Reference soil Namibia 11: Calcisol

NA011

Calcisols occur in regions with distinct dry seasons, as well as in dry areas where carbonate-rich groundwater comes near the surface.

Characteristics

Soils having a (petro-)calcic horizon (horizon with accumulation of secondary calcium carbonates). In addition, they have no diagnostic horizons other than an ochric or cambic horizon, a calcareous argic horizon, or a gypsic horizon beneath a petrocalcic horizon.

Distribution of Calcisols (rough estimation supplied by soilgrids)

Reference soil NA011: Calcisols

Calcisol

Classification

WRB 2006

WRB 1998

Petric- Calcisol (Aridic Arenic)

Aridi-Epipetric- Calcisol

15-25 cm	petrocalcic horizon
-	aridic
-	secondary carbonates

FAO-UNESCO-ISRIC 1988

FAO-UNESCO-ISRIC 1974

Petrocalci-Eutric Leptosol

Calcic Xerosol petrocalcic

0-15 cm	ochric A horizon
15-25 cm	petrocalcic horizon

0-15 cm	ochric A horizon
15-25 cm	petrocalcic horizon

Local classification:	Flachgründiger Kalkkrustboden der Kurzgrassavanna

Other classification

USDA-SCS (1975)

Paleorthid aridic coarse-loamy carbonatic hyperthermic

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Physical characteristics

Particle size distribution

Depth (cm)	Gravel % v/v	very coarse sand % w/w	coarse sand % w/w	medium sand % w/w	fine sand % w/w	very fine sand % w/w	Total sand % w/w	coarse silt % w/w	fine silt % w/w	Total silt % w/w	Clay % w/w
0-15	-	1.2	2.1	8.7	44.4	26.4	82.8	2.5	10.0	12.5	4.7
15-25	-	15.2	17.8	13.8	29.1	12.0	87.9	6.7	4.9	11.6	3.5
25-35	-	5.0	5.8	9.8	39.0	18.0	77.6	10.8	7.3	18.1	4.3
35-60	-	1.4	1.9	8.0	37.9	19.7	68.9	15.3	10.0	25.3	5.8
60-90	-	2.8	28.1	18.8	26.1	0.2	76	14.7	5.7	20.4	3.6

Water retention characteristics

Depth (cm)	Bulk density kg/dm³	Spec. Surf. Area m²/g	COLE cm/cm	Water disp. clay %	Clay % w/w
0-15	-	-	-	-	4.7
15-25	-	-	-	-	3.5
25-35	-	-	-	-	4.3
35-60	-	-	-	-	5.8
60-90	-	-	-	-	3.6

Chemical data

Depth (cm)	pH H2O	pHKCl	EC 1: 2.5 dS/m	CaCO3 % w/w	C % w/w	N %	C / N	Exch. Acid cmol(c)/kg	Exch. Al cmol(c)/kg	Ca cmol(c)/kg	Mg cmol(c)/kg	K cmol(c)/kg	Na cmol(c)/kg	Sum Cations cmol(c)/kg
0-15	8.0	7.7	0.16	23.1	0.62	0.05	12	-	-	13.6	0.3	0.2	0.0	14.1
15-25	8.1	7.9	0.16	68.9	0.46	0.03	15	-	-	14.5	0.2	0.1	0.0	14.8
25-35	8.0	7.9	0.22	38.0	0.72	0.03	24	-	-	11.5	0.3	0.2	0.3	12.3
35-60	8.2	7.8	0.30	40.1	0.56	0.03	19	-	-	11.5	0.3	0.2	0.0	12
60-90	8.3	8.2	0.22	74.6	0.51	0.04	13	-	-	10.5	0.2	0.2	0.0	10.9

Depth (cm)	Base sat. %	CEC soil cmol(c)/kg	CEC clay cmol(c)/kg	CEC org cmol(c)/kg	ECEC cmol(c)/kg	Al sat. %	ESP %
0-15	353	4.0	85	2.2	-	-	0
15-25	336	4.4	126	1.6	-	-	0
25-35	267	4.6	107	2.5	-	-	7
35-60	261	4.6	79	2.0	-	-	0
60-90	227	4.8	126	1.8	-	-	0

Profile description

Ah 0-12 cm	loamy sandcrumb,frequent small and medium spherical hard calcareous nodules,extremely calcareous (>25%),abrupt wavy boundary to,,
Bkm 12-25 cm	loamy sandmassive,broken nodular indurated petrocalcic pans,extremely calcareous (>25%),abrupt wavy boundary to,,
Bkc 25-36 cm	loamy sandmassive,frequent small to large irregular hard calcareous nodules,extremely calcareous (>25%),clear wavy boundary to,,
BCkc 36-62 cm	sandy loammassive,frequent small to large irregular hard calcareous nodules,extremely calcareous (>25%),gradual irregular boundary to,,
Ck1 62-87 cm	sandy loammassive,frequent small and medium irregular hard calcareous nodules,extremely calcareous (>25%),gradual irregular boundary to,,
Ck2 87-110 cm	loammassive,frequent small and medium irregular hard calcareous nodules,extremely calcareous (>25%),

Kind 1 (parent material) ; Parker (eds), 1984	sediment, unconsolidated
Texture of parent material	sandy
Weathering Resistance	moderate
General characterization of the status of weathering of solid rock	partially or moderately

Drainage class ; FAO (2006) - Guidelines for soil description	somewhat excessive
Kind of ground water table (USDA, 1979)	no groundwater table observed
Estimated permeability (class) of least permeable part of the profile	moderate

Evidence of alkali ; Soil Survey Manual USDA, 1951	non-alkaline
Evidence of salt; Soil Survey Manual USDA, 1951	non-saline

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Reference soil Namibia 11: Calcisol

Characteristics

Reference soil NA011: Calcisols

Classification