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The Lithoplinthic Horizon, a Diagnostic Horizon for Soil Taxonomy¹

ABSTRACT

A new diagnostic horizon, the lithoplinthic horizon, is proposed for an indurated ironstone that contains many irregular, tubular, channels filled with fine earth, that conduct water and permit plant roots to reach underlying horizons. It is hard rock for many engineering interpretations and soil for interpretations for plant growth. It is proposed that, if there are no overlying diagnostic horizons other than an ochric epipedon, the soils should be classified as lithoplinthic subgroups of Orthents. Use of family classes of particle size and depth is proposed, but not of mineralogy.

¹ Contribution from Centro National de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Sección de Suelos, Maracay, Venezuela.

² Asesor and Investigadores, respectively. The senior author is presently with the Soil Bureau, DSIR, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.

Received for publication April 25, 1977. Accepted for publication August 16, 1977.