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University of Idaho

Physical Address:
E. J. Iddings Agricultural Science Laboratory, Rm 242
606 S Rayburn St

Mailing Address:
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2340
Moscow, ID 83844-2340

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Spodosols

Spodosols (from Greek spodos, "wood ash") are acid soils characterized by a subsurface accumulation of humus that is complexed with Al and Fe. These photogenic soils typically form in coarse-textured parent material and have a light-colored E horizon overlying a reddish-brown spodic horizon. The process that forms these horizons is known as podzolization. Many Spodosols support forest. Because they are naturally infertile, they require additions of lime in order to be productive agriculturally. They are divided into five suborders: Aquods, Gelods, Cryods, Humods and Orthods.

Spodosols often occur under coniferous forest in cool, moist climates. Globally, they occupy approximately 4 percent of the ice-free land area. In the U.S., they occupy approximately 3.5 percent of the land area.

Spodosols
Spodosols have either: (1) an albic horizon (light-colored, leached) and a spodic horizon (accumulation of Fe- and Al-humus complexes); or (2) a plow layer (Ap) consisting of at least 85 percent spodic materials (USDA-NRCS image)

Contact

University of Idaho

Physical Address:
E. J. Iddings Agricultural Science Laboratory, Rm 242
606 S Rayburn St

Mailing Address:
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2340
Moscow, ID 83844-2340

Directions