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Acid Soils

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Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

Acid soils are defined in terms of redox‐pH master variables in Figure A3. In the WRB system of classification, the relevant reference soil groups with widest distribution are Acrisols, Ferralsols and Podzols, which are the main focus of this article (Table A4). Acid soils also occur in Andosols, Arenosols, Alisols, Albeluvisols, Cambisols, Histosols, Leptosols, Plinthosols, Planosols, Fluvisols, Regosols and Umbrisols. In those Fluvisols and mine soils (Espoli‐Anthropic Regosols) containing pyrite, extreme acidity develops on oxidation.

Figure A3
figure 1_7

Acid soils defined in terms of their distribution in redox‐pH space, and compared with other major groupings defined in similar fashion. The dashed line marks the envelope within which most common soils fall.

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Bibliography

  • Chesworth, W., 1980. The haplosoil system. Am. J. Sci., 280: 969–985.

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  • FAO, 2001. Lecture notes on the major soils of the world. World Soil Resources Reports, 94. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 334 pp.

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  • Zech, W., and Hintermaier‐Erhard, G., 2007. Soils of the World. Heidelberg, Berlin: Springer‐Verlag, 130 pp.

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© 2008 Springer

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Dahlgren, R.A., Macías, F., Arbestain, M.C., Chesworth, W. (2008). Acid Soils. In: Chesworth, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Soil Science. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-3995-9_7

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