color (Figure 5). Mineral hydric soils usually have one 

 of the following color features in the horizon immediately 

 below the A-horizon or 10 inches (whichever is shallower): 



(a) Matrix chroma of 2 or less* in mottled soils. 



(b) Matrix chroma of 1 or less* in unmottled soils. 



NOTE: The matrix chroma of some dark (black) mineral hydric 

 soils will not conform to the criteria described in (a) and (b) 

 above; in such soils, gray mottles occurring at 10 inches or 

 less are indicative of hydric conditions. 



CAUTION: Soils with significant coloration due to the nature 

 of the parent material (e.g. red soils of the Bed River Valley) 

 may not exhibit the above characteristics . In such cases, this 

 indicator cannot be used. 



^. Soil appearing on hydric soils list. Using the criteria for 

 hydric soils (paragraph 37) , the NTCHS has developed a list of 

 hydric soils. Listed soils have reducing conditions for a 

 significant portion of the growing season in a major portion of 

 the root zone and are frequently saturated within 12 inches of 

 the soil surface. The NTCHS list of hydric soils is presented 

 in Appendix D, Section 2. CAUTION: Be sure that the profile 

 description of the mapping unit conforms to that of the sampled 

 soil. 



h. Iron and manganese concretions. During the oxidation-reduction 

 process, iron and manganese in suspension are sometimes segre- 

 gated as oxides into concretions or soft masses (Figure 6) . 

 These accumulations are usually black or dark brown. Concre- 

 tions >2 mm in diameter occurring within 7.5 cm of the surface 

 are evidence that the soil is saturated for long periods near 

 the surface. 



Wetland indicators (sandy soils) 



45. Not all indicators listed in paragraph 44 can be applied to sandy 

 soils. In particular, soil color should not be used as an indicator in most 

 sandy soils. However, three additional soil features may be used as indica- 

 tors of sandy hydric soils, including: 



£. High organic matter content in the surface horizon. Organic 

 matter tends to accumulate above or in the surface horizon of 

 sandy soils that are inundated or saturated to the surface for 

 a significant portion of the growing season. Prolonged inunda- 

 tion or saturation creates anaerobic conditions that greatly 

 reduce oxidation of organic matter. 



b. Streaking of subsurface horizons by organic matter. Organic 

 matter is moved downward through sand as the water table 



* Colors should be determined in soils that have been moistened; otherwise, 

 state that colors are for dry soils. 



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