Identifying Horizons of Soil Profiles

Select a box below if you wish to try a soil profile different from soil profile No. 5:

Profile 1

Profile 2

Profile 3

Profile 4

 

Soil Profile No. 5. Found at higher elevations of Washington State; deep, moderately well drained soils formed in glacial tilee with an admixture of volcanic ash. Slopes are 0 to 70%. Average annual precipitation is 170 cm and mean annual temperature is 4 degrees centigrade. Colors are for moist soil.

Profile Description

  1. 10-6 cm; slightly decomposed, loose forest litter
  2. 6-0 cm; black (10YR 2/1) well decomposed organic matter; abrupt smooth boundary
  3. 0-8 cm; gray (10YR 6/1) loamy sand ( with volcanic ash); single grain; common very fine, fine, medium and coarse roots; many interstitial pores; pH=4.6; abrupt wavy boundary
  4. 8-25 cm; dark reddish brown (2.5YR 2/4) loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common very fine, fine, medium and coarse roots; many interstitial pores; pH=5.0; clear irregular boundary
  5. 25-50 cm; brown (7.5YR 4/6) gravelly loam; weak, fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, firm, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; many interstitial pores; pH=5.2; clear wavy boundary
  6. 50-75 cm; dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) very gravelly sandy loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; many interstitial pores; pH=5.4; clear wavy boundary
  7. 75-90+ cm; dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2); moderately cemented glacial till; common fine prominent reddish brown mottles (5YR 4/4); massive; veryh ard, very firm, nonsticky, nonplastic; 45% subangular pebbles, 20% subangular cobbles; few roots; pH=5.4

Choose the correct master and subordinate horizon designations for each horizon from the options below, then click on 'answer' to check your determination.

Horizon No. 1: Oe Oi Oa Ap
Horizon No. 2: Oa2 Oe 2A Oa
Horizon No. 3: E OE BE C
Horizon No. 4: 2A AB Bs Bhs
Horizon No. 5: Bhs2 Bw Bs Bs1
Horizon No. 6: Bs2 Bw2 BC Bhs2
Horizon No. 7: BC C Cqm Bs3

Can you determine the Order, Suborder or Great Group of this soil?

Order:

Order and Suborder:

Order, Suborder and Great Group:

Try another?

Profile 1

Profile 2

Profile 3

Profile 4