Nitisol
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Nitisol,in theWorld Reference Base for Soil Resources(WRB), is a deep, red, well-drainedsoilwith aclaycontent of at least 30% and a polyhedralstructureor a blocky structure, breaking into a polyhedral or a flat-edged structure. The soil aggregates show pressure faces. Nitisols correlate with thekandicalfisols,ultisolsandinceptisolsof theUSDA soil taxonomy.[1][2]
These soils are found in the tropics and subtropics; there are extensive areas of them in the tropical highlands ofEthiopia,Kenya,Democratic Republic of the CongoandCameroon.Nitisols form from fine-textured material weathered from intermediate tobasic parent rockandkaolinite,halloysiteandiron oxidesdominate their clay mineralogy.
Nitisols are technically defined by a significant accumulation of clay (30 percent or more by mass and extending as much as 150 cm [5 feet] below the surface) and by a blocky aggregate structure. Iron oxides and high-water content are believed to play important roles in creating the soil structure. Nitisols are also strongly influenced by biological activity, resulting in a homogenization of the upper portion of the soil profile. These soils are related to theAlfisolandInceptisolorders of theU.S.Soil Taxonomy. RelatedFAOsoil groups originating in tropical climates and also containing layers with clay accumulations areAcrisolsandLixisols.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Delvaux, B.; Brahy, V."Mineral Soils conditioned by a Wet (Sub)Tropical Climate".FAO.Retrieved14 June2014.
- ^"Major Soils of the World. ISRIC Wageningen, The Netherlands, 2001"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2016-03-04.Retrieved2014-06-14.
- ^"Nitisol | Soil Classification, Clay Content & Nutrient Retention | Britannica".www.britannica.com.Retrieved2023-09-10.
Further reading
[edit]- IUSS Working Group WRB: World Reference Base for Soil Resources, fourth edition. International Union of Soil Sciences, Vienna 2022.ISBN979-8-9862451-1-9([1]).
- W. Zech, P. Schad, G. Hintermaier-Erhard: Soils of the World. Springer, Berlin 2022, Chapter 9.3.2.ISBN978-3-540-30460-9
External links
[edit]- profile photos (with classification)WRB homepage
- profile photos (with classification)IUSS World of Soils