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| Aridisol | |
|---|---|
 an aridisol profile | |
| Used in | USDA soil taxonomy |
| Key process | soil carbonoxidation |
| Climate | desert,semi-arid |
Aridisols (ordesert soils) are a soil order inUSDA soil taxonomy.[1] Aridisols (from the Latinaridus, for "dry", andsolum) form in an arid or semi-arid climate. Aridisols dominate thedeserts and xeric shrublands, which occupy about one-third of the Earth's land surface. Aridisols have a very low concentration oforganic matter, reflecting the paucity of vegetative production on these dry soils. Water deficiency is the central defining characteristic of Aridisols. Also required is sufficient age to exhibitsubsoil weathering and development. Limited leaching in aridisols often results in one or more subsurface soil horizons in which suspended or dissolved minerals have been deposited: silicate clays, sodium, calcium carbonate, gypsum, or soluble salts. These subsoil horizons can also becemented by carbonates, gypsum, or silica. Accumulation of salts on the surface can result insalinization.
In theWorld Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB), most Aridisols belong to theCalcisols,Gypsisols,Durisols andSolonchaks.[2]
