Gelisol Suborders
Histels- Gelisols with large quantities of organic matter
Turbels- Gelisols with evidence of extensive mixing by frost action
Orthels- Common gelisols that don’t have high quantities of OM or extensive mixing from frost
action
Histosol Suborders
~Folists- Histosols that aren’t saturated with water for long periods of
time during the year.
~Wassists- Histosols that are submerged for more than 21 hours a day
~Fibrists- Histosols that are primarily made up of slightly decomposed
OM called PEAT
~Saprists- Histosols made up of highly decomposed OM called MUCK
~Hemists- Histosols made up of moderately decomposed OM
Spodosol Suborders
• Aquods- Poorly drained Spodosols with a water table at or
near the surface for much of the year
• Gelods- Spodosols of very cold climates (mean annual soil
temperature less than 0 degrees C)
• Cryods- Spodosols of cold climates
• Humods- Well-drained Spodosols that contain relatively large
quantities of OM
• Orthods- Common Spodosols that don’t fit in any other
suborders
Andisol Suborders
• Aquands- Andisols with a water table at or near the surface for
much of the year
• Gelands- Andisols of very cold climates (mean annual soil
temperature less than or equal to 0 degrees C)
• Cryands- Andisols of cold climates
• Torrands- Andisols of very dry climates
• Xerands- Temperate Andisols with very dry summers and moist
winters
• Vitrands- Relatively young Andisols that are coarse- textured and
dominated by glass
• Ustands- Andisols of semi-arid and sub-humid climates
• Udands- Andisols of humid climates
Themes in the First 4 Main Orders
• Orth- doesn’t fit in any other suborder
• Aqu- water table at or near the surface
• Gel- very cold climates less than or equal to 0
degrees C
• Cry- cold climates