Reference soil Iceland 04: Andosol

IS004

Andosols occur throughout the world where volcanic activity is common, especially in the circum-Pacific region and along the mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Characteristics

Soils with a vitric or andic horizon (slightly to moderately weathered horizons in pyroclastic deposits dominated by short-range-order minerals, notably allophane and imogolite) starting within 25 cm from the soil surface. In addition, they may have a histic, fulvic, melanic, mollic, umbric, ochric, duric, or cambic horizon. Other diagnostic horizons (unless buried deeper than 50 cm by volcanic deposits) are absent.

Distribution of Andosols (rough estimation supplied by soilgrids)

Reference soil IS004: Andosols

Classification

WRB 2006

WRB 1998

Histic-Fulvic-Silandic- Andosol (Dystric Turbic Drainic)

Fulvi-Silic- Andosol (Thaptohistic Dystric)

0-55 cm	fulvic horizon
60-95 cm	histic horizon
-	organic
-	andic

0-55 cm	fulvic horizon
0-60 cm	silandic horizon
60-95 cm	histic horizon
-	organic

FAO-UNESCO-ISRIC 1988

FAO-UNESCO-ISRIC 1974

Endohisti-Umbric Andosol

Humic Andosol

0-55 cm	umbric A horizon
60-95 cm	histic H horizon
-	andic

0-55 cm	umbric A horizon
-	exchange complex dominated by amorphous material

No data for this profile

Kind 1 (parent material) ; Parker (eds), 1984	basic ash
Mode of accumulation or deposition of parent material	eolian sand
Remarks on Parent Materials	cryoturbated tephra deposits
Texture of parent material	loamy
Weathering Resistance	poor
General characterization of the status of weathering of solid rock	partially or moderately

Land improvements ; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	draining
Land use or vegetation in the immediate vicinity of the site	animal husbandry
Remarks on Land Use / Vegetation	VEGETATION: Grass covers 90% of the surface; species Festuca rubra, Poa pratensis and Descamptsia sp. LANDUSE: Grazed by horses
Major vegetation type; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	grassland

Altitude	50m
Physiographic Unit	plain
Physiographic position of the site	middle slope
Regional landform; McDonald, R.C., Isbell, R.F. et all, 1984; Australian soil and land survey Field Handbook, Inkata Press, Melbourne.	glacial plain
Slope	2%
Form of the slope surrounding the site	straight
Topography; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	flat or almost flat

Drainage class ; FAO (2006) - Guidelines for soil description	poor
Depth to groundwater table	250cm
Kind of ground water table (USDA, 1979)	groundwater table observed
Estimated permeability (class) of least permeable part of the profile	moderate
Estimated run off (class)	slow
Drainage class - intergrade; FAO (2006) - Guidelines for soil description	imperfect

Evidence of alkali ; Soil Survey Manual USDA, 1951	non-alkaline
Microrelief Height: variation in height	10
Micro relief type: small-scale differences in relief in the direct vicinity of the site (FAO, 1986)	hummocks
Microrelief pattern	isolated
Rock outcrop class (FAO (2006) - Guidelines for soil description)	none
Evidence of salt; Soil Survey Manual USDA, 1951	non-saline
Surface stoniness class (FAO (2006) - Guidelines for soil description)	none

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Reference soil Iceland 04: Andosol

Characteristics

Reference soil IS004: Andosols

Classification