EUROPEAN SOIL BUREAU  RESEARCH REPORT NO. 7

Present-day status of Soil Classification in Romania MUNTEANU Ioan and FLOREA Nicolae Research Institute for Soil Science and Agrochemistry, Bul. Marasti Nr. 61. Sector 1 Bucharest, Romania Email: [email protected]

Abstract As everywhere the soil classification in Romania is still evolving. At the end of XXth century an updated version of the "Romanian Soil Classification System " (RSCS-1980)-(Conea et al, 1980) was issued under the name "Romanian System of Soil Taxonomy" (RSST-2000) (Florea and Munteanu, 2000). This new system incorporates the progress made in soil classification in Romania in the last 20 years as well as the progress in soil classification worldwide, mainly that evidenced by the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (FAO et al, 1998). The RSST-2000 is a hierarchical, multicategorical system including three higher level categories (class, genetical soil type and genetical soil subtype) and four lower level categories (soil variety, soil species, soil family and soil variant). Continuing the Romanian tradition the basic taxonomic unit is the genetical soil type. As diagnostic criteria at higher levels the RSST-2000 uses 29 diagnostic horizons, 23 diagnostic properties and 6 diagnostic parent materials. At lower levels 18 indicators are used. In contrast to RSCS-1980, the RSST-2000 brings some important conceptual, structural and linguistic (terminology) improvements: new diagnostic horizons and properties (e.g. limnic horizon, hortic horizon, eutric and dystric properties etc), new soil classes (e.g. Andisols) and new soil types (e.g. Limnosols, Alosols and Pelosols). Although the Romanian language is not very suitable for making composed words, at class and soil type level single word substantives were coined (e.g. Dystricambosols for Dystric Cambisols) or borrowed (e.g. Salsodisols for Saline and Sodic soils).

Key words: soil classification, soil taxonomy, Romania.

Introduction In Romania soil classification has a long lasting tradition. The first scientific classification of soils in our country is as old as the beginning of the XXth century and belongs to G. M. Murgoci the founder of Romanian soil science. Following Murgoci several attempts had been made to improve it but a successful one the "Romanian Soil Classification System" (RSCS) was issued not earlier than the end of the seventies (1980). The RSCS-1980 is officially still in use and proves to be efficient both in soil mapping and in soil interpretations. However, as new experience accumulated that system became partly obsolete, unevenly structured, and the nomenclature partly inadequate to match the requirements of present-day usage. The obsolescence of the RSCS 1980 became more striking when compared with the progress in soil classification worldwide as evidenced by the World Reference Base for Soil Resources -1998 (WRBSR.1998), the second edition of the USDA Soil Taxonomy, 1999 and by the Référentiel Pédologique Français. As a consequence in the last ten years a revised system of soil classification, named "Romanian 1 System of Soil Taxonomy (RSST-2000)" has been worked out and published in 2000.

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Authors: N.Florea, I.Munteanu

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EUROPEAN SOIL BUREAU  RESEARCH REPORT NO. 7

Differences between RSST - 2000 and RSCS - 1980 The changes introduced by RSST-2000 compared with RSCS-1980 are the followings: • Introduction of: - new diagnostic horizons: limnic A horizon, hortic A horizon, pelic, petrocalcic, cryptospodic, skeletic, anthropedogenetic, and folic horizons; - new diagnostic properties: eutric, dystric, alic and cryostagnic; - new diagnostic parent materials: fluvic, anthropogenetic, calcareous, marly, etc. - new soil classes, namely: Andisols, Protisols and Anthrisols. The last two by splitting of the former very heterogeneous class of "Undeveloped soils". - several new soil types: Limnosols (soils developed under shallow water bodies), Alosols (deep acid soils with Bt horizon), Pelosols (very clayey soils that do not meet the requirements for Vertisols). - new soil subtypes (e.g. psamic, pelic, skeletic, calcaric, eutric, distric, aluvic, cryostagnic, prespodic etc.). Uniformisation of nomenclature, by coining a single word, for naming soils at class and genetical soil type level. • Deleting the Mollisol class that was a source of confusion because the concept used in Romania was different from the original one used in the USDA Soil Taxonomy. • Regrouping of some soil types e.g. Chenozems and Cambic Chernozems (as Chernozems); Clayilluvial Chernozems, Chernozemlike soils, Grey soils and Pseudorendzinas (as Phaeozems); Reddish Brown soil and Clay Illuvial Brown soil (as Preluvosols); Luvic Brown soil and Albic Luvisols (as Luvisols). In all these cases, the former genetical soil types are now found as genetical subtypes.

The guiding principles of the RSST-2000 The Romanian System of Soil Taxonomy -2000 (RSST-2000) represents an updated version of the former Romanian Soil Classification System-1980 (RSCS-1980) whose structure was not altered and its main entities preserved. However, RSST-2000 provides a better fit of soils into the system, a more consequent use of diagnostic criteria, an increase of the practical applicability, and uniformity of soil terminology and nomenclature. The basic characteristics of RSST-2000 can be summarised as follows: a) It preserves and continues the Romanian Soil Science School tradition concerning the concept of soil as natural body resulting from the combined action over time of the soil-forming factors and processes upon the uppermost part of the Earth’s Crust. An important part of the criteria used as differentiating parameters of the system’s categories are specific "Romanians". b) In parallel with preservation of regional and national peculiarities, RSST-2000 is aligned with international standards aiming to facilitate as much as possible the best correlation with the World Reference Base for Soil Resources-1998 as well as with other world-wide classification systems e.g. USDA Soil Taxonomy. c) RSST-2000 is a multicategorial system, with two main levels: one of higher categories and one of lower categories. The basic taxonomic unit is the genetical soil type. d) The definition of each category (taxon) is operational and has the same meaning for each kind of use. The taxa (categories) refer to real, natural soil bodies that occupy distinct portions of the landscape. e) The differentiating elements between categories are those soil properties that can be directly observable in the field or those that can be deduced from other soil properties that can be observed in the field or from data of soil science combined with data of other disciplines (e.g. mineralogy, geology etc). The system also uses laboratory-based measurements as criteria (e.g. pH, base saturation degree, and soluble salt content). f) The specific properties used as differentiate may vary independently each other, and their importance depends upon their combination with other properties. g) The differentiating elements have been chosen in such a way that the soil classification does not change following cropping or other anthropic interventions of weak intensity (plowing, loosening, surficial stripping etc). h) The informational data base that has been used for compilation of the RSST-2000, assures the introduction in the system of all soils that may occur within a given area of the national territory and, in principle, of all soils presently known in Romania.

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EUROPEAN SOIL BUREAU  RESEARCH REPORT NO. 7 i)

The RSST-2000 is a flexible system in so far as new soils that will be identified in Romania would be introduced without disturbing its general structure.

Diagnostic elements used to identify soils Within RSST-2000 there is a clear distinction between the morphologic horizons (used in soil description) and diagnostic horizons and properties used to classify soils. In this system 29 diagnostic horizons, 23 diagnostic properties and 6 diagnostic soil parent materials are used.

Diagnostic horizons • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Mollic A horizons (Am) Powdered Mollic A horizon (Ame) - (A horizon showing uncoated silt and sand grains on structural ped surfaces)2 Umbric A horizon (Au) Ochric A horizon (Ao) Limnic A horizon (Al) - (A horizon developed on the surface of permanently submerged deposits, under shallow waterbodies) Hortic A horizon (Af) - (A horizon resulted by intense and long-lasting fertilisation with manure and earthy materials) Luvic E horizon (El) - (Eluvial horizon that does not meet the requirements for an albic E horizon and overlying an argic B horizon) Eluvial Albic E horizon (Ea) - (Albic E horizon overlying on argic B horizon) Spodic Albic E horizon (Es) - (Albic E horizon overlying a spodic B horizon) Cambic B horizon (Bv) Argic B horizon (Bt) Argic-Natric B horizon (Btna) Spodic B horizon (Bs, Bhs) Calcic or calxic C horizon (Cca) Salic horizon (sa) Hiposalic horizon (sc) Natric horizon (na) Hiponatric or hiposodic horizon (ac) Sulphidic horizon (sf) Sulphuric horizon (su) Vertic horizon (y) Pelic horizon (Z) Petrocalxic horizon (pc) Fragipan (x) Criptospodic horizon (Bcp) Skeletic horizon (q) Folic horizon (O) Peaty horizon (T) Anthropedogenetic horizon (N).

Diagnostic properties • • • • • • • • • • 2

Vermic character (Vm) Abrupt textural change (pl) Andic soil properties Albeluvic tonguing (E+B) (gl) Lithic contact or continuous hard rock (li) Base saturation (V%) Eutric properties (eu) Dystric properties (di) Alic properties (al) Segregable organic matter (ms)

The underlined horizons/properties are new introductions.

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EUROPEAN SOIL BUREAU  RESEARCH REPORT NO. 7 • •

Soft powdery secondary carbonates (km) Aquic properties: anthraquic, stagnic and gleyic

• •

Gleyic properties Reductomorphic properties

• • • • • • • • •

Redoximorphic properties Stagnic properties Anthraquic properties Cryostagnic properties Diagnostic colours Diagnostic horizon or diagnostic property depth Skeletic character Skeletiferous character Salsodic properties

Diagnostic parent materials • • • • • •

Fluvic material (MF) Anthropogenous material (MA) Calcareous skeletic material (MK) Marly material (MM) Erubazic material (ME) Bauxitic material (MB)

The system structure The Romanian System of Soil Taxonomy includes soil units of different ranks in an unitary hierarchical taxonomic system cf. table 1. Table 1. Organisation of Romanian System of Soil Taxonomy Taxonomic hierarchy Rank Taxa Higher Soil class Level genetical soil type genetical soil subtype Soil variety Lower Level Soil species (texture) Soil family Soil variant

Example of a soil in the system Luvisols (LUV) Preluvosols (EL) Gleyic-Psamic-Reddish Preluvosol (Elrs-ps-gc) Bathygleyic-psamic Reddish Preluvosol Loamy sandy/loamy on coarse loess arable, compacted, slightly wind eroded

Higher level categories Soil class. Represents the totality (collection) of soils characterised by a specific stage of soil profile development as given by the presence of a specific diagnostic horizon or property. Genetical soil type. Represents a group (collection) of similar soils, distinguished within a class of soils, characterised by a specific mode of expression of one or many of the diagnostics elements. Genetical soil subtypes. This is a subdivision of the genetical soil type that groups soils either with a specific degree of expression of the soil type characteristics or by a specific horizon sequence, some marking transitions to other types and others being characteristics of high practical importance. Soil classes and genetical soil types. The system is comprised of 12 soil classes and 32 genetical soil types. The main characteristics of soil classes and the genetical soil types included are given in the following table.

Differentiae used to separate genetical soil types The criteria used to separate genetical soil types are the diagnostic horizons, and properties, and diagnostic parent materials. These criteria are used alone but often in association. In some cases in separating soil types we tried to emphasize genetical links and idea of evolution. This is illustrated by the soil types of the Luvisols and Spodisols classes where "pre" soil types (Preluvosols and Prepodzols) were distinguished.

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Differentiae used to separate genetical soil subtypes To designate genetical soil subtypes 60 attributes (characteristics) were selected. They refer either to features induced by genetical soil processes (e.g. albic, alcalic, brunic, eutric, dystric, etc.) or reflect transitions between different genetical soil types or classes (e.g cernic, gleyic, stagnic, etc). A large part of attributes used at soil subtype level represent characteristics induced by soil parent material (e.g. andic, psamic, aluvic, urbic, etc) or that designate extragrades to non-soil (e.g. lithic, gravelly). For evidencing the depth at which some of these characteristics begin, terms as: proxi, mezo and bathy (e.g. proxygleic, bathysalic) are used.

Lower level categories At lower levels RSST-2000 consists of four categories namely: soil variety, soil species, soil family and soil variant. The soil variety is a subdivision of the genetical soil subtype determined either by some characteristics that were not used at higher level, or by some peculiar characteristic of the soil, usually qualitatively defined; and also by the quantitative scaling of some soil type/subtype characteristics (e.g. gleyzation and stagnogleyzation degree, salinity and sodicity degree, calcium carbonates depth and bedrock depth. The soil species underlines the soil particle size characteristics of mineral soils, or the degree of decomposition of organic matter (organic soils). The soil family is a lithological grouping. Two parameters were taken into consideration: the kind of parent material (or of surface deposits) and the particle size class in a simplified form. The soil variant is a minor subdivision that recognizes anthropic influences upon the soil that are not so strong to include the soil in anthroposols or in other anthropic subdivisions.

For separating lower categories 18 indicators were provided: 7 for soil variety, 6 for soil family and 5 for soil variant, as follows. Indicators for soil variety 1. Particular soil characteristics (28 genetical, 27 others); 2. Gleyzation degree; 3. Stagnogleyzation degree; 4. Salinity degree; 5. Sodicity degree; 6. Calcium carbonate depth; 7. Depth to bedrock.

Indicators for soil species and soil family 1. Textural group classes and subclasses; 2. Class group and classes according to skeleton content; 3. Organic matter decomposition degree (organic soils); 4. Surface deposits or soil parent materials; 5. Underlying rock; 6. Simplified particle size class.

Indicators for soil variant 1. Land use type and subtype; 2. Soil changes following cropping; 3. Erosion or stripping degree; 4. Degradation types through excavation, soil covering and soil pollution; 5. Pollution degree.

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EUROPEAN SOIL BUREAU  RESEARCH REPORT NO. 7 Table 2. Main characteristics of soil classes Soil class Symbol Name

Diagnostic horizons and/or properties

Genetical included

PRO

PROTISOLS

A or O horizon ( 3.5 starting from the upper part

EC - Eutricambosol DC - Dystricambosol

LUV

LUVISOLS

Argic B horizon (Bt) having colours with values and chroma, moist >3.5 starting from the upper part

EL - Preluvosol LV - Luvosol PL - Planosol AL - Alosol

SPO

SPODISOLS

Spodic B horizon (Bhs, Bs) or cryptospodic horizon (Bcp)

EP - Prepodzol PD - Podzol CP - Cryptopodzol

HID

HIDRISOLS1)

Gleyic properties (Gr) or intense stagnic properties (W) starting within the upper 50 cm, or limnic A horizon (Al) or submerged histic horizon (T).

SG -Stagnosol GS - Gleyosol LM - Limnosol

SAL

SALSODISOLS2)

Salic (sa) or natric (na) horizon within 50 cm of the soil surface or natric-argic B horizon (Btna).

SC - Solonchack SN - Solonetz

HIS

HISTISOLS

Folic (O) or histic (T) horizon within the upper part of the soil and that is >50 cm thick or only 20 cm if directly overlies an R horizon.

TB - Turbosol FB - Foliosol

ANT

ANTHRISOLS

Anthropedogenetic horizon or lack of the A and E horizon removed by accelerated erosion or by stripping 1) Term borrowed from the Australian Soil Classification 2) Term borrowed from the Référentiel Pédologique Francais

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soil

ER-Erodosol AT-Anthroposol

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EUROPEAN SOIL BUREAU  RESEARCH REPORT NO. 7 Table 3. Correlation of the genetical soil types of RSST with main international systems RSST – 2000 (in Romanian) Litosol

FAO/UNESCO, 1988 Leptosols

WRB SR, 1998 Leptosols

Regosol Psamosol Aluviosol Entiantroposol Pelosol Vertosol Andosol Kastanoziom Cernoziom

Regosols Arenosols Fluvisol (Regosol) Vertic subunits Vertisols Andosols Kastanozeoms Chernozems

Regosols Arenosols Fluvisol Anthropic Regosols Vertic subunits Vertisols Andosols Kastanozeoms Chernozems

Faeoziom Rendzină Nigrosol

Phaeozems Rendzic Leptosols Humic Cambisols

Phaeozems Rendzic Leptosols Humic Umbrisols

Eutricambosol

Eutric Cambisols

Eutric Cambisols

Districam-bosol

Dystric Cambisols

Dystric Cambisols

Preluvosol

Planosol Alosol Prepodzol

Haplic Luvisols Calcic Luvisols Luvisols (pp) Podzoluvisols (pp) Planosols Alisols Cambic Podzols

Haplic Luvisols Calcic Luvisols Luvisols (pp) Albeluvisols (pp) Planosols Alisols Entic Podzols

Podzol

Haplic Podzols

Haplic Podzols

Criptopodzol Gleiosol

Spodo Cambisols Gleysols

Spodo Cambisols Gleysols

Limnosol Stagnosol Solonceac Soloneţ Turbosol

Stagnic Luvisols Solonchaks Solonetz Histosols

Stagnic Luvisols Solonchaks Solonetz Histosols

Foliosol Erodosol

Folic Histosols (strongly eroded phases) Anthrosols

Folic Histosols (strongly eroded phases) Anthrosols

Luvosol

Antroposol

dystric

dystric

USDA Soil Taxonomy, 1999 Lithic Udorthents (pp) Lithic Ustorthents (pp) Orthents Psamments Fluvents Arents (pp) Vertic subgroups Vertisols Andisols Ustolls Ustolls (pp) Udolls (pp) Udolls Rendolls Humic Dystrudepts (pp) Humic Dystrocryepts (pp) Eutrudepts (pp) Eutrocryepts (pp) Dystrudepts (pp) Dystrocryepts (pp) Hapludalfs (pp) Haplustalfs (pp) Hapludalfs (pp) Glossudalfs (pp) Albaqualfs Cryalfs Haplocryods (pp) Haplorthods (pp) Haplocryods (pp) Humicryods (pp) Humicryods Endoaquepts (pp) Endoaquents (pp) Hydraquents ? Epiaqualfs Aquisalids Natraqualfs Fibrists (pp) Hemists (pp) Saprists (pp Folists (strongly eroded phases) Anthrepts (Plaganthrepts) (Haplanthrepts)

Designating the soils As symbols for designating soil types two capital letters are used (3 capital letters for soil classes). To designate soil subtypes are used groups of two small letters, usually not more than three of such groups.

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EUROPEAN SOIL BUREAU  RESEARCH REPORT NO. 7 For lower categories subdivisions small or capital letters are introduced according the special rules foreseen for each indicator. An example of a complete soil formula of a soil is:

CZka-vs-gc /

G3-s1-k1-5/6-Tf-a / Ai

Translated the full name is: "Gleyic-Vertic-Calcaric Chernozem / bathygleyc, bathyhyposalic, proxycalcaric, clayey loamy/ clayey, developed on clayey fluvio-lacustrine deposits, arable, irrigated." When only the name at higher level is used then to the soil formula and the soil name the simplified particle size class of the upper horizon is added. The soil complete name becomes: "Clayey loamy-Gleyic-Vertic Calcaric Chernozem" and the formula: CZka-vs-gc/t.

Conclusions The updated version of the Romanian System of Soil Classification 1980 (RSCS-1980) (Conea et al, 1980) issued under the name of "Romanian System of Soils Taxonomy -2000" (RSST-2000) (Florea and Munteanu, 2000) brings some important conceptual, structural and linguistic improvements. Thus, new diagnostic horizons (e.g. limnic, horizon, hortic a horizon etc), new diagnostic properties (e.g. eutric, dystric, cryostagnic, etc) and new diagnostic soil parent material (e.g. fluvic, anthropedogenetic) were introduced. Some soil classes (e.g. mollisols) were deleted, and new ones (andisols, protisols and anthrisols) introduced. New soil types (e.g. limnosols, alosols, pelosols) were added while other ones were regrouped and renamed (e.g. argillic brown soils and redish brown were joined and renamed as preluvosols). As a whole the RSST-2000 is generally aligned to the World Reference Base for Soil Resource, but in the frame of an original Romanian conception.

References AFES 1990, Référentiel Pédologique Francais, AFES-Plaisir, 204 pp. Conea Ana, 1974, Soil Classification in Romania, Higher Categories, Proc. 10-th, Congr. Soil. Sc., VI (II) Izd. Nauka, Moscow, p.513-521. Conea Ana, Florea N., Puiu Şt. (coord.), 1980, Sistemul Român de Clasificare a Solurilor (Romania System of Soil Classification) ICPA, Bucureşti, 173 pp. FAO, ISRIC, ISSS, 1998, World Reference Base for Soil Resources. World Soil Res. Rep. Nr.84, Rome 88pp. FAO/UNESCO, 1988, Soil Map of the World, Revised Legend, World Soil Res., Rep. 60, Rome. Florea N., 1982, Romanian System of Soil Classification, Rev. Roum. Geogr. t. 26, Ed. Acad. Rom., Bucharest, p. 71-79. Florea N., Bălăceanu V., Răuţă C., Canarache A. (coord.), 1987, Metodologia elaborării studiilor pedologice, (Methodology of making Soil Surveys Studies), Vol 1, 2, 3 Red. Prop. Tehn. Agr. Bucureşti, 191, 349, 226 pp. Florea N., Munteanu I., 2000, Sistemul Român de Taxonomie a Solurilor, (Romanian System of Soil Taxonomy) Univ. “Al. I. Cuza” Iasi 107pp. Florea N., Munteanu I., Bălăceanu V., 1989, În Problema Clasificării Solurilor, (On Soil Classification Problem) Public. S.N.R.S.S., nr. 26B, Bucureşti, p. 69-80. Florea N., Munteanu I., Oancea C., 1988, Opt ani de aplicare a Sistemului Român de Clasificare a Solurilor – (Eight years of use of Romanian Soil Classification System) - Şt. Solului, nr. 2. Isbell F.R., 1996, The Australian Soil Classification, CSIRO Publishing Australia, 144 pp. Munteanu I., 1994, Solurile României în Sistemele de Clasificare Internaţionale, (Romanian Soils in International Soil Classification Systems) Şt. Solului, nr. 3-4, 84 pp. Munteanu I., Florea N., Seceleanu I., 1990, Principles of Soil Classification in Romania, Rep. Int. Conf. on Soil Classification, Alma Ata (1988). Soil Survey Staff, 1999, Soil Taxonomy Agric., Handbook, 436, USDA, 869 pp.

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