Reference soil United States of America 13: Chernozem

US013

Chernozems are typically found in the long-grass steppe regions of the world, particularly in Eastern Europe and North America (Canada and the USA).

Characteristics

Soils having a very dark mollic horizon (thick, brownish or blackish surface horizon with a significant accumulation of organic matter and high base saturation) and secondary carbonates within 50 cm of the lower limit of the Ah horizon, but within 200 cm from the soil surface. They have no petrocalcic horizon between 25 and 100 cm from the soil surface, no secondary gypsum and no uncoated sand and silt grains on structural pedfaces

Distribution of Chernozems (rough estimation supplied by soilgrids)

 

Reference soil US013: Chernozems

PROFILE DESCRIPTION: Bt1: colours also dark greyish brown (10YR 4/2, dry) and dark brown (10YR 3/3, moist) BC: streaks, light brown (2.5Y 6/2, dry) and dark greyish brown (2.5Y 4/2, moist) and 0.5cm wide, occur discontinuous across the horizon C: streaks as in BC horizon

 

Classification

WRB 1998 
Silti-Luvic- Chernozem 
  
FAO-UNESCO-ISRIC 1988FAO-UNESCO-ISRIC 1974
Silti-Luvic ChernozemLuvic Chernozem

 

Local classification:Holdrege silt loam