In Europe an abundance of humus taxonomies exists starting with early approaches in the late 19th century. Frequently used in an international context, they do not cover all site conditions in the European area. Although having basic... more
In Europe an abundance of humus taxonomies exists starting with early approaches in the late 19th century. Frequently used in an international context, they do not cover all site conditions in the European area. Although having basic concepts and general lines, the European (and North American, Canadian) classification systems differ in important parameters used for the description and classification of humus forms. These discrepancies result in incongruities, so they require adjustments when exchanging partially compatible soil data, even between nearby countries. In 2003, 26 European specialists in humus forms met in Trento (Italy) and decided to formulate rules of classification based on morphogenetic descriptions and diagnostic horizons, adapted to European ecological conditions. Taking into account old and new European and North American systems of humus forms classification, six main references (Anmoor, Mull, Moder, Mor, Amphi and Tangel) were defined, each of them further div...
Research Interests: Soil Dynamics, Environmental Soil Science, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Classification, and 15 moreLitter, Soil Carbon, Humus, Soil Classification, Litter Decomposition, Soil Animals, Humus Forms, European humus forms, Humus Diagnostic Horizons, North American, Soil Biological Activity, Biological activity, Organic Matter, GEODERMA, and Hierarchical Structure
Research Interests:
The morpho-functional classification of humus forms proposed in a previous issue by Zanella and collabora- tors for Europe has been extended and modified, without any change in diagnostic horizons, in order to em- brace a wide array of... more
The morpho-functional classification of humus forms proposed in a previous issue by Zanella and collabora- tors for Europe has been extended and modified, without any change in diagnostic horizons, in order to em- brace a wide array of humus forms at worldwide level and to complete and make more effective the World Reference Base for Soil Resources. For that purpose 31 Humus Form Reference Groups (HFRGs) and a set of prefix and suffix qualifiers are proposed, following the rules erected for the WRB. An exhaustive classification key, respecting the principles of WRB, is suggested and examples of classification are given for some already well known humus forms.