Lecture 6

Diagnostic organic soil materials

There are three kinds of diagnostic organic soil materials based on the degree of
decomposition of the plant materials. They are (i) fibric (2) Hemic (3) Sapric.
 Fibric soil material (formerly peat)
The fibrous material in an unrubbed condition, constituting over 2/3 of the mass and
yields almost clear solution when extracted with sodium pyrophosphate
 Hemic soil material
The fibrous material in an unrubbed condition, constituting 1/3 to 2/3 of the mass and in
an intermediate stage of decomposition.
 Sapric soil material (Gk. Sapros – rotten, formerly muck)
The most highly decomposed kind of material that has identifiable fibrous material, in an
unrubbed condition, constituting less than 1/3 of the mass.
 Hemi illuvic material
Illuvial humus that accumulates after prolonged cultivation of some acid organic soils.
 Limnic material
Organic or inorganic materials deposited in water by precipitation or through the action
of aquatic organisms such as algae, or derived from underwater ad floating aquatic plants
modified by micro organisms. E.g. Marl, diatomaceous earth and sedimentary peat.

Diagnostic contacts (to ‘non-soil’ material)

A root restricting layer wherein roots generally do not penetrate, especially in lithic
material.
 Lithic contact – A boundary between soil and continuous coherent underlying material that
has a hardness of >3 on Moh scale.
 Paralithic contact – A boundary between soil and underlying coherent material, with a
hardness of < 3 on Moh scale. The roots may penetrate at irregular and infrequent intervals of
> 10 cm.
 Petroferric contact – A boundary between soil and indurated layer of cemented material.

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 Soil temperature regimes
 Pergelic – Mean annual soil temperature is < 0oC
 Cryic – Mean annual soil temperature is 0 to 8oC with summer temperature < 15oC
 Iso – When used as a prefix on the following temperature regimes, iso refers to soils in which
the average soil temperature for the 3 warmest months differs by less than 50C from the
average temperature of 3 coldest months.
Frigid and Isofrigid : 0oC to < 8oC
Mesic and Isomesic : 8oC to < 15 oC
Thermic and Isothermic : 15oC to < 22oC
Hyperthermic and Isohyperthermic : > 22oC

Soil moisture regimes

The soil moisture regime descriptions refer to conditions at depths from 10 to 90 cm
depending upon soil texture.
 Aquic moisture regime – These soils are water saturated for at least enough time (several
days) so that reduction conditions exist. Low chroma mottles are normally indicative of this
condition.
 Aridic (or) Torric moisture regime – These soils are both dry more than half the time when
not frozen and never moist more than 90 consecutive days when soil temperatures are above
8oC at 50 cm depth.
 Perudic moisture regime – In most years, these soils are not dry as long as 90 cumulative
days.
 Udic moisture regime – These soils are not dry as long as 90 cumulative days.
 Ustic moisture regime – These soils are dry from more than 90 cumulative days but less than
180 days. In temperate (non iso) climates, they are usually moist atleast 45 consecutive days in
the 4 months after the winter solstice and not dry 45 consecutive days in the 4 months after the
summer solstice.
 Xeric moisture regime – These soils are only in the temperature (non – iso) areas and have
dry summers and moist winters. These soils are usually dry > 45 consecutive days in the
summer and moist > 45 consecutive days in the winter.