Solonetzic Dark Brown Chernozem (SZ.DBC)
Common horizon sequence: Ah, Ae, Btnj or Btjnj, Csa or Ck
These soils have the general properties specified for the Chernozemic order and the Dark Brown Chernozem great group. They differ from Orthic Dark Brown Chernozems by having properties indicative of intergrading to the Solonetzic order. Specifically, they have a Bnj, Btjnj, or Btnj horizon and may have Ae, AB, and saline C horizons. The B horizon usually has prismatic structure with hard consistence. The prisms usually break to blocky secondary structural units having shiny, dark coatings. The eluvial horizon that occurs in some Solonetzic Dark Brown Chernozems may be similar to that described for the Eluviated Dark Brown Chernozem subgroup. Solonetzic Dark Brown Chernozems are usually associated with saline materials. Thus their B horizons usually have a higher proportion of exchangeable Na or Na and Mg than is characteristic of Orthic Dark Brown Chernozems.
Note: Diagnostic horizons are underlined.