Course Content
Concept, scope and importance of soil physics in agriculture
0/4
Surface sealing, its effect on soil and crop growth and its management
0/4
Soil moisture and temperature regimes
0/2
The FAO-UNESCO soil classification system
0/1
Concept and development of land capability classification
0/2
Learn Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification with Rahul

Horizon boundaries and horizon continuity in pedon

Conventions have been developed to describe soil horizon boundaries for the purpose of soil classification. Two measurements are considered necessary for classification. They include width or thickness of the boundary over topography of the surface. Following terms have been used to describe the width of the boundaries between horizons.

  • Abrupt: the boundary is of such constant that is less than 2.5cm wide
  • Clear: the boundary layer is 2.3 – 6.4cm wide
  • Gradual: the boundary layer is 6.4 – 12.7 cm wide

The surface topography of soil horizon cam be described by the following terms:

  • Smooth: the boundary is nearly a plane
  • Wavy: the boundary is undulating, with the pocket having a greater length in either the X or Y direction than in the Z direction
  • Irregular: the boundary topography is such that pocket vary more in the Z axis direction than in either X or Y direction
  • Broken: the horizon is discontinuous within the pedon
Scroll to Top