ABSTRACT 



A recent detailed study of several soils in the Bartlett Experimental Forest of 

 Central White Mountains, New Hampshire, has provided an opportunity to more 

 fully characterize spodic horizons in the region and to evaluate problems arising 

 in their classification using definitions in Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff, 

 1975). All studied soils have at least one horizon that meets chemical criteria for 

 classification as spodic. These horizons have little clay and considerable 

 accumulation of amorphous materials as indicated by values of up to 60 

 me/lOOg for cation exchange capacity, 2.5% dithionite extractable iron and 

 7.4% organic matter. In four pedons, the horizon meeting chemical criteria for 

 spodic did not meet depth requirements for classification as spodic within the 

 frigid temperature regime. The relatively thin spodic horizons present problems 

 in the application of wetness criteria for subgroup placement. Disruption of 

 horizontal extension of the albic and spodic horizons by tree throw activity lead 

 to questions in great group placement. Some consideration of such problems in 

 classification of steeply sloping, non-cultivated soils of mountainous regions 

 within the frigid temperature regime is suggested. 



Additional words for indexing: Soil Taxonomy, Typic subgroups, Fragiorthods, 

 Haplorthods, Chemical classification. 



