This standard is developed in accordance with the rules given in GB/T 1.1-2009.
This standard is identical to “Soil Quality - Field Soil Description” (ISO 25177:2008) (English version) by means of translation.
The Chinese documents consistent and corresponding with the normative international documents in this standard are as follows:
- “Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries and Regions” (GB/T 2659-2000) (eqv ISO 3166-1:1997)
The standard was proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China.
This standard is under jurisdiction of the National Technical Committee on Soil Quality of Standardization Administration of China (SAC/TC 404).
Drafting organizations of this standard: Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang University and Jiangsu Institute of Standardization.
Chief drafters of this standard: Shen Renfang, Dong Xiaoying, Xu Jianming and Gu Changqing.
Soil Quality - Field Soil Description
土壤質量 野外土壤描述
1 Scope
This standard is a guide for describing the soil and its environmental context at a given site. Sites can be natural, near-natural, urban or industrial. It is important to realize that a number of soil samples can be taken at a site to support the soil description. The information provided by the descriptions in this standard provides the context for the presentation of results from analyses undertaken on soil samples.
Note 1: It might not be possible or necessary to record data under all the headings listed in these descriptions.
Note 2: Overall guidance for presentation of information from soil surveys is given in ISO 15903.
2 Normative References
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 3166-1:2006 Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries and Their Subdivisions - Part 1: Country Codes
ISO 3166-2:2007 Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries and Their Subdivisions - Part 2: Country Subdivision Code
ISO 14688-2:2004 Geotechnical Investigation and Testing - Identification and Classification of Soil - Part 2: Principles for A Classification
3 General References
3.1 Site/Profile Numbers
- Profile number;
- Survey number or code.
3.2 Location
- Country
Country codes according to ISO 3166-1 and ISO 3166-2 shall be used. For historical research, designations according to ISO 3166-3 should be considered, when necessary.
- Administrative division
To be adapted according to the country: (provinces, states, regions, departments, towns, etc.), both uncoded and coded.
3.3 Geographical Coordinates
- Type of geographical reference system (degrees, Lambert, national reference grid);
- Position within the geographical reference system (longitude in deg/min/s, latitude in deg/min/s);
- Altitude (in metres).
3.4 Date of Observation
- Year;
- Month;
- Day;
- Time.
3.5 Author and Organization
- Author's name;
- Accreditation;
- Name of organization;
- Department;
- Address;
- Telephone;
- Fax number;
- E-mail address.
4 Profile Environment
4.1 Previous Precipitation
0 No precipitation within the last month
1 No precipitation within the last week
2 No precipitation within the last three days
3 Rainy but no intense precipitation within the last three days
4 Moderate rain for several days or intense rainfall the day before the observation
5 Extreme precipitation or snow melt or inundation just before the observation
6 Not recorded
4.2 Land Use at Plot Level (Checked by Detailed Field Survey)
01 Buildings and industrial infrastructures
02 Mining site (current or past)
03 Metal processing sites
04 Chemical processing sites
05 Oil and gas production sites
06 Metal manufacturing sites
07 Food processing sites
08 Waste disposal sites
09 Cultivated lands
10 Horticulture
11 Grazing
12 Orchards, fruit plantations or grapevines
13 Forest, woodlands
14 Mixed land use (agroforestry or agropastoral)
15 Gathering/hunting-fishing (exploitation of natural vegetation, hunting or fishing)
16 Nature protection (for example, nature reserve, protected area, erosion control by terracing)
17 Wetland (for example, marsh, swamp, mangrove, etc.)
18 Snow or ice cover
19 Bare rock or rocky surface
20 Natural lands
21 Natural grasslands
22 Recreation land
23 Other type of unutilized and unmanaged site
4.3 Type of Cultivation or Vegetation or Human Utilization (at the Plot Level)
Be as clear and precise as possible. For cultivated plants, it may be interesting to note the variety, when known.
Example: Grazing (natural meadow, planted grassland); metal processing (ferrous, non-ferrous); mining site (iron, deep coal, open-cast coal); cultivated lands (maize, oats, rice); horticulture (flowers, vegetables).
4.4 Geomorphology of the Site
1 The position of the site in the landscape
2 The geomorphology of the immediate surroundings of the site (scale: 0.1km)
4.5 Slope Length (in Metres)
When flat, note 0 (zero).
4.6 Slope Value
The average slope value is measured in the vicinity of the soil pit (flat = 0).
Slope may be expressed in percent or degrees:
- slope value, in percent;
- slope value, in degrees.
4.7 Orientation (Aspect) of the Slope
The orientation of the slope can be expressed in the following ways:
a) N-S-E-W
NE-SE-NW-SW
with VV = variable and AA = flat; or
b) use degrees with the following convention:
0° = north
90° = east
180° = south
270° = west
with VV = variable and AA = flat.
4.8 Nature of the Parent Material
4.8.1 Modified or artificial material
The nature of the parent material may be modified by the use of the site, or artificial materials may be imported to a site. The knowledge of the history of the site may provide information about the modifications of the natural material.
4.8.2 Natural material
The natural parent material and/or bedrock should be described as completely as possible, according to local knowledge. For example, glacial tills, marine alluvium, metamorphic bedrock, hard limestone, loessic deposit, etc.
4.9 Presence and Depth of Water Table
4.9.1 General
The depth of the water table generally fluctuates during the year, sometimes in relation with the seasons or the tide.
In 4.9.2, note the depth of the water table during the description of the site.
4.9.3 and 4.9.4 are included to describe the variations in water-table depth, when there are some variations in depth and when these variations are known (piezometers, investigations, or as marks on the walls of the profile).
In 4.9.3, the minimum depth of the water table shall be noted (water table at its highest point).
In 4.9.4, the maximum depth of the water table shall be noted (water table at its lowest point).
When the person writing the description does not know these variations in depth, record “unknown” in 4.9.3 and 4.9.4.
When there is no variation in the water-table depth, or when the describer does not know if there are depth variations, do not answer the points in 4.9.3 and 4.9.4.
4.9.2 Depth
The depth can be:
a) observed or measured;
b) estimated;
c) not observed.
If it is estimated, observed or measured, the depth is expressed in centimetres.
4.9.3 Minimum depth of water table
The minimum depth of the water table can be:
a) observed or measured;
b) estimated;
c) not observed.
If it is estimated, observed or measured, the depth is expressed in centimetres.
4.9.4 Maximum depth of water table
The maximum depth of the water table can be:
a) observed or measured;
b) estimated;
c) not observed.
If it is estimated, observed or measured, the depth is expressed in centimetres.
4.9.5 Nature of the water
Make a general estimation, without reference to threshold value of soluble salts or of conductivity, or analytical values for pollution or contamination, as follows:
- S = saline;
- B = brackish;
- F = fresh;
- P = polluted or contaminated.
Combinations SP, BP or FP are possible.
5 Surface Appearance
5.1 Percentage of Land Surface Occupied by Rock Outcrops or Surface Exposures of “Non-natural” Material (e.g. on An Industrial Site)
The following categories are widely used in soil description. (Compare the charts shown in Appendix A):
0 None: 0%
1 Very few: >0% and ≤2%
2 Few: >2% and ≤5%
3 Common: >5% and ≤15%
4 Many: >15% and ≤40%
5 Abundant: >40% and ≤80%
6 Dominant: >80%
7 Not observed
5.2 Evidence of Erosion
The classes given below are based upon aspects of soil conditions reflecting present erosion (or accumulation) and not past or possible future erosion (or accumulation).
0 No visible evidence of erosion
1 Visible evidence of soil loss
1 Sheet erosion
2 Rill erosion
3 Gully erosion
4 Wind erosion
5 Landslides
2 Visible evidence of accumulation
6 Deposition by water
7 Wind deposition
6 General Designation - Soil Type
6.1 General
In describing soils in their environment, it is normal to allocate the soil to a reference base in an established soil classification. These allocations are normally based on the expression of pedogenetic processes in the soil profile. There are many classifications with national origins, but the use of the international soil classification system, the World Reference Base (WRB), is suggested.
Pedogenetic processes result in the formation of different layers in the soil, generally more or less parallel to the topographic surface, which are called “horizons”. In the framework of soils deeply modified by human activity, artificial layers may be due to different kinds of deposits (concrete, bricks, etc.). These kinds of layers are simply called “layers”. Artificial soils and soils in industrial and urban landscapes are not readily classified in most established soil classification systems, including WRB. In these conditions, the layers are described from the surface of the soil as described in Chapter 7.
6.2 Type of Soil Classification Used
Record which soil classification or which system is used.
Basically, the WRB classification system is recommended.
6.3 Soil Type with Reference to the Soil Classification Used
Example: Albic luvisol.
Appendix B gives a list of reference soils according to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources, 2006.
Note: The World Reference Base for soil resources is available on the Internet.
6.4 Type of Horizon or Layer Designation Used
Note which type of horizon or layer designation is used, for example FAO (2006) or other national system.
As an example, the FAO system of horizon or layer designation (2006) is given in Appendix C, and can be used as a reference if there is no local or regional system of horizon designation.
6.5 Sequence of Horizons or Layers
Note the succession of horizons or layers described in the profile.
Example: A/E/B/C (see Appendix C).
Foreword III
1 Scope
2 Normative References
3 General References
3.1 Site/Profile Numbers
3.2 Location
3.3 Geographical Coordinates
3.4 Date of Observation
3.5 Author and Organization
4 Profile Environment
4.1 Previous Precipitation
4.2 Land Use at Plot Level (Checked by Detailed Field Survey)
4.3 Type of Cultivation or Vegetation or Human Utilization (at the Plot Level)
4.4 Geomorphology of the Site
4.5 Slope Length (in Metres)
4.6 Slope Value
4.7 Orientation (Aspect) of the Slope
4.8 Nature of the Parent Material
4.9 Presence and Depth of Water Table
5 Surface Appearance
5.1 Percentage of Land Surface Occupied by Rock Outcrops or Surface Exposures of “Non-natural” Material (e.g. on An Industrial Site)
5.2 Evidence of Erosion
6 General Designation - Soil Type
6.1 General
6.2 Type of Soil Classification Used
6.3 Soil Type with Reference to the Soil Classification Used
6.4 Type of Horizon or Layer Designation Used
6.5 Sequence of Horizons or Layers
7 Horizon or Layer Description
7.1 General
7.2 Horizon or Layer Number
7.3 Depth
7.4 Estimation of Moisture Status
7.5 Colour of the Horizon or Layer Matrix
7.6 Mottles
7.7 Estimated Organic Matter Content
7.8 Texture
7.9 Coarse Elements
7.10 Carbonates and Effervescence
7.11 Main Categories of Structure
7.12 Compactness
7.13 Total estimated porosity
7.14 Roots
7.15 Density of Worm Channels (Usually An Average over A Number of Square Decimetres)
7.16 Nature of Lower Horizon Boundary
Appendix A (Informative) Charts for Estimating Proportions of Mottles, Coarse Elements, etc.
Appendix B (Informative) Reference Soil Groups of the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (FAO, ISRIC and ISSS, 2006)
Appendix C (Informative) Soil Horizon Designation - Example of the FAO System (2006)
Appendix D (Informative) Examples of Texture Diagrams
Appendix E (Informative) Determination of Soil Texture in the Field
Appendix F (Informative) Some Types of Soil Structure
Bibliography
