Hydric Soils Technical Note 3

Protocol for Requesting NTCHS Changes to "Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States".

Send comments to Wade Hurt.

The NTCHS is responsible for maintaining the Hydric Soil Definition, the Hydric Soil Criteria (and the resulting Hydric Soil List), Field Indicators of Hydric Soils, and other aspects of hydric soils. The publication "Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States" (USDA, NRCS, 1996, as revised; see Hydric Soil Technical Note 2) is the current guide that should be applied to identify and delineate hydric soils in the field. Changes are anticipated as new knowledge of morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical soil properties accumulates. Revisions, additions, and other comments regarding field observations of hydric soil conditions that cannot be documented using the presently recognized Hydric Soil Indicators are welcome; however, any modifications and additions must be approved by the NTCHS. Guidelines for requesting changes to field indicators are as follows:

1. Adding indicators or changing existing indicators: Minimally, the following should accompany all requests for additions and changes to existing hydric soil indicators in "Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States":
   1. Detailed pedon descriptions of at least three pedons that document the addition or change and detailed pedon descriptions of the neighboring non hydric pedons.
   2. Detailed vegetative data collected to represent the vegetation of the six pedons.
   3. Saturation (inundation) data and Eh data for a duration that captures the saturation cycle (dry-wet-dry) of, at least, one of the hydric pedons and one of the non hydric pedons. Precipitation and in-situ soil-water pH data from the same sites should also be provided.
       
2. Adding a Test Indicator: Minimally, the following should accompany all requests for adding a test indicator to "Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States":
   1. Detailed pedon descriptions of at least three pedons that document the test indicator and detailed pedon descriptions of the neighboring non hydric pedons.
   2. Detailed vegetative data collected to represent the vegetation of the six pedons.
       
3. All requests should identify the problem and explain the rationale for the request. Requests and data should be sent to:

Wade Hurt, Chair
NTCHS Field Indicator Subcommittee
P.O. Box 110290
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-0290
 

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