luvisol
{{Short description|Soil type}}
{{FOR | the order in the Canadian system of soil classification | Canadian system of soil classification#Luvisolic Order}}
{{Infobox soil
|name = Luvisol
|alternative_name =
|type =
|type_link =
|image = ISRIC monolith NL-001.jpg
|image_size = 250px
|image_caption = Luvisol from the Netherlands
|classification_system = WRB, other
|profile = AhEBtC
|parent_material =
|code = LV
|climate = Humid temperate climate
}}
Luvisols are a group of soils, comprising one of the 32 Reference Soil Groups in the international system of soil classification, the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB).{{Cite web|url = https://wrb.isric.org/files/WRB_fourth_edition_2022-12-18.pdf|title = World Reference Base for Soil Resources, fourth edition|author=IUSS Working Group WRB|year = 2022|publisher = International Union of Soil Sciences, Vienna}} They are widespread, especially in temperate climates, and are generally fertile. Luvisols are widely used for agriculture.{{cite book | title = Böden der Welt | year = 2014 | edition = 2nd | last1 = Zech | first1 = Wolfgang | last2 = Schad | first2 = Peter | last3 = Hintermeier-Erhard | first3 = Gerd | language = German | publisher = Springer Spektrum | location = Berlin}}
Distribution
Description and formation
The main characteristic of Luvisols is an argic horizon, a subsurface zone with higher clay content than the material above it. This typically arises as clay is washed downward by water and accumulates at greater depth. The clay minerals have not been extensively weathered and are therefore of the high-activity, 2:1 type, giving these soils high cation exchange capacities and high base saturation. In uneroded landscapes, a lighter, clay-depleted eluvial horizon occurs above the argic horizon.
In other classification systems
The Canadian system of soil classification includes Luvisols. In the USDA Soil Taxonomy, Luvisols are typically classified as Alfisols.
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- W. Zech, P. Schad, G. Hintermaier-Erhard: Soils of the World. Springer, Berlin 2022, Chapter 4.3.2. {{ISBN|978-3-540-30460-9}}
External links
- [https://wrb.isric.org/picture-gallery/ profile photos (with classification)] WRB homepage
- [https://www.iuss.org/index.php?article_id=73|title=IUSS profile photos (with classification)] IUSS World of Soils
- [https://wrb.isric.org/teaching-material/ videos with instructions how to describe and classify a Luvisol] WRB homepage
{{Soil type}}