Applied and Environmental Soil Science

Research Article

Genesis and Classification of Termite-Mediated Soils along Toposequences in a Semiarid Area of Southeast Ethiopia

Table 3

Morphological soil properties of the pedons across toposequences in Ilala-Sara and Silala, southeast Ethiopia.


Horizon	Depth (cm)	Horizon boundary^a	Munsell color notation		Soil structural units’ grade, size, and type^b	Consistence^c				Roots’ abundance and size^d	Rock fragment abundance, classification, and weathering^e
Horizon	Depth (cm)	Horizon boundary^a	Moist	Dry	Soil structural units’ grade, size, and type^b	Dry	Moist	Stickiness	Plasticity	Roots’ abundance and size^d	Rock fragment abundance, classification, and weathering^e

Pedon D01, Ilala-Sara, ∼ gently undulating summit
A	0–12	DW	2.5 YR4/4	2.5 YR4/8	WE, ME, CR	SO	VFR	SST	NPL	M and MC	—
AB	12–30	CW	2.5 YR3/6	2.5 YR4/8	WE, CO, GR	SO	VFR	SST	SPL	V and F	VF, MG, and F
Bw	30–73	CW	2.5 YR4/4	2.5 YR4/6	ST, FC, RS	EHA	EFI	SST	PL	V and VF	M, CGS, and F
BC	73–140	GW	7.5 YR4/6	7.5 R5/6	WE, ME, SB	SHA	EFI	SST	SPL	V and VF	Fe, MCG, and W
Cr	140–200+	—	10 R4/4	10 R4/3	WE, VF, MA	SO	LO	NST	NPL	V and VF	Fe, MCG, and W

Pedon D02, Ilala-Sara site, ∼ gently undulating back slope
A	0–7	GW	2.5 YR4/4	2.5YR5/4	WE, VF, CR	SO	LO	NST	NPL	C and VF	VF, FG, and F
AB	7–95	CW	2.5YR3/6	2.5YR4/8	ST, CO, RS	HA	VFI	NST	SPL	F and VF	A, CGS, and F
Bw	95–140	CW	2.5YR4/8	2.5YR5/8	WE, FI, AB	SHA	FR	SST	SPL	F and VF	Fe, FMG, and F
BC	140–170	GW	2.5YR4/8	2.5YR5/8	WE, FM, AB	SHA	VFR	NST	SPL	V and VF	VF, FG, and W
Cr	170–200+	—	2.5YR5/8	2.5YR6/8	WE, FI, MA	SO	FR	NST	NPL	—	—

Pedon D03, Ilala-Sara site, ∼ nearly levelled toe slope
A	0–10	CW	2.5YR4/4	2.5YR5/4	WE, ME, SB	SO	LO	SST	NPL	C, VF	—
AB	10–40	CW	2.5YR3/6	2.5YR4/8	WE, FM, SB	SO	LO	NST	NPL	F, F	VF, MG, F
Bg	40–70	AS	7.5YR4/1	7.5YR5/3	WE, ME, PR	SHA	VFR	SST	SPL	F, M	—
Bt	70–200+	—	7.5YR3/1	7.5YR4/1	MO, VC, AB	HA	FI	NST	VPL	V, F	—

Pedon M01, Silala site, ∼ very gentle foot slope
A	0–10	CS	2.5YR4/4	2.5YR4/6	MO, ME, GR	SHA	VFR	SST	NPL	M, FM	—
AB	10–55	GS	10R3/6	10R4/6	WE, FM, SB	SHA	VFR	SST	SPL	C, FM	—
Bt	55–90	GS	2.5YR5/4	2.5YR3/6	WE, FM, AB	SHA	VFR	SST	SPL	F, F	—
Bo	90–200+	—	2.5YR3/6	10R3/6	WE, CO, PR ⟶ AB	HA	FR	SST	SPL	—	—

Pedon M02, Silala site, ∼ levelled land surface
A	0–18	CS	5YR4/2	7.5YR6/1	WE, FM, SB	SO	VFR	SST	PL	M, FF/MC	—
AB	18–42	CS	2.5YR5/1	10YR5/2	WE, FM, SB	SO	LO	SST	SPL	C, FM	C, CG, F
Bk	42–70	CS	5Y6/1	5Y8/1	WE, MC, SB	SO	VFR	SST	SPL	C, FM	VF, FG, F
Ck	70–120	GS	2.5Y8/2	5Y8/1	ST, CO, MA	HA	FI	NST	NPL	V, VF	D, MG, W
Ckm	120–200+	—	2.5Y7/1	5Y8/1	ST, CO, MA	HA	FI	NST	NPL	—	D, CG, F

^aAS: abrupt smooth, CS: clear smooth, CW: clear wavy, DW: diffuse wavy, GS: gradual smooth, and GW: gradual wavy. ^bAB: angular blocky, CO: coarse/thick, FC: fine to coarse, FI: fine/thin, FM: fine and medium, GR: granular, MA: massive, ME: medium, MO: moderate, MVC: medium to very coarse, PR: prismatic, RS: rock structure, SB: subangular blocky, ST: strong, VC: very coarse/thick, VF: very fine/thin, and WE: weak. ^cEFI: extremely firm, EHA: extremely hard, FI: firm, FR: friable, HA: hard, LO: loose, NPL: nonplastic, NST: nonsticky, PL: plastic, SHA: slightly hard, SO: soft, SPL: slightly plastic, SST: slightly sticky, VFI: very firm, VFR: very friable, VPL: very plastic, and VST: very sticky. ^dC: common/coarse, F: fine/few, FF: few fine, FM: fine to medium, M: many/medium, MC: medium to coarse, V: very, and VF: very fine. ^eA: abundant, C: common, CG: coarse gravel, CGS: coarse gravel and stones, D: dominant, F: fresh or slightly weathered, Fe: few, FG: fine gravel, FMG: fine and medium gravel, M: many, MCG: medium and coarse gravel, MG: medium gravel, VF: very few, and W: weathered.