
O: An O horizon has at least 20% organic matter by mass.Additions and losses are the dominant processes of A horizons. The A horizon, over time, is also a zone of loss – clays and easily dissolved compounds being leached out – and A horizons are typically more coarse (less clay) compared to underlying horizons (with the exception of an E horizon). Compared to other mineral horizons (E, B, or C) in the soil profile, they are rich in organic matter, giving them a darker color. A buried A horizon is a clear indication that soil and landscape processes have changed some time in the past. Natural events, such as flooding, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and dust deposition can bury an A horizon so that it is no longer found at the surface. A: An A horizon is a mineral horizon. This horizon always forms at the surface and is what many people refer to as topsoil.Knowing something about the geomorphic history of the area being investigated helps unlock the landscape history the soils show. There are some generalized concepts of how soil layers develop with time these are expressed below, but due to the variability of natural processes over geologic time, generalized concepts are sometimes overly general. And some profiles may have multiple varieties of one horizon, such as an A-B-E-B. Some profiles may have all the horizons, O-A-E-B-C-R. Some soil profiles have an A-C combination, some have an O-E-B, an O-A-B, or just an O.

There is no set order for these horizons within a soil.

There are five soil horizons: O, A, E, B, and C. ( R is used to denote bedrock.) Layers that have not undergone such processes may be simply called "layers".Through the interactions of these four soil processes, the soil constituents are reorganized into visibly, chemically, and/or physically distinct layers, referred to as horizons. Some soils do not have a clear development of horizons.Ī soil horizon is a result of soil-forming processes ( pedogenesis). In addition to these diagnostic horizons, some other soil characteristics may be needed to define a soil type. the "cambic horizon" or the "spodic horizon". Diagnostic horizons are usually indicated with names, e.g. Other systems pick out certain horizons, the "diagnostic horizons", for the definition examples are the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB), the USDA soil taxonomy and the Australian Soil Classification. The German system uses entire horizon sequences for definition. In most soil classification systems, horizons are used to define soil types.

Due to the different definitions of the horizon symbols, the systems cannot be mixed. No one system is more correct-as artificial constructs, their utility lies in their ability to accurately describe local conditions in a consistent manner. There are many different systems of horizon symbols in the world. Suffixes, in form of lowercase letters and figures, further differentiate the master horizons. Master horizons (main horizons) are indicated by capital letters. The identified horizons are indicated with symbols, which are mostly used in a hierarchical way. Soil layer whose physical characteristics differ from the layers above and beneathĪ cross section of a soil, revealing horizons
