Orthic Black Chernozem (O.BLC)

Common horizon sequence: Ah, Bm Cca or Ck

The Orthic Black Chernozem subgroup may be thought of as the central concept of Black Chernozems. It encompasses the properties specified for the Chernozemic order and the Black Chernozem great group. Usually Orthic Black Chernozems have brownish-colored, prismatic B horizons, and light-colored horizons of carbonate accumulation similar to those of Orthic Brown Chernozems.

Orthic Black Chernozems are identified by the following properties:

1. They have a Chernozemic A horizon with a color value darker than 3.5 moist and dry.
2. They have a B horizon (Bm, Btj, Bt) at least 5 cm thick that does not contain alkaline earth carbonates.
3. They lack an eluvial horizon (Ahe, Ae, Aej) at least 2 cm thick.
4. They lack a Bnjtj or similar horizon characteristic of intergrades to the Solonetzic order.
5. They lack evidence of gleying as indicated by faint to distinct mottling within 50 cm of the mineral surface.

Note: Diagnostic horizons are underlined.

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