FIELD DESCRIPTION CHECK LIST

(Complete entry or circle/highlight appropriate description.)

MASTER HORIZON                         O           A          E          B          C          R

SUBORDINATE DISTINCTION (a-z) _________________________________

DEPTH      from __________________    to________________________

SLOPE       ______ percent
 


COLOR                                     HUE                                       VALUE/CHROMA

                  Matrix  __________________________  ____________________________

                    Mottles __________________________  ____________________________

                  Abundance       Few (<2 percent)  Common (2-20 percent)  Many (>20 percent)

                    Size                   Few (<5 mm)        Medium (5-15 mm)         Coarse (>15 mm)

                    Contrast     Faint (mottles recognizable with close examination)

                                      Distinct (mottles readily seen but not striking; one or two hues or 
                                                    several value or chroma units apart)

                                      Prominent (mottles an outstanding feature; hue, value, and chroma
                                                        several units apart)


TEXTURE:
 
Dominant Feel When Wet Ribbon Size 
None Short (<1 in.) Med. (1-2 in.) Long (>2 in.)
Smooth Silt Silt loam Silty clay loam Silty clay
Neither smooth nor gritty . Loam Clay loam Clay
Gritty (very slightly cohesive) Loamy sand . . .
Gritty (noncohesive) Sand Sandy loam Sandy clay loam Sandy clay


CONSISTENCE:

Moist: 0.  Loose........................Soil material noncoherent

           1.  Very friable................Aggregates crush easily

           2.  Friable.......................Gentle pressure required to crush aggregates

           3.  Firm...........................Moderate pressure required to crush aggregates

           4.  Very firm....................Strong pressure required to crush aggregates

           5.  Extremely firm.............Aggregates cannot be crushed by hand
 

Dry:    0.  Loose.........................Soil material noncoherent

           1.  Soft.............................Aggregates easily break to single grains

           2.  Slightly hard.................Gentle pressure required to crush material

           3.  Hard............................Aggregates barely breakable by thumb and finger

           4.  Very hard....................Aggregates barely breakable in both hands

           5.  Extremely hard.............Aggregates cannot be broken by hand


ROOTS:

Abundance:   Few (<2 percent)         Common (2-20 percent)           Many (>20 percent)

Size:               Fine (<5 mm)               Medium (5-15 mm)                  Coarse (>15 mm)


HORIZON BOUNDARY:

Thickness:   Abrupt (< in.)      Clear (1-2.5 in.)      Gradual (2.5-5 in.)      Diffuse (>5 in.)

Shape:         Smooth (boundary is nearly a plane)

                    Wavy (undulating, greater across the slope)

                     Irregular (undulating, greater in the direction of the slope)

                     Broken (discontinuous)
 
 

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