Bodenprofilen

Bodenprofilen, often referred to in English as the soil profile, is the vertical sequence of horizons that develop from the surface downward into the underlying parent material. A profile is examined as a whole to understand the history of soil formation and to assess its properties and behavior, such as water movement, nutrient availability, and rooting depth.

Typical horizons encountered in a profile include the O horizon (surface organic layer), the A horizon (mineral topsoil with organic matter), the E horizon (eluviated layer where clay and organic matter have been leached), the B horizon (subsoil with accumulations such as clay, iron, or organic compounds), the C horizon (partly weathered parent material), and the R horizon (unaltered bedrock). Transitions between horizons are common, and transitional horizons (for example AB or BC) as well as subhorizons such as Bt (illuvial clay) may be present. The exact arrangement and presence of horizons vary with climate, vegetation, and parent material.

Describing a Bodenprofilen involves noting the depth to each horizon boundary, thickness, color (often using the Munsell system), texture, structure, root density, moisture, and signs of chemical processes like mottling or carbonates. Field methods include digging or augering to expose a profile, followed by sampling for laboratory analyses when needed.

Applications of soil profiles include informing agricultural and forestry practices, land-use planning, environmental assessments, and engineering assessments. In soil classification systems, the observed horizon sequence and properties in a Bodenprofilen contribute to assigning a soil type within frameworks such as the World Reference Base for Soil Resources or Soil Taxonomy.