In both the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB)[1] and the USDA soil taxonomy,[2] a Histosol is a soil consisting primarily of organic materials. They are defined as having 40 centimetres (16 in) or more of organic soil material starting within 40 cm from the soil surface. In Soil Taxonomy, Gelisols key out before Histosols, and in WRB, Histosols key out before Cryosols. Therefore, organic permafrost soils belong to the Histosols in WRB (Cryic Histosols) and to the Gelisols (Histels) in Soil Taxonomy.
Organic soil material has an organic carbon content (by weight) of 12 percent or more (Soil Taxonomy) or 20 percent or more (WRB). These materials include muck (sapric soil material), mucky peat (hemic soil material), or peat (fibric soil material). Many Histosols show aquic conditions or artificial drainage,[3] some (Folists in Soil Taxonomy and Folic Histosols in WRB) developed under terrestrial conditions. Organic material and therefore Histosols have very low bulk density. Many are acidic and very deficient in major plantnutrients, especially the raised bogs, which are saturated by rainwater and lack connection to nutrient-containing groundwater.
Histosols form whenever organic matter forms at a more rapid rate than it is destroyed. This occurs because of restricted drainage precluding aerobic decomposition, and the remains of plants and animals remain within the soil. Thus, Histosols are very important ecologically because they, and Gelisols, store large quantities of organic carbon. If accumulation continues for a long enough period, coal forms.
Histosols are generally very difficult to cultivate because of the poor drainage and often low chemical fertility. However, Histosols formed on very recent glacial lands can often be very productive when drained and produce high-grade pasture for dairying or beef cattle. They can sometimes be used for fruit if carefully managed, but there is a great risk of the organic matter becoming dry powder and eroding under the influence of drying winds. A tendency towards shrinkage and compaction is also evident with crops.
Like Gelisols, Histosols have greatly restricted use for civil engineering purposes because heavy structures tend to subside in the wet soil.
^"Australian Soil Classification – Organosols". CSIRO. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
. USDA-NRCS. Archived from the original on 2006-05-09. Retrieved 2006-05-14.
. University of Idaho. Archived from the original on 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2006-05-14.
Further readingedit
W. Zech, P. Schad, G. Hintermaier-Erhard: Soils of the World. Springer, Berlin 2022, Chapter 3.3.1. ISBN978-3-540-30460-9
External linksedit
profile photos (with classification) WRB homepage
profile photos (with classification) IUSS World of Soils
January 01, 1970
histosol, both, world, reference, base, soil, resources, usda, soil, taxonomy, soil, consisting, primarily, organic, materials, they, defined, having, centimetres, more, organic, soil, material, starting, within, from, soil, surface, soil, taxonomy, gelisols, . In both the World Reference Base for Soil Resources WRB 1 and the USDA soil taxonomy 2 a Histosol is a soil consisting primarily of organic materials They are defined as having 40 centimetres 16 in or more of organic soil material starting within 40 cm from the soil surface In Soil Taxonomy Gelisols key out before Histosols and in WRB Histosols key out before Cryosols Therefore organic permafrost soils belong to the Histosols in WRB Cryic Histosols and to the Gelisols Histels in Soil Taxonomy HistosolA Histosol profileUsed inWRB USDA soil taxonomy otherWRB codeHSProfileOCParent materialOrganic matterClimatesubarctic other Organic soil material has an organic carbon content by weight of 12 percent or more Soil Taxonomy or 20 percent or more WRB These materials include muck sapric soil material mucky peat hemic soil material or peat fibric soil material Many Histosols show aquic conditions or artificial drainage 3 some Folists in Soil Taxonomy and Folic Histosols in WRB developed under terrestrial conditions Organic material and therefore Histosols have very low bulk density Many are acidic and very deficient in major plant nutrients especially the raised bogs which are saturated by rainwater and lack connection to nutrient containing groundwater Histosols are known by various other names in other countries such as peat or muck In the Australian Soil Classification Histosols are called Organosols 4 Histosols form whenever organic matter forms at a more rapid rate than it is destroyed This occurs because of restricted drainage precluding aerobic decomposition and the remains of plants and animals remain within the soil Thus Histosols are very important ecologically because they and Gelisols store large quantities of organic carbon If accumulation continues for a long enough period coal forms Most Histosols occur in Canada Scandinavia the West Siberian Plain Sumatra Borneo and New Guinea Smaller areas are found in other parts of Europe the Russian Far East chiefly in Khabarovsk Krai and Amur Oblast Florida and other areas of permanent swampland Fossil Histosols are known from the earliest extensive land vegetation in the Devonian Histosols are generally very difficult to cultivate because of the poor drainage and often low chemical fertility However Histosols formed on very recent glacial lands can often be very productive when drained and produce high grade pasture for dairying or beef cattle They can sometimes be used for fruit if carefully managed but there is a great risk of the organic matter becoming dry powder and eroding under the influence of drying winds A tendency towards shrinkage and compaction is also evident with crops Like Gelisols Histosols have greatly restricted use for civil engineering purposes because heavy structures tend to subside in the wet soil In USDA soil taxonomy Histosols are subdivided into Folists Histosols that are not saturated with water for long periods of time during the year Fibrists Histosols that are primarily made up of only slightly decomposed organic materials often called peat Hemists Histosols that are primarily made up of moderately decomposed organic materials Saprists Histosols that are primarily made up of highly decomposed organic materials often called muck Wassists Histosols that have a field observable water table 2 cm or more above the soil surface for more than 21 hours of each day in all years Contents 1 See also 2 References 3 Further reading 4 External linksSee also editAcid sulfate soil Hydric soil Pedogenesis Pedology soil study Soil classification Soil typeReferences edit IUSS Working Group WRB 2022 World Reference Base for Soil Resources fourth edition PDF International Union of Soil Sciences Vienna Soil Survey Staff 2022 Keys to Soil Taxonomy 13th edition PDF USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Hydric Soils of Florida Wetland Evaluation and Delineation Program Florida Department of Environmental Protection Australian Soil Classification Organosols CSIRO Retrieved 8 February 2016 Histosols USDA NRCS Archived from the original on 2006 05 09 Retrieved 2006 05 14 Histosols University of Idaho Archived from the original on 2006 09 01 Retrieved 2006 05 14 Further reading editW Zech P Schad G Hintermaier Erhard Soils of the World Springer Berlin 2022 Chapter 3 3 1 ISBN 978 3 540 30460 9External links editprofile photos with classification WRB homepage profile photos with classification IUSS World of Soils Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Histosol amp oldid 1213543335, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
