Leptosol
A Leptosol in the
Arabian deserts. Elsewhere, Leptosols can be found on hard rocks or where erosion has kept pace with soil formation or removed the top of the soil. In the FAO soil classification for the FAO/UNESCO Soil Map of the World (1974) the Leptosols on calcareous rock were called Rendzinas, those on acid rock were Rankers. The very shallow, less than 10 cm deep, Lithic Leptosols in mountain regions are the most extensive Leptosols on Earth
.
Leptosols are unattractive soils for rainfed agriculture because of their inability to hold water,[1] but may sometimes have potential for tree crops or extensive grazing. Leptosols are best kept under forest.
See also
- Pedogenesis
- Pedology (soil study)
- Soil classification
References
- IUSS Working Group WRB: World Reference Base for Soil Resources, fourth edition. International Union of Soil Sciences, Vienna 2022. ISBN 979-8-9862451-1-9 ([1]).
- ^ Leptosols Archived 2012-03-31 at the Wayback Machine
Further reading
- W. Zech, P. Schad, G. Hintermaier-Erhard: Soils of the World. Springer, Berlin 2022, Chapter 11.3.1. ISBN 978-3-540-30460-9
External links
- profile photos (with classification) WRB homepage
- profile photos (with classification) IUSS World of Soils