Soil

Systematics
P E D O N , P O LY P E D O N , C O N T R O L S E C T I O N
A N D T H R E E D I M E N S I O N A L N AT U R E O F B O D Y
Soil profile
The vertical cross section of soil exposing different horizons of a soil individual.

It is a two dimensional feature. Profile exploration is done upto the parent material or 2 m depth
whichever is earlier. The vertical cut is made upto water table in the case of waterlogged soils. Width
of profile ranges from 1 m to several metres.

The description of entire pedon or a sample within it, should record the kinds of layers, their depth
and thickness and the properties of each layer. Horizons or layers are studied in both horizontal and
vertical dimensions.
For selecting a profile site,
◦ .
the following points should be considered

 It should be typical of the soil taxa (soil

series or soil family) within the mapping unit
 It should be away from a tree, an irrigation
channel / ditch / river / human settlements,
road etc., as these prevent the normal
development of a soil
 If possible, a virgin area should be
preferred.
 Soil profile – Nomenclature of soil horizons
Master horizons - O, A, E, B, C,R
Subordinate horizons - t, a, i, e, o, b, e, …..etc.
Transitional horizons - AE, EA, EB, BE ….etc
Subordinate horizons
Lower case letters are used to designate the subordinate horizons
Lithological Discontinuity
When two or more genetically unrelated (contrasting) materials are present in a profile as in the case of
alluvial or colluvial soils, then the phenomenon is known as lithological discontinuity. This is indicated
by the use of Roman letters as prefixes to the master horizons.
POLYPEDON
These are the group of
contiguous (adjacent and in close
contact with) similar pedons
bounded on all sides by not soil
or by pedons of unlike
characters.
Soil three dimensional sequence
Soil is recognized as three dimensional natural bodies having length breath (area) and depth.

 Vertical : Soil surface to depth where not affected by pedogenic processes (Z axis)

 Lateral : Succession of contiguous soil bodies in horizontal direction (X and Y axis)

REFERECES
 www.pedosphere.com

Canadian System of Soil Classification 1998- 3 rd edition- e book

Sehgal, J.2005. Pedology concepts and applications, Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi.
A SMALL PRESENTATION BY
MATHIVADHANI