Soil Orders and Regions of Missouri
Description goes here. Click the map legend to navigate to a soil type.
Soil Orders Found In Missouri
Alfisols
Receive their name from the weathering of the Iron (Fe) and Aluminum (Al) out of the mineral structure. Alfisols are mature soils that are formed in humid climates with a downward movement of clayand and contain a slightly acidic subsoil compared to the acidic Ultisols. Alfisols are typically found in forested conditions containing either hardwood or deciduous trees. (Photo Courtesy of MCSS)
Ultisols
Are soils that formed under forest conditions in humid climates. The forests can be a mix of hardwood and coniferous trees, but typically the soil is acidic and is mostly coniferous. Ultisols contain a greater amount of iron and aluminum in the soil than Alfisols. Utlisols are found mostly in the Southeasten United States in Georgia and Alabama. (Photo Courtesy of MCSS)
Mollisols
Are softer soils due to the high amount of organic content. Mollisols are slightly acidic, contain good structure with a deep, thick, dark surface that is good for crop production. Mollisols are formed under native prairies and some poorly drained areas. (Photo Courtesy of MCSS)
Inceptisols
Inceptisols are soils that are more developed than Entisols. This soil ranges from low to high in natural fertility, and is used in the production of crops, forest, and range land. (Photo Courtesy of MCSS)
Entisols
Entisols are soils that are young or recent and have very little horizonation. They are typically found in flood plains and around cities due to their productivity for agriculture and access to water. Entisols are also formed under forests with the constant recharge of organic matter. (Photo Courtesy of MCSS)
Vertisols
Are clay soils with high shrink and swell potential. The soils have distinct wet and dry periods throughout the year, with deep cracks forming during the dry period. Vertisols develop from limestone, basalt, or other calcium and manesium rich parent materials. Vertisols are found in subhumid to semi-arid climates, and the most common vegetation is a grassland.
Vertisols occur in areas where the climate consists of several months of dry periods, which causes the clay to shrink and create deep, wide cracks. When precipitation occurs, the water enters the cracks causing the clay to swell. Because of the shrink and swell properties of Vertisols, road and building construction is extremely difficult.
Vertisols have been called 24-hour soils due to being too wet to plow one day and too dry the next. Vertisols have a high natural fertility, and the major land uses are for wetlands, crops, and range land. (Photo Courtesy of MCSS)
Histosols
Are organic soils fromed from materials high in organic content. Histosols are found in wetlands from the equator to the arctic regions. The organic deposits accumulate in marshes, swamps, and bogs from water loving plants like pond-weed and cattails.
Histosols range in color from black to dark brown, and have a high water-holding capacity. Histosols are better known as peat and found mostly in the glaciated areas of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York.
More than 50% of all wetlands in the U.S. have been drained for agricultural use. An example of drained wetlands in Missouri is the bootheel region in Southeast Missouri. This soil ranges from moderate to high in soil fertility, and the major land use is in wetlands and crops. (Photo Courtesy of NRCS)
Soil Orders Found Outside Missouri
Andisols
Are developed from volcanic activity and have low load bearing capacity, think of Jell-O, and slumps easily. Phosphorous is not available to plants due to the strong hold of Andisols on phosphorous. The major land uses being tundra, forest, and range land with moderate natural fertility. (Photo Courtesy of NRCS)
Aridsols
Are found in arid climates, warm and cool, but in the United States Aridsols are found in the Southwest through Western Montana and into Canada. Aridsols can have high native fertility, but also contain soluable components like carbonates, gypsum, and salts. Decent water quality and quantity is hard to come by due to dissolved salts and lack of precipitation. (Photo Courtesy of NRCS)
Gelisols
Contain permafrost within the upper 78 inches of the soil. Gelisols are known for the stability management issues and patterned ground formations that are created due to the freeze and thaw climate. The major land uses are bogs and tundra with moderate fertility. (Photo Courtesy of NRCS)
Oxisols
Are very old and highly weathered soils that are found in Central and South America. Oxisols contain large amounts of iron and aluminum oxides in the soil. Oxisols are found in tropical climates with the major land uses being forests and crops, but the soil contains low natural fertility. Slash and burn agriculture is practiced to add the needed nutrients to the soil so the land can be used to sustain agriculture. (Photo Courtesy of NRCS)
Spodosols
Contain accumulations of organic matter mixed with aluminum and iron oxides creating sandy, acidic soil. Spodosols are found monstly in cool humid or temperate climates,and are low in natural fertility with the major land use being coniferous forests. Spodosols can be used for agricultural purposes in the cultivation of potatos, blueberries, and acidic woody ornamental trees. (Photo Courtesy of NRCS)
