Soils of the European Union - European Soil Portal - Europa

Field identification. The distribution pattern of the redoximorphic features, with iron and manganese oxides concentrated inthe inside of peas (or in the matrix if peas are absent) gives a good indication of stagnic properties.2.4 Diagnostic materialsAnthropogeomorphic soil materialGeneral description. Anthropogeomorphic soil material (from Gr. anthropos, human) refers to unconsolidated mineral ororganic material resulting largely from land fills, mine spoil, urban fill, garbage dumps, dredgings, etc., produced by humanactivities. It has, however, not been subject to a sufficiently long period of time to find significant expression ofpedogenetic processes.Calcaric (calcareous) soil materialDefinition. Calcaric soil material (from En. calcareous) shows strong effervescence with 10 percent HClin most of the fine earth. It applies to material which contains more than 2 percent calcium carbonateequivalent.Organic soil materialGeneral description. Organic soil material consists of organic debris which accumulates at the surface under either wet ordry conditions and in which the mineral component does not significantly influence the soil properties.Diagnostic criteria. Organic soil material must have one of the two following:1. if saturated with water for long periods (unless artificially drained), and excluding live roots, either:a. 18 percent organic carbon (30 percent organic matter) or more if the mineral fraction comprises 60 percent ormore clay; orb. 12 percent organic carbon (20 percent organic matter) or more if the mineral fraction has no clay; orc. a proportional lower limit of organic carbon content between 12 and 18 percent if the clay content of themineral fraction is between 0 and 60 percent;or2. if never saturated with water for more than a few days, 20 percent or more organic carbon.Sulfidic soil materialGeneral description. Sulfidic soil material (from E. sulphide) is waterlogged deposit containing sulphur, mostly in the formof sulphides, and only moderate amounts of calcium carbonate.Diagnostic criteria. Sulfidic soil material must have:1. 0.75 percent or more sulphur (dry weight) and less than three times as much calcium carbonate equivalent assulphur; and2. pH (H 2 O) of more than 3.5.Field identification. Deposits containing sulphides often show in moist or wet condition a golden shine, the colour of pyrite.Forced oxidation with a 30 percent hydrogen peroxide solution lowers the pH by 0.5 unit or more. Oxidation also gives riseto the smell of rotten eggs.83