Anthroposol

Anthroposols are soils which have been profoundly modified or constructed by humans. They typically have one or more of their natural soil horizons modified, removed or replaced. The word anthroposol is derived from the Greek words anthropos, meaning man and genes meaning caused. Anthroposols are typically found on industrial, commercial, urban and resources extraction sites as well as throughout transportation, fuel and power corridors. Soil classification systems are used globally to systematically categorize soils based on diagnostic features or characteristics. Human-formed soils have historically been excluded from soil classification systems due in part to the fact that the criteria used for naturally-formed soils are often not applicable. However, many countries are recognizing their pervasiveness and the need for some type of common language and taxonomy. As of 2016, fifteen countries had added (or proposed adding) anthropogenic soils to their soil classification systems including Brazil, Germany, Canada, Poland and China. They are known by many terms including: Plaggen soils, Paddy soils, Oasis soils, Terra Preta do Indio (Brazil), Agrozems (Russia), Terrestrische anthropogene Böden (Germany), Anthroposols (Australia and Canada) and Anthrosols (China). The World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) offers some guidelines for classification. This system is based on a large scale and is not meant to replace national or local systems but rather to facilitate communication between them. The FAO World Soil Resources Report 2006 offers full details. It outlines two larger anthropogenic sub-categories based on the degree of disturbance as well as the pervasiveness of the artifacts within: Anthrosol: soils under agricultural cultivation for long periods Technosol: soils containing products and artifacts of industrial processes (often toxic). These could include constructed soils used for closure of landfills and mines and soils under pavement.