The World Reference Base (2006) has 32 Reference Soil Groups (RSG) and thirteen of these are recognised in England and Wales. The following table details the RSG and the links correlate to the National Soil Associations in England and Wales.
AR |
Arenosol |
Relatively young soils or soils with little or no profile development; Sandy soils. |
CM |
Cambisol |
Relatively young soils or soils with little or no profile development; Moderately developed soils. |
FL |
Fluvisol |
Soils influenced by water; Floodplains, tidal marshes. |
GL |
Gleysol |
Soils influenced by water; Groundwater affected soils. |
HS |
Histosol |
Soils with thick organic layers. |
LP |
Leptosol |
Soils with limited rooting due to shallow permafrost or stoniness; Shallow or extremely gravelly soils. |
LV |
Luvisol |
Soils with a clay-enriched subsoil; High base status, high-activity clay. |
PH |
Phaeozem |
Accumulation of organic matter, high base status; Transition to more humid climate. |
PL |
Planosol |
Soils with stagnating water; Abrupt textural discontinuity. |
PZ |
Podzol |
Soils set by Fe/Al chemistry; Cheluviation and chilluviation. |
RG |
Regosol |
Relatively young soils or soils with little or no profile development; Soils with no significant profile development. |
ST |
Stagnosol |
Soils with stagnating water; Structural or moderate textural discontinuity. |
UM |
Umbrisol |
Relatively young soils or soils with little or no profile development; With an acidic dark topsoil. |
All information Copyright, Cranfield University © 2025
Citation: To use information from this web resource in your work, please cite this as follows:
Cranfield University 2025. The Soils Guide. Available: www.landis.org.uk. Cranfield University, UK. Last accessed 19/02/2025
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