Technical Report

 
Standard profile descriptions 
 
The following information is collected for assembling standard profile descriptions: 

Depth intervals of horizons or layers (measured from the top of the mineral horizon) 

Horizon boundary characteristics 

Color 

Texture 

Structure, pores 

Consistence 

Distribution of Roots 

pH, effervescence 

Special features such as coatings, nodules, and concretions. 
 
12. Soil Site Characteristics
 
Soil site characteristics are as important as the profile description to a comprehensive soil description. 
Whereas, the profile description details the internal organization of the soil, a site description details 
the landscape of the soil.
Soil distribution is substantially determined by landscape features.
Some of the site characteristics important to a soil description are:
1. Relief 
2. Microrelief
3. Elevation
4. Slope (gradient, length, aspect, surface, configuration) 
5. Vegetation
6. Parent material 
7. Erosion

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4 
4 
8. Depth
It is beyond the scope of this manual to enumerate all the terms used to describe each of the site 
characteristics.
 
13. Relief & Microrelief 
In a broad sense, relief refers to the differences in elevations of landscape features. It is expressed in 
units appropriate to the scale of the landscape.
 
Microrelief refers to the differences in elevation of landscape features over distances of centimeters to 
meters. Microrelief would take into account small knolls and swales, coppice dunes, and gilgai.
 
14. Elevation
The soil elevation is the vertical distance of the soil above mean sea level.
This can be determined by locating the soil site on a topographic map.