Soil Horizons
Hello! I have just finished the lecture slides from today (March 23) and was wondering about the abbreviations, or letter used to describe soil horizons. Can you only use a capital letter with a lowercase letter(s) (ex Ah, Bh, Bmk, etc.) when describing a soil, or can you use just a capital letter to describe a soil? During the slides, it was mentioned that the C horizon is the only horizon that has a specific horizon with just a capital letter (C - no particular properties, similar to parent material).
Thanks very much!!
Hi Gretchen,
Thank you for reviewing those online lecture videos. It is good to know that at least someone has seen them ;-)
In soil science literature (and elsewhere) you will see mineral horizons (ie A, B, and C) both with & without lowercase letters. Which version is used, depends on the context in which one is referring to those horizons. In a general context, when it is not important to indicate the soil formation process for a specific horizon, we can just use capitol letters (A, B, and C). However, in soil classification context & when it is relevant to mention and/or emphasize the soil formation process in a specific horizon, then lowercase must be used.
The C horizon is one exception, since in that horizon there may not be any soil formation processes going on. And when that is the case, we simply use label - C. On the other hand, A and B horizons, always have at least one soil forming process.