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Spodosols

Spodosols. By: Ross McHugh. Spodosols – General Characteristics. Acid soils characterized by a subsurface accumulation of humus that is complexed with Al, and Fe. Typically form in coarse-textured parent material and have light colored E horizon overlying a reddish brown spodic horizon.

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Spodosols

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  1. Spodosols By: Ross McHugh

  2. Spodosols – General Characteristics • Acid soils characterized by a subsurface accumulation of humus that is complexed with Al, and Fe. • Typically form in coarse-textured parent material and have light colored E horizon overlying a reddish brown spodic horizon. • The process that forms these horizons is known as podzolization.

  3. General Characteristics cont. • Central concept of Spodosols is that of soils in which amorphous mixtures of organic matter and aluminum, with or without iron, have accumulated. • In undisturbed soils there is normally an overlying eluvial horizon, generally gray to light gray in color, that has the color of more of les uncoated quartz. • Most spodosols have little silicate clay. The particle size class is mostly sandy, sandy-skeletal, coarse-loamy, loamy, loamy-skeletal, or coarse-silty.

  4. Spodosols in Minnesota • Spodosols are only found in Minnesota as the suborder Orthods, which are forested soils with a sandy texture. • They are frequently found in small areas that are downslope from a summit. Orthods are covered by forests of aspen or pine and are rarely used for agriculture because of their acid, droughty nature.

  5. Locations and Area • Spodosols often occur under coniferous forests in cool moist climates. • Globally, they occupy approximately 4% of the ice free land area. • In the US they occupy approximately 3.5% of land area • Within Minnesota Spodosols, particularly the suborder Orthods only occupy 122,000 acres or 0.2% of area.

  6. Global Distribution

  7. Percent of Land Area in Spodosols

  8. Minnesota Soil Suborders - Shown on the map as the Pink color. Not very prevalent but can be seen in patches throughout the North Central and East Region of Minnesota.

  9. Diagnostic Horizons • Presence of a spodic diagnostic horizon, a subsurface accumulation of soil organic matter with aluminum and or iron sesquioxides. • Spodic horizon = an illuvial horizon containing active amorpheous material and organic matter and Al with or without Fe. Spodic horizons have the following characteristics:

  10. Suborders • Spodosols are divided into 5 suborders • Aquods • Gelods • Cryods • Humods • Orthods

  11. Spodosols suborders

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