pedocal

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pedocal A freely draining, alkaline soil, from the upper horizons of which alkalis and alkaline earths have not leached. It is characteristic of arid and semi-arid climates. The term is still widely used. It was introduced in 1928 by C. F. Marbut as part of the twofold division in his system of soil classification based on pedogenesis, with the intention of using the basic soil type used in mapping as the lowest category in classification. Whether this is possible is controversial, but the Marbut classification was adopted by the US Soil Survey, eventually to be replaced by the present USDA Soil Taxonomy. Compare pedicel.