Soil

-- Name -- profile element parameter name value -- Definition -- list of properties that can be observed to characterize the profile element. The allowed values for this code list comprise a number of pre-defined values and narrower values defined by data providers. This code list is hierarchical. -- Description -- Basically these parameters can be divided in several major groups like:

• Chemical parameters
• Physical parameters
• Biological parameters

-- Name -- soil derived object parameter name value -- Definition -- list of soil related properties that can be derived from soil and other data. The allowed values for this code list comprise a number of pre-defined values and narrower values defined by data providers. This code list is hierarchical. -- Description -- Basically these parameters can be divided in several major groups like:

• Chemical parameters
• Physical parameters
• Biological parameters

-- Name -- WRB Qualifier place value -- Definition -- list of values to indicate the placement of the Qualifier with regard to the WRB reference soil group (RSG). The placement can be in front of the RSG i.e. 'prefix' or it can be behind the RSG i.e. 'suffix'. The allowed values for this code list comprise only the values ”prefix” and “suffix”, according to naming rules of the World reference base for soil resources 2006, first update 2007, World Soil Resources Reports No. 103, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2007.

-- Name -- layer type value -- Definition -- classification of a layer according to the concept that fits the purpose. -- Description -- EXAMPLE Topsoil: meaning the upper part of the natural soil that is generally dark coloured and has a higher content of organic matter and nutrients when compared to the (mineral ) horizons below excluding the humus layer.

--- Name -- soil plot type -- Definition -- list of possible values that give information on what kind of plot the observation of the soil is made. -- Description -- NOTE Trial pits, boreholes or samples can be seen as types of soil plots.

-- Name -- WRB qualifiers -- Definition -- list of possible qualifiers (i.e. prefix and suffix qualifiers of the World Reference Base for Soil Resources). The allowed values for this code list comprise only the values specified in “World reference base for soil resources 2006, first update 2007”. -- Description -- SOURCE World reference base for soil resources 2006, first update 2007, World Soil Resources Reports No. 103, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2007. NOTE WRB restricts the use of qualifiers in different ways for the 32 reference soil groups.

-- Name -- FAO horizon master value -- Definition -- A code list of the master part of the horizon designation. The allowed values for this code list comprise only the values specified in Guidelines for soil description, 4th edition, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2006, pp. 67-77.

-- Name -- FAO horizon subordinate value -- Definition -- A code list of designations of subordinate distinctions and features within the master horizons and layers which are based on profile characteristics observable in the field and are applied during the description of the soil at the site. The allowed values for this code list comprise only the values specified in Guidelines for soil description, 4th edition, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2006, pp. 67-77. -- Description -- Lower case letters are used as suffixes to designate specific kinds of master horizons and layers, and other features. SOURCE Guidelines for soil description, 4th edition, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2006, pp. 67-77, table 85

-- Name -- soil profile parameter name value -- Definition -- list of properties that can be observed to characterize the soil profile. The allowed values for this code list comprise a number of pre-defined values and narrower values defined by data providers. This code list is hierarchical. -- Description -- Basically these parameters can be divided in several major groups like:

• Chemical parameters
• Physical parameters
• Biological parameters

-- Name -- FAO prime value -- Definition -- A prime and double prime may be used to connotate the master horizon symbol of the lower of two (prime) or three (double prime) horizons having identical Arabic-numeral prefixes and letter combinations. The allowed values for this code list comprise only the values specified in Guidelines for soil description, 4th edition, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2006, pp. 67-77. -- Description -- Identical designations may be appropriate for two or more horizons or layers separated by at least one horizon or layer of a more different kind in the same pedon. The sequence A-E-Bt-E-Btx-C is an example - the soil has two E horizons. To make communication easier, a prime is used with the master horizon symbol of the lower of two horizons having identical letter designations: A-E-Bt-E’-Btx-C. The prime is applied to the capital letter designation, and any lower case symbol follows it: B’t. The prime is not used unless all letters of the designations of two different layers are identical. Prime can be used for both minerals and organic soils.

-- Name -- WRB reference soil group (RSG) -- Definition -- list of possible reference soil groups (i.e. first level of classification of the World Reference Base for Soil Resources). The allowed values for this code list comprise only the values specified in “World reference base for soil resources 2006, first update 2007”. -- Description -- Reference Soil Groups are distinguished by the presence (or absence) of specific diagnostic horizons, properties and/or materials. NOTE The WRB soil classification system comprises 32 different RSGs. SOURCE World reference base for soil resources 2006, first update 2007, World Soil Resources Reports No. 103, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2007.

-- Name -- other horizon notation type value -- Definition -- a classification of a soil horizon according to a specific classification system. The allowed values for this coded list comprise the values defined by data providers.

-- Name -- WRB specifiers -- Definition -- list of possible specifiers. The allowed values for this code list comprise only the values specified in “World reference base for soil resources 2006, first update 2007”. -- Description -- SOURCE World reference base for soil resources 2006, first update 2007, World Soil Resources Reports No. 103, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2007. Specifiers are name elements in WRB restricting the meaning of qualifiers.

-- Name -- soil site parameter name value -- Definition -- List of properties that can be observed to characterize the soil site. The allowed values for this code list comprise a number of pre-defined values and narrower values defined by data providers. -- Description -- Basically these parameters can be divided in several major groups like:

• Chemical parameters
• Physical parameters
• Biological parameters

-- Name -- Other soil name type value -- Definition -- an identification of the soil profile according to a specific classification scheme. The allowed values for this coded list comprise the values defined by data providers.

-- Name -- soil investigation purpose value -- Definition -- list of terms indicating the reasons for conducting a survey. -- Description -- For soil two main purposes are identified to carry out soil surveys. One is to classify the soil as a result of soil forming processes (generalSurvey) and the other one is to investigate soil for a specific reason (specificSurvey) like a possible contamination as a result of contaminating activities. This information gives the data user an idea about possible bias in the selection of the site and therefore representativeness of the data that were obtained for a special purpose.

-- Name -- layer genesis process state value -- Definition -- an indication whether the process specified in layerGenesisProcess is ongoing or ceased in the past. -- Description -- Process state gives an idea whether current non-pedogenic processes affect the soil or not. E.g. on current floodplains, input of sediments during seasonal flooding events is received, with comparatively young soil development in it, while in older fluvial sediments that are no longer under a regime of seasonal or irregular flooding, soil development might be more advanced.