alcalic
Alic
Alumic
Andic
Anthraquic
Clayic
Colluvic
Drainic
Endosalic
Fluvic
Gelic
Greyic
Humic
Lixic
Luvic
Novic
Petrogleyic
Siltic
Sodic
Spodic
Takyric
Technic
Tephric
Toxic
Turbic
Vitric

GYPSISOLS
GY
Petric
Luvic
Arenic
Haplic
Aridic
Arzic
Clayic
Duric
Endogleyic
Endosalic
Hypergypsic
Hyperochric
Hypogypsic
Novic
cont.
Petroduric
Ruptic
Siltic
Skeletic
Sodic
Takyric
Technic
Transportic
Vertic
Yermic
HISTOSOLS
HS
Cryic
Thionic
Folic
Fibric / Hemic / Sapric
Technic
Vitric / Andic
Dystric / Eutric
Rheic / Ombric
Alcalic
Calcaric
Calcic
Drainic
Floatic
Gelic
Glacic
Lignic
Limnic
Novic
Ornithic
Petrogleyic
Placic
Salic
Skeletic
Sodic
Subaquatic
Tidalic
Toxic
Transportic
Turbic
KASTANOZEMS
KS
Petrogypsic / Gypsic / Petroduric / Duric /

Petrocalcic
Vertic
Arenic
Gleyic
Luvic
Calcic
Haplic
Andic
Anthric
Chromic
Clayic
Densic
Endosalic
Glossic
Greyic
Leptic
Novic
Oxyaquic
Siltic
Skeletic
Sodic
Stagnic
Technic
Tephric
Vermic
Vitric
156

LEPTOSOLS
LP
Nudilithic/ Lithic
Hyperskeletic
Rendzic
Folic/ Histic
Mollic/ Umbric
Dystric/ Eutric
Andic
Aridic
Brunic
Calcaric
Cambic
Drainic
Gelic
Gleyic
Greyic
Gypsiric
Humic
Novic
cont.
Ornithic
Oxyaquic
Placic
Protothionic
Salic
Skeletic
Sodic
Stagnic
Technic
Tephric
Vertic
Vitric
Yermic
LIXISOLS
LX
Leptic
Gleyic
Stagnic
Albic
Calcic
Arenic / Siltic
Rhodic / Chromic
Haplic
Abruptic
Andic
Anthric
Clayic
Cutanic
Densic
Epidystric
Fragic
Greyic
Humic
Hypereutric
Hyperochric
Lamellic
Nitic
Novic
Nudiargic
Oxyaquic
Profondic
Ruptic
Skeletic
Technic
Transportic
Vetic
Vitric
LUVISOLS
LV
Leptic / Skeletic
Gleyic
Stagnic
Albic
Vertic
Calcic
Arenic / Siltic
Rhodic / Chromic
Haplic
Abruptic
Andic
Anthric
Clayic
Cutanic
Densic
Epidystric
Escalic
Fragic
Gelic
Greyic
Humic
Hypereutric
cont.
cont.
Hyperochric
Lamellic
Nitic
Novic
Nudiargic
Oxyaquic
Profondic
Ruptic
Sodic
Technic
Transportic
Turbic
Vitric
NITISOLS
NT
Mollic / Umbric
Ferralic
Alic / Acric / Luvic / Lixic
Humic
Rhodic
Dystric / Eutric
Alumic
Andic
Colluvic
Densic
Novic
Oxyaquic
Technic
Transportic
Vetic
PHAEOZEMS
PH
Greyic
Rendzic
Leptic / Skeletic
Petrocalcic
Vertic
Gleyic
Luvic
Calcaric
Haplic
Abruptic
Albic
Andic
Anthric
Arenic
Chromic
Clayic
Densic
Duric
Endosalic
Ferralic
Glossic
Novic
Oxyaquic
Pachic
Petroduric
Petrogypsic
Siltic
Sodic
Stagnic
Technic
Tephric
Vermic
Vitric
158

PLANOSOLS
PL
Solodic
Folic / Histic
Mollic / Umbric
Gypsic
Vertic
Arenic / Siltic
Dystric / Eutric
Albic
Alcalic
Alumic
Calcaric
Chromic
Clayic
Drainic
Endogleyic
Endosalic
Ferric
cont.
Gelic
Geric
Greyic
Manganiferric
Plinthic
Ruptic
Sodic
Technic
Thionic
Transportic
PLINTHOSOLS
PT
Petric / Fractipetric
Pisoplinthic
Albic
Stagnic
Folic / Histic
Umbric
Arenic
Dystric / Eutric
Abruptic
Acric
Alumic
Clayic
Colluvic
Drainic
Endoduric
Ferric
Geric
Gibbsic
Humic
Lixic
Manganiferric
Novic
Oxyaquic
Pachic
Posic
Ruptic
Siltic
Technic
Transportic
Umbriglossic
Vetic
PODZOLS
PZ
Carbic / Rustic
Albic / Entic
Gleyic
Stagnic
Folic / Histic / Umbric
Vitric / Silandic / Aluandic
Haplic
Anthric
Densic
Drainic
Fragic
Gelic
Hortic
Lamellic
Novic
Ornithic
Ortsteinic
Oxyaquic
Placic
Plaggic
Ruptic
Skeletic
Technic
Terric
Transportic
Turbic
REGOSOLS
RG
Leptic / Skeletic
Gleyic
Gelistagnic / Stagnic
Thaptovitric / Thaptandic
Tephric
Colluvic
Gypsiric / Calcaric
Dystric / Eutric
Arenic
Aric
Aridic
Brunic
Clayic
Densic
Escalic
Folic
Gelic
Humic
Hyperochric
cont.
Hyposalic
Ornithic
Oxyaquic
Siltic
Sodic
Takyric
Technic
Transportic
Turbic
Vermic
Yermic
SOLONCHAKS
SC
Petrosalic
Gleyic
Stagnic
Mollic
Gypsic
Duric
Calcic
Sodic
Arenic
Haplic
Aceric
Aridic
Carbonatic
Chloridic
Clayic
Densic
Drainic
Folic
Gelic
Histic
Hypersalic
Novic
Oxyaquic
Puffic
Siltic
Sulphatic
Takyric
Technic
Transportic
Vertic
Yermic
SOLONETZ
SN
Gleyic
Stagnic
Mollic
Salic
Gypsic
Petrocalcic/ Calcic
Haplic
Abruptic
Albic
Arenic
Aridic
Clayic
Colluvic
Duric
Glossalbic
Humic
Magnesic
Novic
Oxyaquic
Ruptic
Siltic
Takyric
Technic
Transportic
Vertic
Yermic
160

STAGNOSOLS
ST
Folic / Histic
Mollic / Umbric
Vertic
Albic
Gleyic
Gypsic
Dystric / Eutric
Alcalic
Alumic
Arenic
Calcaric
Chromic
Clayic
Drainic
Endosalic
Ferric
Gelic
Geric
cont.
Greyic
Manganiferric
Ornithic
Placic
Plinthic
Rhodic
Ruptic
Siltic
Sodic
Technic
Thionic
TECHNOSOLS
TC
Ekranic
Linic
Urbic / Spolic / Garbic
Cryic
Toxic
Dystric / Eutric
Acric
Alic
Arenic
Calcaric
Clayic
Densic
Drainic
Fluvic
Folic
Gleyic
Histic
Humic
Leptic
Lixic
Luvic
Mollic
Novic
Oxyaquic
Reductic
Siltic
Skeletic
Stagnic
Umbric
Vitric
UMBRISOLS
UM
Leptic / Skeletic
Gleyic
Stagnic
Folic / Histic
Mollic
Albic
Greyic
Arenic
Haplic
Alumic
Andic
Anthric
Brunic
Cambic
Chromic
Clayic
Densic
Drainic
Endoeutric
Ferralic
Fluvic
Gelic
Glossic
Humic
Hyperdystric
Laxic
Novic
Ornithic
Oxyaquic
Pachic
Placic
Siltic
Technic
Thionic
Turbic
Vitric
VERTISOLS
VR
Sodic
Salic
Gypsic
Petroduric
Petrocalcic/Calcic
Pellic
Chromic
Haplic
Albic
Calcaric
Duric
Endoleptic
Ferric
Gleyic
Grumic
Gypsiric
Humic
Hypereutric
cont.
cont.
Hyposalic
Hyposodic
Manganiferric
Mazic
Mesotrophic
Mollic
Novic
Stagnic
Technic
Thionic
162
4.2 FAO soil unit codes according to the Revised Legend of the SMW
FAO Soil unit code (FAO 1988, 1990).
FL FLUVISOLS AR ARENOSOLS
FLe Eutric Fluvisols ARh Haplic Arenosols
FLc Calcaric Fluvisols ARb Cambic Arenosols
FLd Dystric Fluvisols ARi Luvic Arenosols
FLm Mollic Fluvisols ARo Ferralic Arenosols
FLu Umbric Fluvisols ARa Albic Arenosols
FLt Thionic Fluvisols ARc Calcaric Arenosols
FLs Salic Fluvisols ARg Gleyic Arenosols
GL GLEYSOLS AN ANDOSOLS
Gle Eutric Gleysols ANh Haplic Andosols
GLk Calcic Gleysols ANm Mollic Andosols
GLd Dystric Gleysols ANu Umbric Andosols
GLa Andic Gleysols ANz Vitric Andosols
GLm Mollic Gleysols ANg Gleyic Andosols
GLu Umbric Gleysols ANi Gelic Andosols
GLt Thionic Gleysols VR VERTISOLS
GLi Gelic Gleysols VRe Eutric Vertisols
RG REGOSOLS VRd Dystric Vertisols
Rge Eutric Regosols VRk Calcic Vertisols
RGc Calcaric Regosols VRy Gypsic Vertisols
RGy Gypsic Regosols CM CAMBISOLS
RGd Dystric Regosols CMe Eutric Cambisols
RGu Umbric Regosols CMd Dystric Cambisols
RGi Gelic Regosols CMu Humic Cambisols
LP LEPTOSOLS CMc Calcaric Cambisols
LPe Eutric Leptosols CMx Chromic Cambisols
LPd Dystric Leptosols CMv Vertic Cambisols
LPk Rendzic Leptosols CMo Ferralic Cambisols
LPm Mollic Leptosols CMg Gleyic Cambisols
LPu Umbric Leptosols CMi Gelic Cambisols

LPq Lithic Leptosols PH PHAEOZEMS
LPi Gelic Leptosols PHh Haplic Phaeozems
CL CALCISOLS PHc Calcaric Phaeozems
CLh Haplic Calcisols PHl Luvic Phaeozems
CLl Luvic Calcisols PHj Stagnic Phaeozems
GY GYPSISOLS GR GREYZEMS
GYh Haplic Gypsisols GRh Haplic Greyzems
GYk Calcic Gypsisols GRg Gleyic Greyzems
GYl Luvic Gypsisols LV LUVISOLS
GYp Petric Gypsisols LVh Haplic Luvisols
SN SOLONETZ LVf Ferric Luvisols
SNh Haplic Solonetz LVx Chromic Luvisols
SNm Mollic Solonetz LVk Calcic Luvisols
SNk Calcic Solonetz LVv Vertic Luvisols
SNy Gypsic Solonetz LVa Albic Luvisols
SNj Stagnic Solonetz LVj Stagnic Luvisols
SNg Gleyic Solonetz LVg Gleyic Luvisols
SC SOLONCHAKS PL PLANOSOLS
SCh Haplic Solonchaks PLe Eutric Planosols
SCm Mollic Solonchaks PLd Dystric Planosols
SCk Calcic Solonchaks PLm Mollic Planosols
164

SCy Gypsic Solonchaks PLu Umbric Planosols
SCn Sodic Solonchaks PLi Gelic Planosols
SCg Gleyic Solonchaks PD PODZOLUVISOLS
SCi Gelic Solonchaks PDe Eutric Podzoluvisols
KS KASTANOZEMS PDd Dystric Podzoluvisols
KSh Haplic Kastanozems PDj Stagnic Podzoluvisols
KSl Luvic Kastanozems PDg Gleyic Podzoluvisols
KSk Calcic Kastanozems PDi Gelic Podzoluvisols
KSy Gypsic Kastanozems PZ PODZOLS
CH CHERNOZEMS PZh Haplic Podzols
CHh Haplic Chernozems PZb Cambic Podzols
CHk Calcic Chernozems PZf Ferric Podzols
CHl Luvic Chernozems PZc Carbic Podzols
CHw Glossic Chernozems PZg Gleyic Podzols
CHg Gleyic Chernozems PZi Gelic Podzols
LX LIXISOLS FR FERRALSOLS
LXh Haplic Lixisols FRh Haplic Ferralsols
LXf Ferric Lixisols FRx Xanthic Ferralsols
LXp Plinthic Lixisols FRr Rhodic Ferralsols
LXa Albic Lixisols FRu Humic Ferralsols
LXj Stagnic Lixisols FRg Geric Ferralsols
LXg Gleyic Lixisols FRp Plinthic Ferralsols
AC ACRISOLS PT PLINTHOSOLS
ACh Haplic Acrisols PTe Eutric Plinthosols
ACf Ferric Acrisols PTd Dystric Plinthosols
ACu Humic Acrisols PTu Humic Plinthosols
ACp Plinthic Acrisols PTa Albic Plinthosols
ACg Gleyic Acrisols
AL ALISOLS HS HISTOSOLS
ALh Haplic Alisols HSl Folic Histosols
ALf Ferric Alisols HSs Terric Histosols
ALu Humic Alisols HSf Fibric Histosols
ALp Plinthic Alisols HSt Thionic Histosols
ALj Stagnic Alisols HSi Gelic Histosols
ALg Gleyic Alisols AT ANTHROSOLS
NT NITISOLS ATa Aric Anthrosols
NTh Haplic Nitisols ATc Cumulic Anthrosols
NTr Rhodic Nitisols ATf Fimic Anthrosols
NTu Humic Nitisols ATu Urbic Anthrosols
166
167
Annex 5 Hierarchy of land use

Adapted from Remmelzwaal (1990); used to characterize the land use at the site of
representative profile at
time of profile description.
A Agriculture
Land used for cultivation of crops.
AA Annual field cropping
One or more crops harvested within one year. Land under temporary crops.
AA1 Shifting cultivation
Agricultural systems that involve an alternation between cropping for a few years on
selected and
cleared plots and a lengthy period when the soil is rested. The land is cultivated for less
than 33%
of the years.
AA2 Fallow system cultivation
Agricultural systems that involve an alternation of cropping- and fallow periods. The land
is cultivated
between 33 and 67% of the growing seasons; bush or grass fallow are typical.
AA3 Ley system cultivation
Several years of arable cropping are followed by several years of grass and legumes
utilized for
livestock production.
AA4 Rainfed arable cultivation
Agricultural systems where the land is cultivated in more than 67% of the growing
seasons.
AA5 Wet rice cultivation
Annual field cropping system for the production of wetland rice. Paddies with or without
controlled
water supply and drainage system. Plots are inundated during at least some part of the
cropping
period.
AA6 Irrigated cultivation
Annual field cropping system with an artificial supply of water, in addition to rain.
AP Perennial field cropping
Land under perennial crops. Crops harvested more than one year after planting.
Examples of
perennial field crops are sugar-cane, bananas, pineapples and sisal.
AP1 Non-irrigated cultivation
AP2 Irrigated cultivation
AT Tree and shrub cropping
Crops harvested annually or perennially; trees or shrubs produce more than one crop.
Examples of tree
crops are oil-palm, rubber, cacao, coconuts and cloves; typical shrub crops are coffee and
tea.
AT1 Non-irrigated tree crop cultivation
AT2 Irrigated tree crop cultivation
AT3 Non-irrigated shrub crop cultivation
AT4 Irrigated shrub crop cultivation
H Animal husbandry
Animal products.
HE Extensive grazing
Grazing on natural or semi-natural grassland or savannah vegetation.
HE1 Nomadism
Systems in which the animal owners do not have a permanent place of residence. No
regular
cultivation practices. People move with herds.
HE2 Semi-nomadism
Animal owners have a permanent place of residence where supplementary cultivation is
practiced.
Herds are moved to distant grazing areas.
HE3 Ranching
Grazing within well-defined boundaries, movements less distant and higher management
level as
compared to semi-nomadism.
HI Intensive grazing
Stationary animal husbandry. Grazing on permanent/semi-permanent improved grassland
systems.
HI1 Animal production
HI2 Dairying
F Forestry
Activities related to the production of wood. Exploitation of forest for wood, with
reforestation. A
commercial activity.
FN Exploitation of natural forest and woodland
Wood is extracted from natural forest and woodland for commercial purpose.
FN1 Selective felling
Only selected species are removed from the natural vegetation.
FN2 Clear felling
All natural vegetation is cleared after which the area is reforested. This land use system
develops
into a plantation forestry system.
FP Plantation forestry
Forested areas. Relatively high management level. Homogeneous tree stands.
M Mixed farming
Activities concerning cropping and forestry or animal husbandry are mixed.
MF Agro-forestry
Combination of agriculture and forestry (with reforestation).
MP Agro-pastoralism
Combination of agriculture and animal husbandry, also called transhumance (farmers
with a permanent
place of residence send their herds, tended by herdsman, for long periods of time to
distant grazing
areas).
E Extraction/collecting
Extraction of products from the environment.
EV Exploitation of natural vegetation
Land used for extraction of wood or other products from the vegetation; for domestic
use.
EH Hunting and fishing
Extraction of animals or fish from ecosystem.
P Nature protection
No, or low intensity of use, but under management system; low level of interference with
natural
environment or ecosystem.
PN Nature and game preservation
PN1 Reserves
PN2 Parks
PN3 Wildlife management
PD Degradation control
Degradation of land, in most cases further degradation, is not desirable and the land is
protected.
PD1 Non-interference
All uses of the land are prohibited.
PD2 Interference
The land is managed. Works are implemented in order to stop degradation and limit the
degradation
risk.
S Settlement/industries
Residential, industrial use.
SR Residential use
Cities.
SI Industrial use
Industries.
ST Transport
Roads, railways etc.
SC Recreation
In use for recreation.
SX Excavations
Land used for excavations, quarries.
SD Disposal sites
Y Military area
O Other land areas
U Unused
Not used and not managed.
Annex 6 Hierarchy of vegetation

After Unesco (Unesco 1973).
I Closed forest
Formed by trees at least 5 m tall with their crowns interlocking.
IA Mainly evergreen forest
The canopy is never without green foliage. However, individual trees may shed their
leaves.
IA1 Tropical ombrophilous forest (tropical rain forest)
Consisting mainly of broad-leaved evergreen trees, neither cold nor drought resistant.
Truly
evergreen, i.e. the forest canopy remains green all year though individual trees may be
leafless for
a few weeks.
IA2 Tropical and subtropical evergreen seasonal forest
Consisting mainly of broad-leaved evergreen trees. Foliage reduction during the dry
season
noticeable, often as partial shedding of leaves.
IA3 Tropical and subtropical semi-deciduous forest
Most of the upper canopy trees deciduous or drought-resistant; many of the under storey
trees and
shrubs evergreen and more or less sclerophyllous 20.
IA4 Subtropical ombrophilous forest
Forest with a dry season and more pronounced temperature differences between
summer and
winter than tropical ombrophilous forest.
IA5 Mangrove forest
Composed almost entirely of evergreen sclerophyllous broad-leaved trees/shrubs with
either stilt
roots or pneumatophores.
IA6 Temperate and subpolar evergreen ombrophilous forest
Consisting mostly of truly evergreen hemi-sclerophyllous trees.
IA7 Temperate evergreen seasonal broad-leaved forest
Consisting mainly of hemi-sclerophyllous evergreen trees and shrubs, rich in herbaceous
undergrowth.
IA8 Winter-rain evergreen broad-leaved sclerophyllous forest (Mediterranean forest)
Consisting mainly of sclerophyllous evergreen trees and shrubs, most of them showing
rough bark.
Herbaceous undergrowth almost lacking.
IA9 Tropical and subtropical evergreen needle-leaved forest
Consisting mainly of needle-leaved evergreen trees. Broad-leaved trees may be present.
20
Sclerophyllous: thick, hard leaves.

IA10Temperate and subpolar evergreen needle-leaved forest
Consisting mainly of needle-leaved or scale-leaved evergreen trees, but broad-leaved
trees may be
admixed.
IB Mainly deciduous forest
Majority of trees shed their foliage simultaneously in connection with the unfavourable
season.
IB1 Tropical and subtropical drought-deciduous forest
Unfavourable season mainly characterized by drought, in most cases winter-drought.
Foliage is shed
regularly every year. Most trees with relatively thick, fissured bark.
IB2 Cold-deciduous forest with evergreen trees (or shrubs)
Unfavourable season mainly characterized by winter frost. Deciduous broad-leaved trees
dominant,
but evergreen species present.
IB3 Cold-deciduous forest without evergreen trees
Deciduous trees absolutely dominant.
IC Extremely xeromorphic forest
Dense stand of xeromorphic phanerophytes such as bottle trees, tuft trees with succulent
leaves and
stem succulents. Undergrowth with shrubs of similar xeromorphic adaptations.
IC1 Sclerophyllous-dominated extremely xeromorphic forest
Predominance of sclerophyllous trees.
IC2 Thorn forest
Species with thorny appendices predominate.
IC3 Mainly succulent forest

Tree-formed and shrub-formed succulents.
II Woodland
Composed of trees at least 5 m tall with crowns not usually touching but with a coverage
of at least 40%.
IIA Mainly evergreen woodland
The canopy is never without green foliage.
IIA1 Evergreen broad-leaved woodland
Mainly sclerophyllous trees and shrubs.
IIA2 Evergreen needle-leaved forest
Mainly needle-leaved or scale-leaved.
IIB Mainly deciduous woodland
Majority of trees shed their foliage simultaneously in connection with the unfavourable
season.
IIB1 Drought deciduous woodland
Unfavourable season mainly characterized by winter-drought. Foliage is shed regularly
every year.
Most trees with relatively thick, fissured bark.
IIB2 Cold-deciduous woodland with evergreen trees
Unfavourable season mainly characterized by winter frost. Deciduous broad-leaved trees
dominant,
but evergreen species present.
IIB3 Cold-deciduous woodland without evergreen trees
Deciduous trees absolutely dominant.
IIC Extremely xeromorphic woodland
Open stand of xeromorphic phanerophytes such as bottle trees, tuft trees with succulent
leaves and stem
succulents. Undergrowth with shrubs of similar xeromorphic adaptations.
IIC1 Sclerophyllous-dominated extremely xeromorphic woodland
Predominance of sclerophyllous trees.
IIC2 Thorn woodland
Species with thorny appendices predominate.
IIC3 Mainly succulent woodland
Tree-formed and shrub-formed succulents
III Scrub (shrubland and/or thicket)

Mainly composed of woody plants of 0.5 to 5 m tall. Subdivisions:
Shrubland: most of the individual shrubs not touching each other; often grass
undergrowth.
Thicket: individual shrubs interlocked.
IIIA Mainly evergreen scrub
The canopy is never without green foliage. However, individual shrubs may shed their
leaves.
IIIA1 Evergreen broad-leaved shrubland (or thicket)
Mainly sclerophyllous shrubs.
IIIA2 Evergreen needle-leaved and microphyllous shrubland (or thicket)
Mainly needle-leaved or scale-leaved shrubs.
IIIB Mainly deciduous scrub
Majority of shrubs shed their foliage simultaneously in connection with the un-favourable
season.
IIIB1 Drought-deciduous scrub with evergreen woody plants admixed
IIIB2 Drought-deciduous scrub without evergreen woody plants admixed
IIIB3 Cold-deciduous scrub

IIIC Extremely xeromorphic (subdesert) shrubland
Very open stands of shrubs with various xerophytic adaptations, such as extremely
scleromorphic or
strongly reduced leaves, green branches without leaves, or succulents stems, etc., some
of them with
thorns.
IIIC1 Mainly evergreen subdesert shrubland
In extremely dry years some leaves and shoot portions may be shed.
IIIC2 Deciduous subdesert shrubland
Mainly deciduous shrubs, often with a few evergreens
IV Dwarf-scrub and related communities

Rarely exceeding 50 cm in height. Subdivisions:
Dwarf-scrub thicket: branches interlocked.
Dwarf-shrubland: individual dwarf-shrubs more or less isolated or in clumps.
IVA Mainly evergreen dwarf-scrub
Most dwarf-scrubs evergreen.
IVA1 Evergreen dwarf-scrub thicket
Densely closed dwarf-scrub cover, dominating the landscape.
IVA2 Evergreen dwarf-shrubland
Open or more loose cover of dwarf-shrubs.
IVA3 Mixed evergreen dwarf-shrub and herbaceous formation
IVB Mainly deciduous dwarf-scrub
Most dwarf-scrubs deciduous.
IVB1 Facultatively drought-deciduous dwarf-thicket (or dwarf-shrubland)
Foliage is shed only in extreme years.
IVB2 Obligatory, drought-deciduous dwarf-thicket (or dwarf-shrubland)
Densely closed dwarf-shrub stands which loose all or at least part of their leaves in the
dry season.
IVB3 Cold-deciduous dwarf-thicket (or dwarf-shrubland)
Densely closed dwarf-shrub stands which loose all or at least part of their leaves at the
beginning of
a cold season.
IVC Extremely xeromorphic dwarf-shrubland
More or less open formations of dwarf-shrubs, succulents and other life forms adapted to
survive or to
avoid a long dry season. Mostly subdesertic.
IVC1 Mainly evergreen subdesert dwarf-shrubland
In extremely dry years some leaves and shoot portions may be shed.
IVC2Deciduous subdesert dwarf-shrubland
Mainly deciduous dwarf-shrubs, often with a few evergreens.
IVD Tundra
Slowly growing, low formations, consisting mainly of dwarf-shrubs and graminoids
beyond the subpolar
tree line.
IVD1 Mainly bryophyte tundra
Dominated by mats or small cushions of mosses (bryophytes).
IVD2Mainly lichen tundra
Mats of lichen dominating.
IVE Mossy bog formations with dwarf-shrub
Oligotrophic peat accumulations formed by Sphagnumor other mosses.
IVE1 Raised bog

By growth of Sphagnum species raised above the general ground-water table.
IVE2 Non-raised bog
Not or not very markedly raised above the mineral-water table of the surrounding
landscape.
V Herbaceous vegetation
VA Tall graminoid vegetation
Dominant graminoids over 2 m tall. Forb 21 coverage less than 50%.
VA1 Tall grassland with a tree synusia 22 covering 10-40%
More or less like a very open woodland.
VA2 Tall grassland with a tree synusia covering less than 10%
VA3 Tall grassland with a synusia of shrubs
VA4 Tall grassland with a woody synusia consisting mainly of tuft plants (usually palms)
VA5 Tall grassland practically without woody synusia
VB Medium tall grassland
VB1 Medium tall grassland with a tree synusia covering 10-40%
VB2 Medium tall grassland with a tree synusia covering less than 10%
VB3 Medium tall grassland with a synusia of shrubs
VB4 Medium tall grassland with an open synusia of tuft plants (usually palms)
VB5 Medium tall grassland practically without woody synusia
VC Short grassland
The dominant graminoid growth forms are less than 50 cm tall. Forbs cover less than
50%.
VC1 Short grassland with a tree synusia covering 10-40%
VC2 Short grassland with a tree synusia covering less than 10%
VC3 Short grassland with a synusia of shrubs
VC4 Short grassland with an open synusia of tuft plants (usually palms)
VC5 Short grassland practically without woody synusia
VC6 Short to medium tall mesophytic grassland
VC7 Graminoid tundra
VD Forb vegetation
Mainly forbs, graminoid cover less than 50%.
VD1 Tall forb communities
Dominant forb growth forms are more than 1 m tall.
VD2 Low forb communities
Dominant forb growth forms are less than 1 m tall.
VE Hydromorphic fresh-water vegetation
VE1 Rooted fresh-water communities
VE2 Free floating fresh-water communities
VI No vegetation, bare soil or vegetation less than 5%

21
22
Forb: non-graminoid/non-woody vegetation.

Synusia: layer.
176
177
Annex 7 ISO country codes

Country codes according to ISO-3166 (ISO, 2006)
AF Afghanistan KY Cayman Islands DE Germany
AX land Islands CF Central African Republic GH Ghana
AL Albania TD Chad GI Gibraltar
DZ Algeria CL Chile GR Greece
AS American Samoa CN China, mainland GL Greenland
AD Andorra CX Christmas Island GD Grenada

AO Angola CC Cocos (Keeling) Islands GP Guadeloupe
AI Anguilla CO Colombia GU Guam
AQ Antarctica KM Comoros GT Guatemala
AG Antigua and Barbuda CG Congo, Republic of the GN Guinea
AR Argentina CD Congo, The Democratic
Republic of the
GW Guinea-Bissau
AM Armenia CK Cook Islands GY Guyana
AW Aruba CR Costa Rica HT Haiti
AU Australia CI Cte d'Ivoire HM Heard Island and McDonald
Islands
AT Austria HR Croatia HN Honduras
AZ Azerbaijan CU Cuba HK Hong Kong
BS Bahamas CY Cyprus HU Hungary
BH Bahrain CZ Czech Republic IS Iceland
BD Bangladesh DK Denmark IN India
BB Barbados DJ Djibouti ID Indonesia
BY Belarus DM Dominica IR Iran, Islamic Republic of
BE Belgium DO Dominican Republic IQ Iraq
BZ Belize EC Ecuador IE Ireland
BJ Benin EG Egypt IL Israel
BM Bermuda SV El Salvador IT Italy
BT Bhutan GQ Equatorial Guinea JM Jamaica
BO Bolivia ER Eritrea JP Japan
BA Bosnia and
Herzegovina
EE Estonia JO Jordan
BW Botswana ET Ethiopia KZ Kazakhstan
BV Bouvet Island FK Falkland Islands KE Kenya
BR Brazil FO Faroer Islands KI Kiribati
IO British Indian Ocean
Territory
FJ Fiji KP Korea, Democratic
People's Republic of
BN Brunei Darussalam FI Finland KR Korea, Republic of
BG Bulgaria FR France KW Kuwait
BF Burkina Faso GF French Guiana KG Kyrgyzstan
BI Burundi PF French Polynesia LA Lao People's Democratic
Republic
KH Cambodia TF French Southern Territories LV Latvia
178
CM Cameroon GA Gabon LB Lebanon

CA Canada GM Gambia LS Lesotho
CV Cape Verde GE Georgia LR Liberia
LY Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya
OM Oman SD Sudan
LI Liechtenstein PK Pakistan SR Suriname
LT Lithuania PW Palau SJ Svalbard and Jan
Mayen
LU Luxembourg PS Palestinian Territory,
Occupied
SZ Swaziland
MO Macao PA Panama SE Sweden
MK Macedonia, The
Former Yugoslav
Republic of
PG Papua New Guinea CH Switzerland
MG Madagascar PY Paraguay SY Syrian Arab Republic
MW Malawi PE Peru TW Taiwan (Republic of
China)
MY Malaysia PH Philippines TJ Tajikistan
MV Maldives PN Pitcairn TZ Tanzania, United
Republic of
ML Mali PL Poland TH Thailand
MT Malta PT Portugal TL Timor-Leste
MH Marshall Islands PR Puerto Rico TG Togo
MQ Martinique QA Qatar TK Tokelau
MR Mauritania RE Runion TO Tonga
MU Mauritius RO Romania TT Trinidad and Tobago
YT Mayotte RU Russian Federation TN Tunisia
MX Mexico RW Rwanda TR Turkey
FM Micronesia, Federated
States of
SH Saint Helena TM Turkmenistan
MD Moldova, Republicof KN Saint Kitts and Nevis TC Turks and Caicos
Islands
MC Monaco LC Saint Lucia TV Tuvalu
MN Mongolia VC Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines
UG Uganda
MS
ME
Montserrat
Montenegro
PM Saint-Pierre and
Miquelon
UA Ukraine
MA Morocco WS Samoa AE United Arab Emirates
MZ Mozambique SM San Marino GB United Kingdom
MM Myanmar ST So Tom and Prncipe US United States
NA Namibia SA Saudi Arabia UM United States Minor
Outlying Islands
NR Nauru SN Senegal UY Uruguay
NP Nepal CS Serbia UZ Uzbekistan
NL Netherlands SC Seychelles
AN Netherlands Antilles SL Sierra Leone
NC New Caledonia SG Singapore
NZ New Zealand SK Slovakia
NI Nicaragua SI Slovenia
NE Niger SB Solomon Islands
179
NG Nigeria SO Somalia
NU Niue ZA South Africa
NF Norfolk Island GS South Georgia and the
South Sandwich Islands
MP Northern Mariana
Islands
ES Spain
NO Norway LK Sri Lanka
180
181
Annex 8 Analytical methods

Attribute AM_ID Analytical method description
Bulk density BD-- Not measured (Bulk density)
BD01 Core sampling (pF rings)
BD02 Clod samples
BD03 Replacement method (with spherical plastic balls; Avery & Bascomb, 1974)
BD04 Auger-hole method (Zwarich & Shaykewich, 1969)
BD05 Clod samples, oven-dry (USDA method 4A1h)
BD06 drying and weighting of 100-ml sample (Schlichting et al.1995)
BD99 Unspecified methods
Base saturation BS-- Not measured (Base saturation)
BS01 Sum of bases as percentage of CEC (method specified above)
BS99 Unspecified methods
CaCO3 CA-- Not measured (CaCO3)
CA01 Method of Scheibler (volumetric)
CA02 Method of Wesemael
CA03 Method of Piper
CA04 Calcimeter method (volumetric after addition of dilute acid)
CA05 Gravimetric (Richards 1954), Hdbk 60
CA06 H3PO4 acid at 80C, conductometric in NaOH (Schlichting & Blume, 1966)
CA07 Pressure calcimeter (Nelson, 1982)
CA08 Bernard calcimeter (Total CaCO3)
CA09
Carbonates: H3PO4 treatment at 80 deg. C and CO2 measurement like TOC (OC13), transformation
into CaCO3 (Schlichting et al.1995)
CA99 Unspecified methods
CEC CE-- Not measured (CEC, sum of bases)
CE01 Sum of exch. Ca, Mg, K and Na, plus exchangeable aluminium (in 1M KCl) *
CE02 Sum of exch. Ca, Mg, K and Na, plus exchangeable Al (according to method EA02)
CE03 Sum of exch. Ca, Mg, K and Na, plus exchangeable H+Al (in 1M KCl)
CE04 Sum of exch. Ca, Mg, K and Na (in NH4Cl at pH 7/0), plus exchangeable H+Al (in 1M KCl)
CE05
CEC and exchangeable cations with BACl2 (after extracting water soluble cations, measurement by
AAS); Schlichting et al.1995
CE99 Unspecified methods
CES CS-- Not measured (CEC soil)
CS01 CEC in 1M NH4OAc buffered at pH 7
CS02 CEC in 1M BaCl2 buffered at pH 8.1
CS03 CEC in 1M NH4OAc buffered at pH 8.2 (Bascomb)
CS04 CEC in 1M Na4OAc buffered at pH 8.2
CS05 CEC in Silver Thiourea (AgTU)
CS06 CEC as sum of bases (NH4OAc at pH 7) + extr. acidity in BaCl2-TEA at pH 8.2
CS07 CEC determined in 0.5 M LiCl buffered at pH 8 with TEA (after Peech, 1965)
182

CS08 CEC in 1 M KCl at pH of soil
CS09 Sum of exch. cations (Brasil)
CS10 CEC in Li-EDTA at pH7; treat. with K-EDTA solution at pH 10
CS11 CEC in 1M BaCl2 at pH 8.4
CS12 CEC by saturation with NH4OAc and percolation with 10% NaCl + 4 cc conc. HCl/L
CS13 CEC determined in 0.2 M NH4Cl at approximately field pH (Rusell, 1973)
CS14 CEC determined in 0.5N BaOAc at pH 8.2-8.4 after washing
CS15 CEC determined according to Oosterbeek (NL) method
CS16 CEC Mehlich; Ba2+ retained from BaCl2, TEA at pH 8.2
CS17 CEC with 0.1 M Li-EDTA, buffered at pH 8.0
CS18 CEC acc. Schollenberger/Shmuck/Pfeffer depend on initial pH and salt content
CS19 CEC in NH4OAc at pH7 and NaO4Ac at pH 8.2 dep. on initial pH and salt content
CS20 CEC in 1M Na-acetate (after Herrmann 2005)
CS98 Other methods (buffered at pH of about 8)
CS99 Other methods (buffered at pH of about 7)
Exchange
acidity
EA-- Not measured (Exchangeable acidity)
EA01 Exchangeable acidity (H+Al) in 1 M KCl

EA02 Exch. acidity in 1 M KCl estimated from soluble Al in 2:1 v/v 0.02 M CaCl 2
EA03 Extractable acidity in NH4OAc, formaldehyde and BaCl2; acid. by titration at pH 11 (Mados, 1943)
EA04 Ca-acetate 1 M at pH 7 (Brasil)
EA05 Exch. acidity in 0.1 N NH4Cl extract
EA06 Extractable acidity in 1 M BaCl2 and TEA
EA07 Exch. acidity in NaCl extract
EA08 Exhangeable Ha and Ala (pH measurement in in Ca-acetate pH 7.2); Schlichting et al.1995
EA99 Unspecified methods
EC EL-- Not measured (Electo-conductivity)
EL01 Elec. conductivity at 1:1 soil/water ratio
EL02 Elec. conductivity at 1:2.5 soil/water ratio
EL99 Unspecified methods
ES ES-- Not measured (Electo-conductivity saturated paste)
ES01 Elec. conductivity in saturated paste (ECe)
ES99 Unspecified method
Exchangeable
bases
EX-- Not measured (Exchangeable bases)
EX01 Various methods with no apparent differences in results
EX99 Unspecified methods
Gypsum GY-- Not measured (Gypsum)
GY01 Dissolved in water and precipitated by acetone
GY02 Differ. between Ca-conc. in sat. extr. and Ca-conc. in 1/50 s/w solution
GY03 Calculated from conductivity of successive dilutions
GY04 In 0.1 M Na3-EDTA; turbidimetric (Begheijn, 1993)
GY05 Gravimetric after dissolution in 0.2 N HCl (USSR-method)
GY06 Total-S, using LECO furnace, minus easily soluble MgSO4 and Na2SO4
GY07 Schleiff method, electrometric
GY99 Unspecified methods
Hydraulic
Conductivity
HC-- Not measured (Hydraulic conductivity)
HC01 Double ring method
HC02 Bore hole method
HC03 Inverse bore hole method
HC04 Permeability in cm/hr determined in column filled with fine earth fraction
HC99 Unspecified methods
Moisture
Content
MC-- Not measured (Moisture content)
MC01 Sand/silt baths and porous plates, undisturbed samples (pF rings)
MC02 Ceramic plate extractors, dist. samples in 10x50mm rings; after L.A. Richards 1965
MC99 Unspecified methods
Organic Carbon OC-- Not measured (Organic Carbon)
OC01 Method of Walkley-Black (1934) (Org. matter = Org. C x 1.72)
OC02 Loss on ignition (NL)
OC03 Method of Allison
OC04 Method of Kurmies
OC05 Method of furnace combustion (e.g., LECO analyzer)
OC06 Method of Kalembass and Jenkinson (1973); acid dichromate; Org. matter = Org. C x 1.72)
OC07 Wet oxidation according to Tinsley (1950)
OC08 Wet oxidation according to Anne(1945) (Org. matter = Org. C x 1.7)
OC09 Method of Tiurin (oxid. with K-dichr.)
OC10 Wet oxidation by Chromic acid and gravimetric determination of CO 2 (Knopp)
OC11 Total carbon (no-carbonates present) using VarioEL CNS-analyzer
OC12
Dry combustion using a CN-corder and cobalt oxide or copper oxide as an oxidation accelerator
(Tanabe and Araragi, 1970)
OC13 Dry combustion at 1200 deg. C and coulometric CO 2 measurement (Schlichting et al.1995)
OC99 Unspecified methods

pH CaCl PC-- Not measured (pH_CaCl2)
PC01 pH in 1:1 soil/1 M CaCl2 solution
PC02 pH in 1:2.5 soil/1 M CaCl2 solution
PC03 pH in 1:5 soil/1 M CaCl2 solution
PC04 pH in 1:2 soil/0.01 M CaCl2 solution
PC05 pH in 1:2.5 soil/0.01 M CaCl2 solution
PC06 pH in 1:2.5 soil/0.1 M CaCl2 solution
PC07 pH in 1:5 (w/v) soil/0.01 M CaCl2 solution for mineral soils; 1/10 for organic soils
PC99 Unspecified methods
pH water PH-- Not measured (pH-water)
PH01 pH in 1:1 soil/water solution
PH02 pH 1:2.5 soil/water solution
PH03 pH 1:5 soil/water solution
PH04 pH in 1:2 soil/water solution
PH05 pH in water saturated extract
PH06 -PH99 Unspecified methods
184

pH KCl PK-- Not measured (pH-KCl)
PK01 pH in 1:1 soil/ M KCl solution
PK02 pH in 1:2.5 soil/ M KCl solution
PK03 pH in 1:5 soil/ M KCl solution
PK04 pH in 1:2 soil/0.01 M KCl solution
PK99 Unspecified methods
P available PA-- Not measured (P-available)
PA01 Method of Bray I (dilute HCl/NH4F)
PA02 Method of Olsen (0.5 M bicarbonate extraction at pH 8.5)
PA03 Method of Truog (dilute H2SO4)
PA04 Method of Morgan (Na-acetate/acetic acid)
PA05 Method of Saunders and Metelerkamp (anion-exch. resin)
PA06 Method of Bray II (dilute HCl/NH4F)
PA07 Modified after ISFEI method, A.H. Hunter (1975)
PA08 Method of Nelson (dilute HCl/H2SO4)
PA09 ADAS method (NH4 acetate/acetic acid)
PA10 Spectrometer (Brasil)
PA11 North Carolina (0.05 M HCl, 0.025 N H2SO4)
PA12 0.02 colorimetric in N H2SO4 extract, molybd. blue method
PA13 Method of Olsen, modified by Dabin(1967) - ORSTOM
PA14 Method of Kurtz-Bray I (0.025 M HCl + 0.03 M NH4F)
PA15 Complexation with citric acid (van Reeuwijk)
PA16 NH4-lactate extraction method (KU-Leuven)
PA17 Bray-I (acid soils) resp. Olsen (other soils)
PA18 Ambic1 method (ammonium bicarbonate) (South Africa)
PA99 Unspecified methods
Total carbon TC-- Not measured (Total Carbon)
TC01 Total Carbon (USDA-NRCS method 6A2d)
Particle size
distribution
TE-- Not measured (texture)
TE01 Pipette method, with appropriate dispersion treatment (c< 0.002 <si< 0.05 <sa< 2mm)
TE02 Pipette method, without dispersion treatment (c< 0.002 <si< 0.05 <sa< 2mm)
TE03 Hydrometer method, with dispersion treatment (c< 0.002 <si<0.05 <sa< 2mm)
TE04 Hydrometer, without dispersion treatment (c< 0.002 <si< 0.05 <sa< 2mm)
TE05 Pipette method, with appropriate dispersion treatment (c<0.002 <si< 0.02 <sa< 2mm)
TE06 Pipette method, without dispersion treatment (c<0.002 <si< 0.02 <sa< 2mm)
TE07 Hydrometer method, with dispersion treatment (c<0.002 <si< 0.02 <sa< 2mm)
TE08 Hydrometer, without dispersion treatment (c<0.002 <si< 0.02 <sa< 2mm)
TE09 Pipette method, with appropriate dispersion treatment (c< 0.002 <si< 0.06 <sa< 2mm)
TE10 Pipette method, without dispersion treatment (c< 0.002 <si< 0.06 <sa< 2mm)
TE11 Hydrometer method, with dispersion treatment (c< 0.002 <si< 0.06 <sa< 2mm)
TE12 Hydrometer, without dispersion treatment (c< 0.002 <si< 0.06 <sa< 2mm)
TE13 Hydrometer method, with dispersion treatment (c< 0.005 <si< 0.05 <sa< 1mm)
TE14 Beaker method of sedimentation, with dispersion treatment (c< 0.002 <si< 0.06 <sa< 2mm)
TE15 Pipette method, full dispersion (c<.001<si<0.05<sa<1mm; USSR method)

TE16 Sieve and pipette method after H2O2 extraction, and dispersion (Schlichting et al.1995)
TE97 Other methods (c< 0.002 <si< 0.06 <sa< 2mm)
Total N TN-- Not measured (Total N)
TN01 Method of Kjeldahl
TN02 Element analyzer (LECO analyzer)
TN03 Total N (Bremner, 1965, p. 1162-1164)
TN04
Dry combustion using a CN-corder and cobalt oxide or copper oxide as an oxidation accelerator
(Tanabe and Araragi, 1970)
TN99 Unspecified methods
Total P TP-- Not measured (Total-P)
TP01 Total P; colorimetric in H2SO4-Se-Salicylic acid digest
TP99 Unspecified methods
Soluble salts SS-- Not measured (soluble salts)
SS01 Na, flame photometry
SS02 Ca , precipitation Ca oxalate (Hdb 60)
SS03 Ca , EDTA titration
SS04 Ca , Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS)
SS05 Mg, precipitation Mg ammonium phosphate
SS06 Mg, Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS)
SS07 K, flame photometry
SS08 Cl, titration with AgNO3 (Hdb60)
SS09 Cl, colorimetric by Clor-O-counter Cl titrator
SS10 Cl, ion chromatography
SS11 SO4, precipitation Ca sulphate (Hdb60)
SS12 SO4, precipitation Ba sulphate with turbidimetry
SS13 SO4, ion chromatography
SS14 SO4, other
SS15 HCO2 and CO3, titration with acid (Hdb60)
SS16 HCO2 and CO3, potentiometric titration with HCl
SS99 Unspecified methods
Fe FE-- Not measured (Fe)
FE01 Fe, dithionitecitrate extraction (free iron)
FE02 Fe, acid oxalate extraction (active)
FE03 Fe, pyrophosphate extraction (organic bound Fe)
Al AL-- Not measured (Al)
AL01 Al, dithionitecitrate extraction (free aluminium)
AL02 Al, acid oxalate extraction (active)
AL03 Al, pyrophosphate extraction (organic bound Al)
186
187
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ISRIC World Soil Information has a mandate to serve the international community as custodian of
global soil information and to increase awareness and understanding of soils in major global issues.
More information: www.isric.org

ISRIC World Soil Information has a strategic association
with Wageningen UR (University & Research centre)

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ISRIC World Soil Information has a mandate to serve the international community as custodian of

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V.W.P. van Engelen and J.A. Dijkshoorn

Global and National Soils and Terrain

Global and National Soils and

(SOTER). Procedures Manual,

ISRIC Report 2013/04

2.1 Mapping approach 11

4 SOTER database structure 23

4.1 Geometric database 24

SOTER unit codes 29

7.1 Land use 79

8.1 Source map 87

Annex 2 Hierarchy of landforms 93

ISRIC Report 2013/04

ISRIC Report 2013/04

Presently the International Union of Soil Science (IUSS).

4 ISRIC Report 2013/04

Notice with this edition (Version 2.0)

PART I SOILS AND TERRAIN

ISRIC Report 2013/04

ISRIC Report 2013/04

2 Mapping approach and database

2.1 Mapping approach

facilitate the use of the

2.2 SOTER source material

2.3 Associated and miscellaneous data

3 SOTER differentiating criteria

3.2 Terrain components

3.3 Soil components

18 ISRIC Report 2013/04

3.4 SOTER unit identification

gives the SOTER map.

3.5 Additional conventions

3.6 SOTER unit mapability

3.7 The SOTER approach at other scales

4 SOTER database structure

24 ISRIC Report 2013/04

be entered once. Figure 7 gives a schematic representation of the structure of the

4.1 Geometric database

4.2 Attribute database

Soluble ClSoluble SO4-Soluble HCO3Soluble CO3-Exchangeable Ca++

ISRIC Report 2013/04

ISRIC Report 2013/04

5 Additional SOTER conventions

5.1 SOTER unit codes

5.2 Minimum size of the SOTER unit

The slash indicates different fields.

30 ISRIC Report 2013/04

5.3 Number of soil and terrain components

5.4 Representative soil profiles

5.5 Updating procedures

5.6 Miscellaneous polygons

country name (ISO 2006) (See Section 5.1 ).

data collection is also considered to apply to the terrain component data.

SRTM Shuttle Radar Topography Mission 90 meter Digital Elevation Model.

TE high-gradient escarpment zone >30 150-300 <6