Eutric Brunisol (EB)
These are Brunisolic soils that have a relatively high degree of base saturation as indicated by their pH and lack a well-developed mineral-organic surface horizon. They occur mainly on parent material of high base status under forest or shrub vegetation in a wide range of climates.
Eutric Brunisols have either a Bm, Bfj, or Btj horizon at least 5 cm thick, and a pH (0.01 M CaCl2) of 5.5 or more in some part or all of the uppermost 25 cm of the B horizon, or some part or all of the B horizon and the underlying material either to a total depth of 25 cm or to a lithic contact above that depth. Eutric Brunisols may have L, F, and H horizons, Ae or Aej horizons, and an Ah horizon less than 10 cm thick, but they do not have either Bt or podzolic B horizons. If cultivated, these soils are classified as Melanic Brunisols if the Ap horizon is at least 10 cm thick and has a moist color value less than 4 and part of the Bm, Bfj, or Btj remains below the Ap. They are classed as Eutric Brunisols if the Ap horizon does not meet the above specifications and part of the Bm horizon remains below the Ap. If the Ap includes all of the former B horizon, they are classified as Humic Regosols or Regosols, depending on the Ap.
Orthic Eutric Brunisol (O.EB)
Common horizon sequence: LFH, Bm, Ck or C
These soils have the general properties specified for the Brunisolic order and the Eutric Brunisol great group. Usually they have one or more organic surface horizons overlying a brownish-colored, base-saturated B horizon. The C horizon is commonly calcareous.
Orthic Eutric Brunisols are identified by the following properties:
- They have a pH (0.01 M CaCl2) of 5.5 or more as specified for the great group.
- They have a Bm horizon at least 5 cm thick.
- They lack an eluvial horizon, Ae or Aej, at least 2 cm thick.
- They lack mottles that indicate gleying as specified for Gleyed Melanic Brunisols.
- They lack an Ah horizon at least 10 cm thick and an Ap horizon at least 10 cm thick with a moist color value of 4 or less.
Eluviated Eutric Brunisol (E.EB)
Common horizon sequence: LFH, Ae or Aej, Bm or Btj, Ck or C
These soils have the general properties specified for soils of the Brunisolic order and the Eutric Brunisol great group. They differ from Orthic Eutric Brunisols by having an eluvial horizon, Ae or Aej, at least 2 cm thick. The underlying horizon may be a Btj with thin clay skins on some surfaces or, less commonly, a Bfj. Otherwise, they have the diagnostic properties of Orthic Eutric Brunisols.
Gleyed Eutric Brunisol (GL.EB)
Common horizon sequence: LFH, Bmgj, Cgj or Cg or Ckg
These soils have the general properties specified for soils of the Brunisolic order and the Eutric Brunisol great group. They differ from Orthic Eutric Brunisols by having faint to distinct mottles within 50 cm of the mineral surface, or distinct or prominent mottles at depths of 50-100 cm. Otherwise, they have the diagnostic properties of Orthic Eutric Brunisols.
Gleyed Eluviated Eutric Brunisol (GLE.EB)
Common horizon sequence: LFH, Ae or Aegj, Bmgj or Btjgj, Cgj or Cg or Ckg
These soils have the general properties specified for soils of the Brunisolic order and the Eutric Brunisol great group. They differ from Eluviated Eutric Brunisols by having mottles that indicate gleying. Gleyed Eluviated Eutric Brunisols have either an Ae or an Aej horizon at least 2 cm thick and mottles as specified for Gleyed Eutric Brunisols.
Note: Diagnostic horizons are underlined.