ARegosol in theWorld Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB)[1] is very weakly developed mineralsoil inunconsolidated materials. Regosols are extensive ineroding lands, in particular inarid andsemi-arid areas and inmountain regions. Internationally, Regosols correlate with soil taxa that are marked by incipient soil formation such asEntisols in theUSDA soil taxonomy or Rudosols[2] and possibly some Tenosols[2] in theAustralian Soil Classification.
The group of Regosols is a taxonomic rest group containing all soils that could not be accommodated in any of the other groups. Excluded from the Regosols are weakly developed soils that classify asLeptosols (very shallow soils),Arenosols (sandy soils) orFluvisols (in recentalluvialdeposits). These soils have AC-profiles. Profile development is minimal as a consequence of young age and/or slowsoil formation.
Land use and management of Regosols vary widely. Some Regosols are used for capital-intensiveirrigatedfarming but the most common land use is low volumegrazing. Regosols in mountain areas are best left underforest.
Regosols occur in allclimate zones withoutpermafrost and at all elevations. Regosols are particularly common in arid areas, in thedry tropics and in mountain regions.
Regosols cover an estimated 260 million hectares worldwide, mainly in arid areas in the mid-western United States,Northern Africa, theNear East and Australia. Some 50 million hectares of Regosols occur in the wet/dry tropics, most especially in northern Australia, and another 36 million hectares in mountain areas.
