Luvisol

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Luvisol
ISRIC monolith NL-001.jpg
Luvisol from the Netherlands
Used in WRB, other
WRB codeLV
Profile AhEBtC
ClimateHumid 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). [1] They are widespread, especially in temperate climates, and are generally fertile. Luvisols are widely used for agriculture. [2]

Contents

Distribution

Global distribution Luvisol.gif
Global distribution

Luvisols cover 500–600 million ha of land area, mainly in the temperate zones. They form on a wide variety of mineral parent materials. In Mediterranean regions, the formation of hematite can produce red-coloured Chromic Luvisols. [2]

Description and formation

The main characteristic of Luvisols is an argic horizon, a subsurface zone with higher clay content than the material above it. [1] 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. [1] [2] In uneroded landscapes, a lighter, clay-depleted eluvial horizon occurs above the argic horizon. [2]

In other classification systems

The Canadian system of soil classification includes Luvisols. In the USDA Soil Taxonomy, Luvisols are typically classified as Alfisols. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 IUSS Working Group WRB (2022). "World Reference Base for Soil Resources, fourth edition" (PDF). International Union of Soil Sciences, Vienna.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Zech, Wolfgang; Schad, Peter; Hintermeier-Erhard, Gerd (2014). Böden der Welt (in German) (2nd ed.). Berlin: Springer Spektrum.

Further reading

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