GT-0213 · Inceptisol
Totonicapán Inceptisol
A young soil only beginning to write its story.
Soil profile
Tap a horizon to see its details.
A0–18 cm
A thin layer under pine litter.
- Munsell colour
- 10YR 3/3
- Texture
- Loam
Bw18–65 cm
Colour and structure have changed, but no clay has accumulated yet.
- Munsell colour
- 7.5YR 4/4
- Texture
- Clay loam
BC65–95 cm
Weathered rock fragments within the fine earth.
- Munsell colour
- 7.5YR 5/4
- Texture
- Sandy loam
C95–130 cm
Deeply weathered rock that breaks apart by hand.
- Munsell colour
- 10YR 6/4
- Texture
- Loamy sand
This soil is like a small child, still growing. It lives on the mountain and, if the trees are taken away, the rain can wash it off.
Inceptisols are young soils with weakly developed horizons. On Highland slopes they form slowly while erosion carries part of the material away. Terraces, live barriers and plant cover help conserve them.
Core idea: slope and time limit soil development. Activity: simulate rain with a watering can over two tilted trays, one covered and one bare, and measure the sediment. Links to soil conservation.
Typic Dystrudept with a 47 cm cambic horizon and base saturation below 60%. Strongly acid reaction, moderate to low CEC. Capability limited by slope; highly susceptible to sheet and rill water erosion.
- USDA Soil Taxonomy
- Typic Dystrudept
- WRB 2022
- Dystric Cambisol (Loamic)
See the scientific data
Analytical data by horizon
| Horizon | Depth (cm) | Munsell colour | Texture | pH (H₂O) | O.M. % | CEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 0–18 | 10YR 3/3 | Loam | 5.4 | 4.1 | 21 |
| Bw | 18–65 | 7.5YR 4/4 | Clay loam | 5.6 | 1.8 | 17 |
| BC | 65–95 | 7.5YR 5/4 | Sandy loam | 5.8 | 0.7 | 12 |
| C | 95–130 | 10YR 6/4 | Loamy sand | 6 | 0.3 | 8 |
CEC: cmol(+)/kg
- 5.4A
- 5.6Bw
- 5.8BC
- 6C
- 4.1A
- 1.8Bw
- 0.7BC
- 0.3C
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