pedon

pedology

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July 16, 2026

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soil profile The soil profile, showing the major layers from the O horizon (organic material) to the R horizon (consolidated rock). A pedon is the smallest unit of land surface that can be used to study the characteristic soil profile of a landscape.

Pedology is the scientific study of soils, encompassing their physical and chemical properties, the influence of organisms, and their formation and mapping. A key concept within pedology is the pedon, which is defined as the smallest unit of landscape that can be considered soil. A pedon's depth extends to the boundary between soil and non-soil material, like bedrock, and its lateral dimensions are sufficient to study its horizons, typically 1 to 10 square meters. Horizons are distinct layers within a soil profile, each with unique characteristics developed over time. Soils are often found as groups of similar pedons called polypedons, which are large enough to be classified taxonomically. The term "ped" itself refers to a natural soil aggregate.1234

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soil
Pedons and polypedons
Soils are natural elements of weathered landscapes whose properties may vary spatially. For scientific study, however, it is useful to think of soils as unions of modules known as pedons. A pedon is the smallest element of landscape that can be called…
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Soils are natural elements of weathered landscapes whose properties may vary spatially. For scientific study, however, it is useful to think of soils as unions of modules known as pedons. A pedon is the smallest element of landscape that can be called…
Read More