3.A depth of 150 cm if the base of the deepest diagnostic horizon is less than 150 cm from the soil surface; or

4.The lower boundary of the deepest diagnostic horizon or a depth of 200 cm, whichever is shallower, if the lower boundary of the deepest diagnostic horizon is 150 cm or more below the soil surface.

In the semi-detailed soil survey of Kuwait (KISR 1999b), series criteria were used from 1–2 m depths. In most the soil series identified in Kuwait, family criteria were sufficient to establish soil series. In others, following series criteria (1–2 m) were used, except where otherwise stated:

–Sandy, gypsic horizon

–Sodic [SAR > 13 (mmoles/l)0.5]

–Calcic horizon (0–1 m)

–Coarse-loamy or fine loamy, gypsic horizon

–Coarse-loamy, gypsic horizon

–Coarse-loamy, calcic horizon

–Fine-loamy, gypsic horizon

–On sandstone

–Sandy, gypsic horizon or petrogypsic horizon

–Sandy, lithic contact

–Sandy or coarse-loamy, petrocalcic horizon

–Sandy

–Lithic contact (50–100 cm)

More details about the soil series taxa and series differentia criteria can be found in Chap. 6.

References

KISR (1999a) Soil survey for the state of Kuwait: reconnaissance survey, vol II & III. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait

KISR (1999b) Soil survey for the state of Kuwait: semi-detailed survey, vol IV & V. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait

Soil Survey Staff (1999) Soil taxonomy: a basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys, 2nd edn. US Department of Agriculture Handbook 436. Natural Resources Conservation Service

Soil Survey Staff (2014) Keys to soil taxonomy, 12th edn. US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC

Citrullus colocynthis grows on sandy or silty ground, particularly in wadis and depressions

Abstract

In this chapter, key to soil taxonomy hierarchy of Kuwait, from order-suborder-great group-subgroup are described. At the higher level of soil taxonomy, of 12 soil orders reported in US keys to soil taxonomy, only two soil orders (Aridisols and Entisols) have been identified in Kuwait. Entisols cover 30% and Aridisols cover 70% of the area surveyed. Within the soil order Aridisols, the soil taxa have been described as suborders, great groups and subgroups, such as, Suborders (Argids, Calcids, Cambids, Gypsids, Salids), Great Groups (Calciargids, Gypsiargids, Haplargids, Haplocalcids, Petrocalcids, Haplocambids, Argigypsids, Calcigypsids, Haplogypsids, Petrogypsids, Aquisalids), and Subgroups (Arenic Calciargids, Typic Calciargids, Typic Gypsiargids, Typic Haplargids, Typic Haplocalcids, Calcic Petrocalcids, Typic Petrocalcids, Typic Haplocambids, Calcic Salidic Argigypsids, Calcic Argigypsids, Lithic Calcigypsids, Typic Calcigypsids, Leptic Salidic Haplogypsids, Leptic Haplogypsids, Typic Haplogypsids, Petrocalcic Petrogypsids, Calcic Salidic Petrogypsids, Calcic Petrogypsids, Typic Petrogypsids, Gypsic Aquisalids, Typic Aquisalids). Haplosalids are not recorded in the soil survey for the state of Kuwait, but are likely to be recorded in future soil survey work in Kuwait, therefore, these are also added in this chapter. Within the order Entisols, the soil taxa have been described as Suborders (Orthents, Psamments), Great Groups (Torriorthents, Torripsamments), Subgroups (Salidic Torriorthents, Typic Torriorthents, Lithic Torripsamments, and

Switzerland AG 2022

S. A. Shahid and S. A. S. Omar, Kuwait Soil Taxonomy, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95297-6_5