Histosols

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Large areas of Histosols are found in the circumpolar region of the northern hemisphere, as well as in Southeast Asia.

Characteristics

Soils having a histic or folic horizon (wet or dry organic horizons, respectively)

  • either 10 cm or more thick if overlying a lithic or paralithic contact, or
  • 40 cm or more thick and starting within 30 cm from the soil surface.

Histosols do not have an andic or vitric horizon that starts within 30 cm from the soil surface.

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Highland peat in western Ireland (Ombri-Sapric Histosol) Strongly decomposed peat under cultivated grassland, the Netherlands

(Rhei-Sapric Histosol)
Contact:
Stephan Mantel