[The Cooperative Soil Survey] Soils Tutorial: Glossary

Glossary

Definitions from the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

ABC soil A soil having an A, a B, and a C horizon.

AC soil A soil having only an A and a C horizon. Commonly, such soil formed in recent alluvium or on steep rocky slopes.

Aeration soil The exchange of air in soil with air from the atmosphere. The air in a well aerated soil is similar to that in the atmosphere the air in a poorly aerated soil is considerably higher in carbon dioxide and lower in oxygen.

Aggregate soil Many fine particles held in a single mass or cluster. Natural soil aggregates, such as granules, blocks, or prisms, are called peds. Clods are aggregates produced by tillage or logging.

Alluvium Material, such as sand, silt, or clay, deposited on land by streams.

Area reclaim An area difficult to reclaim after the removal of soil for construction and other uses. Revegetation and erosion control are extremely difficult.Ash-flow tuff. A tuff deposited by an ash flow or gaseous cloud, a type of ignimbrite. It is a consolidated but not necessarily welded deposit.

Association soil A group of soils geographically associated in a characteristic repeating pattern and defined and delineated as a single map unit.

Available water capacity (available moisture capacity) The capacity of soils to hold water available for use by most plants. It is commonly defined as the difference between the amount of soil water at field moisture capacity and the amount at wilting point. It is commonly expressed as inches of water per inch of soil.

ABC soil	A soil having an A, a B, and a C horizon.
AC soil	A soil having only an A and a C horizon. Commonly, such soil formed in recent alluvium or on steep rocky slopes.
Aeration soil	The exchange of air in soil with air from the atmosphere. The air in a well aerated soil is similar to that in the atmosphere the air in a poorly aerated soil is considerably higher in carbon dioxide and lower in oxygen.
Aggregate soil	Many fine particles held in a single mass or cluster. Natural soil aggregates, such as granules, blocks, or prisms, are called peds. Clods are aggregates produced by tillage or logging.
Alluvium	Material, such as sand, silt, or clay, deposited on land by streams.
Area reclaim	An area difficult to reclaim after the removal of soil for construction and other uses. Revegetation and erosion control are extremely difficult.Ash-flow tuff. A tuff deposited by an ash flow or gaseous cloud, a type of ignimbrite. It is a consolidated but not necessarily welded deposit.
Association soil	A group of soils geographically associated in a characteristic repeating pattern and defined and delineated as a single map unit.
Available water capacity (available moisture capacity)	The capacity of soils to hold water available for use by most plants. It is commonly defined as the difference between the amount of soil water at field moisture capacity and the amount at wilting point. It is commonly expressed as inches of water per inch of soil.