TA6. Mesic Spodic

For testing in MLRAs 144A and 145 of LRR R and MLRA 149B of LRR S.

A layer 5 cm (2 inches) or more thick, starting at a depth ≤15 cm (6 inches) from the mineral soil surface, that has value of 3 or less and chroma of 2 or less and is underlain by either:

a. One or more layers 8 cm (3 inches) or more thick occurring at a depth ≤30 cm (12 inches) from the mineral soil surface, having value and chroma of 3 or less, and showing evidence of spodic development; or

b. One or more layers 5 cm (2 inches) or more thick occurring at a depth ≤30 cm (12 inches) from the mineral soil surface, having value of 4 or more and chroma of 2 or less, and directly underlain by a layer(s) 8 cm (3 inches) or more thick having value and chroma of 3 or less and showing evidence of spodic development.

User Notes: This indicator is used to identify wet soils that have spodic materials or that meet the definition of Spodosols. The layer that has value of 4 or more and chroma of 2 or less is typically described as an E or Eg horizon (typically having a color pattern referred to as stripped or partially stripped matrices). The layers with evidence of the accumulation of translocated organic matter typically are described as Bh, Bhs, Bhsm, Bsm, or Bs horizons. These layers typically have several color patterns or cementation indicative of translocated iron, aluminum, and/or organic matter.