The basic sampling unit, in soil surveys representing all the characteristics and variability used for classification, is
A) soil profile.
B) pedon.
C) soil horizon.
D) polypedon.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A pedon is a small area of land that represents the essential characteristics and variability of a soil type. It includes all horizons (layers) of soil and their properties. Sampling and analyzing a pedon is the fundamental unit used in developing soil classifications and mapping soil surveys. Soil profiles (A), soil horizons (C), and polypedons (D) are all components of a pedon, but they do not represent the entire suite of soil properties and variability that a pedon does.

The Basic Sampling Unit, in Soil Surveys Representing All the Characteristics