humus group - Territorio e Sistemi agro-forestali - Università degli ...

Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali
Università degli studi di Padova
Trento, 2003
BIOEMCO - UPMC
SCIENTIFIC DAYS 2011–2012
A proposal for including
humus forms in the World
Reference Base for Soil
Resources (WRB-FAO)
augusto.zanella@unipd.it

Trento
2003
Stato dell’arte
origin of the
Humus Group
Freibourg
Eurosoil 2004
Vienna
2004
First common
key (AMPHI)
and paper
HUMUS Group
San Vito
2005
AMPHI
HISTO
TANGEL
18° World Congress
of Soil Science 2006
Philadelphia
2006
Poster for the
Congress
Cagliari
2007
Mediterranean
ecosystems
(FAO vocabulary)
HUMUS GROUP structure and functioning:
- No pyramidal structure
- No classic organisation, no chief or president, no...
- When matter is ready for discussion, every member should organisea meeting with
the whole HG, or with a group of interested people
- If results, then diffusion:
1. A European morpho-functional classification of humus forms. (GEODERMA, 2011)
2. European Humus Forms Reference Base (2011).. http://hal.archivesouvertes.fr/docs/00/56/17/95/PDF/Humus_Forms_ERB_31_01_2011.pdf
3. Humus Form ERB. A European Reference Base for humus forms: proposal for a morphofunctional
classification (2010).. http://hal.archivesouvertes.fr/docs/00/54/14/96/PDF/Humus_Forms_ERB.pdf
4. Terrestrial Humus Forms: Ecological Relevance and Classification. European. (Atlas of Soil
Biodiversity 2010). .
5. Towards a European humus forms reference base, (Studi trentinidi Scienze naturali, 2009)
6. Towards a European classification of forest humus forms. Eurosoil - Freiburg. September
4-12. Symposium 09 - Forest soil Monday 6th: 9.30-9.50 (2004). http;//www.bobenkunde.unifreiburg.de/eurosoil.
Three not well defined Commissions (classification, vocabulary, diffusion)
Eurosoil 2008
Vienna
Workshop:
Leptoforms
Rhizo, Ligno,
Hydroforms
Paris
Trento
2008 2009-2011
Diffusion
3 papers
- European Geosciences Union
General Assembly 2012
- Bari (Italy): Eurosoil 2012

1. What’s a humus form (HF) ?
a. A European key of classification of HF, why ?
b. Field reality, mind concepts
2. Process of classification of HF
a. Soil profile and diagnostic horizons
b. Are there special series of horizons, series more important than others ?
Why ?
c. How can we circumscribe these particular series ?
3. A European Humus group and step by step solution:
1. Trento, Vienna: diagnostic horizons, main terrestrial HF…
2. San Vito: Histoforms, Tangel, vocabulary, diffusion, biological overview, ….
3. Cagliari: Mediterranean systems, Amphi, A structure, FAOwrb concepts, …
4. Vienna, Paris: general tree, rhizo, ligno, hydro, enti….
5. Attempt to include the European humus forms classification in
the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB-FAO)

Main diagnostic horizons of a SOIL PROFILE
Semiterrestrial
(with water)
OLg
OFg
OHg
Hf
Hm
Hs
Hsl
Aa, Ag
Sg, Bg, g, G
Cg, Mg, Dg
R
OL
OF
OH
A organo-mineral
B, E, S
C, M, D
R
Terrestrial
(with air)
mineral
Humus form
Soil profile

HUMUS FORM
OL
OF
OH
A
B
HUMUS FORM
Organic and
organomineral
part
of soil
Dark part
of soil

Plant
cover
Living
soil
Mineral
material
Climate
Litter
Recognizable remains
Inherited or newly
formed mineral particles
Rock fragments
TIME
Humic component
Mineral component
Figure 1. Vocabulary and dynamic formation of a sample of topsoil.
FUNGAL (non faunal) dominant process
Non zoogenically transformed material
OR
ANIMAL (faunal) dominant process
Zoogenically transformed material
OL
OF
OH
A
Organic and
organo-mineral
HORIZONS

HORIZONS

AMPHI
AC
A1
C
OF
A2
OH

Sfogliatura di orizzonti
Unveiling diagnostic horizons
OLn OLv OF A

OL
OF
OH
Sal
Ami
Gradual transition

OH
E
MOR

10
90
Figure 2
70%
30 %
OL OF OH
% volume roots excluded
OL – OF - OH
30
70
HUMIC COMPONENTS (HC) = Small particles
of organic remains and/or grains of organic or
organo-mineral matter mostly comprised of
animal droppings of different sizes. The
original organs which compose the litter and
generate the small particles (free or
incorporated in animal faeces) are not
recognizable by the naked eye or with a 5-10 X
magnifying hand lens. Bound mineral particles
can be visible within the mass. Well
decomposed organic substrate is generally
100% humic component. However, the
generated humic component can also be in the
hemorganic (A) and organic (OL, OF, OH)
horizons.
RECOGNIZABLE REMAINS (RR) = Organic
remains like leaves, needles, roots, bark, twigs
and wood, fragmented or not, whose original
organs are recognizable by the naked eye or
with a 5-10 X magnifying hand lens. Fresh litter
is generally 100% recognizable remains.

Earthworms
like that
San Vito, 2005
Ils sont fous
ces
Romains

OL
A
BIOMACROSTRUCTURE
MULL

1
cm
BIOMESOSTRUCTURE

1
cm
BIOMICROSTRUCTURE

sample
box
rubber ring
spring
1) sample in the box
(Ø 2 - 3,5 cm)
2) let fall the box 5 times
1 jump = 100g/1,5 m
(sample + box) system
1 cm3
(1,5 Kg)
2 Kg

STRUCTURE = a SCALE problem
Our approach concerns the space having dimensions from 1/10 of mm to 1-2 cm
R. Secco
h = 2m
1) sample in the ball (Ø 3 cm)
2) Let fall the ball 3 times
Force against the sample = 1N (= a weight of
100g on the sample)
Observation of the sample:
magnitude from 10X to 50X

1 cm
1 cm
1 mm
1 mm
micro
meso

4
4
5
6
Diplopods
1 cm
Epigeic
1 3
2
earthworms
2
Encytraeids
3 6
Insect larves 4
2
8
7
4
7
8
Acarians
Chilopods
Isopods
Spiders
1
3
5
6
7
8

MICRO
Enchytreids, Epigeic
earthworms and
Microarthropods
0.5
Ø 1 mm
MACRO
Anecic and
Endogeic
earthworms
2
Ø >1-3 mm
MESO
Endogeic and Epigeic earthworms,
Arthropods and Enchytreids
3
5
Ø >1- 4 mm
Ø 4 mm
Ø >= 4 mm
Ø

Humic component on a palm hand.
This scrap of OH horizon is mostly
composed of minute animal
(arthropod and enchytraeid)
droppings. It also corresponds to a
sample of zoogenically transformed
material.
Non-zoogenically transformed material.
Dry or cold climate, acidity,
unpalatibility of the substrate,
introduction of new and unadapted
species (here the case of an organic
topsoil in an artificial stand of Pinus
radiata in substitution of a natural
Quercus ilex forest) lags behind the
arrival of pedofauna. The
decomposition of the organic substrate
is essentially due to fungal attack.

Lophodermium piceae
Marasmius androsaceus Thysanophora penicilloides
?
Mushrooms in a MOR on spruce needles

OF
Figure 3
zo
% volume
roots excluded
90
10
noz
OFzo : zoogenic transformed material >
10 % of the volume of the horizon after
removing living roots.
OFnoz : non zoogenic transformed
material >= 90 % of the volume of the
horizon after removing living roots.
ZOOGENIC TRANSFORMED MATERIAL = RECOGNIZABLE
REMAINS AND HUMIC COMPONENTS processed by animals
= leaves, needles and other plant residues more or less degraded
by soil animals, mixed with animal droppings. A fine powdered
and/or grained structure (less than 1 mm) is typical in a terminal
stage of faunal attack in an organic horizon. At this last level of
biotransformation, the substrate (OH horizon) is essentially
comprised of organic animal droppings of varying size (droppings
of epigeic earthworms, macroarthropods such as millipedes,
woodlice and insect larvae, microarthropods such as mites and
springtails and enchytraeids dominate). Within hemorganic
horizons, animal activity leads to different types of A horizons,
depending on the animals’ ability to dig into the mineral soil and
thoroughly mix organic and mineral matter.
NON ZOOGENIC TRANSFORMED MATERIAL = REMAINS AND
HUMIC COMPONENT processed by fungi or other non-faunal
processes = leaves, needles and other plant residues more or
less fragmented and transformed into fibrous matter by fungi.
Recognizable and recent animal droppings are absent or not
detectable by the naked eye in the organic horizons; fungal
hyphae can be recognized as white, brown or yellow strands
permeating the organic or hemorganic substrates; traces of animal
activity (old bite marks, mucus) may sometimes be detectable but
are always marginal. In the last stage of biodegradation of an
organic horizon, non zoogenic substance may essentially be
composed of brown, dry plant residues more or less in powder
form or tiny fragments (OF and OH horizons), or be massive like a
dark wet plastic clay (OH or very organic A horizons).

Amphi
WANTED
dead or alive
Alpenmoder or Tangel ? What’s a Tangel ?
Wien, 2004
Mor-Moder with large earthworms,
is-it possible ? Yes it is. Why ?

TANGEL AMPHI MULL MODER MOR
horizon pedofauna tr eu tr eu eu tr eu tr tr
eu
OL
OFzo
OH
OFnoz
miA
meA
maA
Anoz
Epigeic earthworms
and/or Arthropods
and/or Enchytraeids
Non zoogenic
Epigeic earthworms
and/or Arthropods
and/or Enchytraeids
Epigeic (epi-endogeic, epianecic)
Endogeic (polyhumic,
mesohumic, endo-anecic,
oligohumic)
Endogeic (endo-anecic,
oligohumic)
Anecic earthworms
Non zoogenic
Asg or Ams

SERIES

optimal
conditions
MULL
HUMUS DA LOMBRICHI
Suoli bruni
Clima, Substrato, Vegetazione Pedoclima
MU lomb
MU erde
sfavorevoli
favorevoli
MOG artro
MOF artro
(+ artro)
from SUSMEL L. (1962) lessons
according to HARTMANN F.
(evolution of an Italian/Austrian model)
MO artro mic
MU lomb
melanizz
HUMUS ZOOGENICO GEMELLARE ?
Suoli calcarei e umocalcarei
MODER
HUMUS ZOOGENICO GEMELLARE ?
Suoli desaturati
caldo, siccità estiva;
roccia carbonatica
hot,
dry,
calcareous
uneasy
conditions
FUNGI
uneasy
conditions
fresco
secco
MOF artro MOF artro
MU artro MU artro
MU lomb
freddo, breve stagione
vegetativa; degrado;
roccia acida
cold,
rainy,
acid
MO mic
To S mic
MOG artro
MOF artro
MOR
HUMUS MICOGENICO
TORBA SECCA FORESTALE
Suoli acidi e Podzol
da LOMBRICHI da LOMBRICHI (CaCO3) da ARTROPODI da ARTROPODI e MICETI ERDE TORBOSA
E To
cold, dry
DYSMODER ?
HUMUS DA ARTROPODI
Suoli acidi
MU = Mull = dejections, the whole horizon
MOG = Moder Grossolano = droppings< 50% vol.
MOF = Moder Fine = droppings >50% vol.
To = Torba = Peat; lomb = lombric; artro = arthropods;
mic = mycogenic

Hypothetical
evolutionary lines and
“WELLS” in a model of
four humus forms
2 - UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS for
ANECIC WORMS but important
MESOFAUNA like Arthropods and
Enchytreids
Ex. Input: Filtering sandy rocks,
raining climate, mixed forest,
broadleafed and coniferous
Output: (Eluviation), Acidification,
LUVISOL, Dystric CAMBISOL
3 - VERY
UNFAVOURABLE
CONDITIONS for animal
activity
Ex. Input: Acid substrate
Cold climate,
Coniferous forest
Output: Podzolisation,
Haplic PODZOL, Umbric
LEPTOSOL
MOR
MODER
MULL
1 - NO CLIMATIC and
NUTRITIONAL
CONSTRAINTS for
biological activity
Ex. Input: Neutral rock
Temperate climate
Broad-leaved forest
Output: Brunification
CAMBISOL
Freiburg, 2004
4 -PERIODIC
UNFAVOURABLE
AMPHI
CLIMATIC
CONDITIONS on
Calcareous
substrate
Ex. Input : Mediterranean climate and
vegetation, low mountain ranges
Output: Calcification, Melanisation
Rendzic LEPTOSOL, PHAEOZEM

Tangelhumus in the Alps / Baier, R., E. Kolb
How to place Tangel in the scheme of
humus forms?
• Tangel is characterized by shallow/lacking Ah horizons.
• Tangel is dominated by arthropodes. Lumbricides participation is of
minor importance.
In an Amphi arthropodes (Oh) and Lumbricides (Ah) are important.
From: Katzensteiner, K., H. Hager, M. Englisch, 2005.
Main humus forms: stages of
high probability in the continuum
of organic matter decay.
Conclusion: Tangel is no Amphi due to lacking „twin“ characteristics.

Possible definition for Tangel?
• Tangel is a zoogenous (arthropods are dominant) humus form
overlaying coarse debris or solid bedrocks.
• An underlaying mineral horizon is shallow or lacking.
• The parent material is slowly decomposing (litter originating from
mountain pine, spruce and even beech – always mountainous belt).
Definition
A
OH

Con la FAO si
va meglio
E dove
andiamo ?
Cagliari, 2007

pH A
H 2O
GRAVITY
CENTERS
9
8
7
6
4
3
5
MOR
TANGEL
-5 0 10 15
AMPHI
20
MODER
Annual temperature (°C)
25
30
MULL
100
0
2500
2000
1500 Annual
1000 rainfall (mm)

Cold
calcareous
deviation
TANGEL
dys
eu
Periodical dryness
Calcic melanisation
AMPHI
eumeso
pachy
lepto
eumacro
Temperate
neutral
attractor
MULL
eu
meso
oligo dys
Eluviation
Podzolisation
MODER
eu
hemi
dys
MOR
hemi
humi
arthropods enchytraeids arthropods, enchytraeids
epigeic earthworms epigeic earthw..
endogeic earthworms
anecic earthworms
eu
fungi
Cold
acid
deviation

HORIZON
On
OLv
OF
noz
OF
zo
TANGEL AMPHI MULL MODER MOR
dys eu pachy
OH OH > 2xA
Trans
< 5
mm
≥ 3
cm
eu
meso
< 3
cm
eu
macro
≥ 1
cm
lepto oligo eu meso dys hemi eu dys hemi humi eu
< 1
cm
disc
pock
disc
pock
disc
pock
≥ 5 mm < 5 mm < 3 mm ≥ 5 mm < 3 mm Trans
Anoz msA sgA, msA
miA
meA or
mi A and/or
meA
or only meA
A ≥ OH/2
disc
pock
≤ 1
cm
> 1
cm
disc
pock
disc
pock
disc
pock
A absent = E
or sgA, or msA,
HORIZON
OLn
OLv
OF
noz
OF
zo
OH
zo
Anoz
or or possible miA
or or meA
maA A ≥ OH/2 maA
pH A
H 2O
≥ 5 < 5
23/04/2010
pH A
H 2O

A
OF
B
OH
OL
OFg
OHg
Aa
OLg

Hf
Hfs
Hszo
Hsnoz
Hsl
Aa
Ag
HISTO
MOR
HISTO
MODER
HISTO
AMPHI
ANMOOR
fibri humi fibri humi mesi sapri fibri humi mesi sapri limi
limi sapri eu
I
II
II
I
III
III
I
II
I
II
II
I
II II
III
II
I I I
I>II>III = hierarchical order of thickness
( ) = possible
HISTO
MULL
I
(II)
I
(II)
(II)
II
I
(II)
II
I

RHIZO
Mor
Epi
Terro
Moder
Tangel
Amphi
Amphi
Mull
Mull
Moder
Mor
ENTI
Hydro
Anmoor
Histo
LIGNO

New starting point, 2005

TERRO
ENTI
Litho
Peyro
Psammo
PARA
Rhizo
Ligno
HISTO
HYDRO
Anmoor
Amphi
Mull
Moder
Mor
Eu
Sapri
Limi
Limi
Sapri
Humi
Mesi
Fibri
Sapri
Humi
Mesi
Fibri
Mesi
Fibri
Tangel
Mor
Moder
Mull
Amphi
EPIHISTO
Anmoor
Mor
Moder
Mull
Amphi
Litho- or
Peyro- or
Psammo-
Tangel
Mor
Moder
Mull
Amphi
Rhizo- or
Ligno-
Tangel
Mor
Moder
Mull
Amphi
Dys
Eu
Pachy
Eumeso
Eumacro
Lepto
Oligo
Eu
Meso
Dys
Hemi
Eu
Dys
Hemi
Humi
Eu
Tangel
Amphi
Mull
Moder
Mor
Epihisto-
(Histo-)
(Terro-)
Hydro-

32WRB - Soil REFERENCES – 34 RP

FAO WRB
Ex.: Albic LUVISOL (Arenic)

Prefix qualifiers:
haplic, lithic, peyric, psammic, rhizic, lignic, bryoic
hydric, epihistic, anrthric
stagnic, gleyic,
Ex.:
Lithic, rhizic
(Suffix qualifiers):
EUMODER (humic, umbric)
andic, alcalic, clayic, eutric, hypereutric, humic, hyperhumic ,
mollic, umbric, pachic….
ENTIHUMUS
PARAHUMUS
DYSTANGEL
EUTANGEL
PACHYAMPHI
EUMESOAMPHI
EUMACROAMPHI
LEPTOAMPHI
OLIGOMULL
EUMULL
MESOMULL
DYSMULL
HEMIMODER
EUMODER
DYSMODER
HEMIMOR
HUMIMOR
EUMOR
EUANMOOR
SAPRIANMOOR
LIMIANMOOR
LIMIMULL
SAPRIMULL
HUMIAMPHI
MESIAMPHI
FIBRIAMPHI
SAPRIMODER
HUMIMODER
MESIMODRE
FIBRIMODER
MESIMOR
FIBRIMOR
1 +
2 +
16 +
14
Absence of diagnostic horizons or total thickness
of diagnostic horizons (OH + OF + A) < 2 cm
Humus profile with lignic, rhizic or bryoic material
over more than 2/3 of thickness
= 32 HUMUS REFERENCES

• The classification will be updated every 2 years.
• Interested people are invited to collaborate and/or to test the
classification system in various field areas.
• The 10 basic references for humus forms are the result of a
corresponding number of processes of soil organic matter
biodegradation: 5 terrestrial (Tangel, Amphi, Mull, Moder e Mor)
and 5 semiterrestrial (Anmoor, Mull, Amphi, Moder and Mor)
forms.
• Presently the Humus group is assessing environmental
(vegetation, soil, biome), biological (fungi, bacteria, pedofauna),
physical (air temperature, rainfall) and chemical (pH, mineral
elements, quality and quantity of humic molecules…) factors
which characterize basic humus forms and their varieties.
• Every contribution to this topic is welcome
(contact: augusto.zanella@unipd.it).

On behalf of the HUMUS GROUP,
60 participants, 12 country:
Adriano Garlato (Italy), Andrea Squartini (Italy), Alain Brethes (France), Andrea Vacca (Italy),
Augusto Zanella (Italy), Anna Andreatta (Italy), Bas Van Delft (The Netherlands), Bernard Jabiol
(France), Diego Pizzeghello (Italy), Eckart Kolb (Germany), Elena Vendramin (Italy), Emil Klimo
(Czech Republic), Erik Karltun (Sweden), Erwin Mayer (Austria), Eva Ritter (Finland), Fabrice
Bureau (France), Fausto Fontanella (Italy), Gabriele Broll (Germany), Gerhard Milbert (Germany),
Giacomo Sartori (Italy), Gianluca Serra (Italy), Giuseppe Concheri (Italy), Hannu Jlvesniemi
(Finland), Hans-Joerg Brauckmann (Germany), Herbert Hager (Austria), Jan Sevink (The
Netherlands), Jean-François Ponge (France), Jarmila Lesna (Czech republic), Jean Jacques Brun
(France), Klaus Katzensteiner (Austria), Lars Lundin (Sweden), Lauric Cécillon (France), Linda
Scattolin (Italy), Lorenzo Frizzera (Italy), Lucio Montecchio (Italy), Marija Grozeva Sokolovska
(Bulgaria), Michael Aubert (France), Michael English (Austria), Miglena Zhiyanki (Bulgaria), Mirco
Rodeghiero (Italy), Nathalie Cassagna (France), Nathalie Cools (Belgium), Paola Galvan (Italy),
Paolo Carletti (Italy), Raimo Kolli (Estonia), Rainer Baritz (Germany), Rein de Waal (The
Netherlands), Roberto Menardi (Italy), Roberto Secco (Italy), Roberto Zampedri (Italy), Roger
Langohr (Belgium), Roland Baier (Germany), Rolf Kemmers (The Netherland), Serenella Nardi
(Italy), Silvia Chersich (Italy), Silvia Obber (Italy), Tomaz Kralj (Slovenia), Ugo Wolf (Italy), Ulfert
Graefe (Germany).