PEDOLOGIC CLASSIFICATION OF PEAT

Peat is classified in the order Histosols in the U.S. Department of Agriculture pedologic classification system. Histosols constitute one of the 10 orders of the hierarchical system that was developed from 1951 to 1974. (It was published as Soil Taxonomy, A Basic System of Soil Classification for Making and Interpreting Soil Survey, USDA Agriculture Handbook 436, 1975.) Histosols, unlike other soils, developed primarily from organic parent material and are saturated with water unless they are artificially drained. They are characterized by low bulk densities and are subject to large degrees of subsidence when drained; therefore, they present unique problems for use and management. The formation of Histosols, the differentiae used in classification, and the properties identified that affect engineering use are discussed.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1984/978/978-008.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=PEDOLOGIC+CLASSIFICATION+OF+PEAT&author=R.+Fenwick&author=W.+Reybold&publication_year=1984
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Exploration and Classification of Earth Materials. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Fenwick, Richard W
  • Reybold, William U
• Conference:
  • 63rd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1984-1-16 to 1984-1-20
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 54-56
• Monograph Title: Construction and difficult geology: karstic limestone, permafrost, wetlands, and peat deposits
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 978
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Organic soils; Peat; Soil types; Subsidence
• Uncontrolled Terms: Soil classification
• Old TRIS Terms: Blight
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I41: General Soil Surveys;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00396855
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309037603
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jan 31 1986 12:00AM