Reference soil United Kingdom 11: Leptosol

GB011

Leptosols are by far the most extensive group of soils in the world. They are found mainly in mountainous regions and in areas where soil has been eroded to the extent that hard rock comes near to the surface. Other (minor) occurrences are along rivers where gravely deposits have accumulated without substantial admixture of fine earth material.

Characteristics

Soils which are either limited in depth by continuous hard rock within 25 cm from the soil surface, or overly mayerial with a calcium carbonate equivalent of more than 40 percent within 25 cm from the soil surface, or contain less than 10 percent (by weight) fine earth (mineral soil material with a diameter of 2 mm or less) to a depth of 75 cm from the soil surface. Leptosols have no diagnostic horizons other than a mollic, ochric, umbric, vertic or yermic horizon.

Distribution of Leptosols (rough estimation supplied by soilgrids)

Reference soil GB011: Leptosols

LAND USE: Chalk grassland/scrub

Classification

WRB 1998

Calcari-Humic- Leptosol

FAO-UNESCO-ISRIC 1988

Calcari-Eutric Leptosol

Local classification:	SSEW: Humic rendzina. Soil Series: Icknield

Other classification

USDA-NRCS (1999)	Lithic Rendoll
USDA-SCS (1975)	Lithic Rendoll fine-loamy mixed (calcareous) mesic

Kind 1 (parent material) ; Parker (eds), 1984	cherty limestone
Mode of accumulation or deposition of parent material	residual material
Remarks on Parent Materials	drift (?) and residuum over Chalk
Texture of parent material (second entry)	loamy
Weathering Resistance	poor
General characterization of the status of weathering of solid rock	partially or moderately

Land use or vegetation in the immediate vicinity of the site	intensive grazing
Remarks on Land Use / Vegetation	VEGETATION: sheeps fescue (Festuca ovina), upright brome (Zerna erecta) with juniper (Juniperus communis) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Major vegetation type; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	grassland

Altitude	218m
Physiographic position of the site	slope
Slope	27%
Slope Aspect	south-west
Form of the slope surrounding the site	straight
Topography; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	hilly

Drainage class ; FAO (2006) - Guidelines for soil description	well
Flooding frequency (FAO, 1986)	never
Moist From - To	0-30cm
Estimated permeability (class) of least permeable part of the profile	high
Estimated run off (class)	rapid

Ah 0-16 cm	very dark grey (10YR 3/1, moist)silty clay loam slightly stony,strong medium granular and strong fine subangular blocky,friable sticky very plastic,highly porous (>60 vol%),common stones fresh flint common stones weathered chalk fragments,strongly calcareous 10% HCl,abrupt wavy boundary to,
C/R 16-30 cm	silty clay very stonyrock,patchy thin humus on rock fragments cutans,dominant stones and boulders weathered chalk fragments,strongly calcareous 10% HCl,

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Reference soil United Kingdom 11: Leptosol

Characteristics

Reference soil GB011: Leptosols

Classification