DEFINITION OF THE SOIL UNITS OF THE 1:200,000 SOIL MAP OF

ROMANIA USING AN EXTENDED TERMINOLOGY OF THE WRB SYSTEM

DEFINIREA UNITILOR DE SOL ALE HRII SOLURILOR ROMNIEI
1:200.000 FOLOSIND O TERMINOLOGIE EXTINS A SISTEMULUI WRB
Vlad V., Florea N., Toti M., Rducu D., Munteanu I., Seceleanu I., Vintil R.,
Cojocaru G., Anghel V.A., Cote V., Dumitru S., Eftene M., Gherghina A., Ignat P.,
Mocanu V., Vrnceanu A.
National Research and Development Institute for Soil Science, Agro-chemistry and Environmental
(ICPA Bucharest),
E-mail: v.vlad@icpa.ro
Key words: soil map legends, soil map legend translation, soil map legend notation, soil mapping units, soil
typological units, WRB, SRCS, soil classification harmonisation, SRCS-extended WRB, SRCS-WRB
translation dictionaries, 1:200000 Soil Map of Romania.

ABSTRACT
The paper presents the method and the actions carried out for the definition of the
soil mapping units of the Soil Map of Romania at the scale 1:200,000 (SMR-200) using an
extended terminology of the international soil classification system WRB (World Reference
Base for Soil Resources 2006, update 2007):
(1) Developing a "Notation" for a formalised definition of the SMR-200 Legend;
(2) Transposing the original definitions (in Romanian natural language) of the soil
mapping units (SMU) of the SMR-200 Legend into formalised (not ambiguous) definitions
using the "Notation";
(3) Analysing the differences between the WRB system and the Romanian system
of soil classification 1980, "SRCS", used in the original definition of the SMR-200 Legend,
and establishing the SMU "translation" method;
(4) Developing certain "translation dictionaries" to transpose the SRCS definition of
the soil horizons, soil types, soil subtypes and low-level (taxonomic) soil characteristics
and complementary features into the standard WRB terms, modified WRB terms and/or
new-defined WRB-like terms (all together named "SRCS-extended WRB" system) aiming
at an accuracy of translation as good as possible;
(5) Developing a computer program and translating the formalised definitions of the
SMUs of the SMR-200 into the "SRCS-extended WRB" terminology, using that computer
program and the translation dictionaries;
(6) Finalising the WRB definition of the SMUs of the SMR-200, by expert reviews of
the computer translation and by expert integration of the "SRCS-extended WRB"
definitions at the SMU level.
Summaries of the definitions of the "SRCS-extended WRB" terms are presented.
REZUMAT
Lucrarea prezint metoda de definire a unitilor cartografice de sol (UCS) ale Hrii
Solurilor Romniei la scara 1:200.000 (HSR-200) utiliznd o terminologie extins a
sistemului internaional de clasificare a solurilor WRB (World Reference Base for Soil
Resources 2006, actualizarea 2007), sistem impus de metodologia de aplicare a Directivei
INSPIRE n Uniunea European. Sunt descrii paii parcuri pentru realizarea translatrii
definiiilor originale n terminologia internaional WRB i anume:
(1) Elaborarea unei "Notaii" de definire (specificare) formalizat a Legendei HSR200;
(2) Transpunerea definiiilor originare (n limbaj natural) ale UCS din Legenda HSR200 n definiii formalizate univoce (neambigue) utiliznd "Notaia" elaborat;
615

(3) Analizarea diferenelor dintre sistemul WRB i Sistemul romn de clasificare a

solurilor 1980, "SRCS", folosit la definirea Legendei HSR-200 i stabilirea metodei de
translatare a definiiilor UCS n terminologia WRB;
(4) Elaborarea unor dicionare de translatare n WRB a definiiilor SRCS ale
orizonturilor, tipurilor, subtipurilor i caracteristicilor/indicatorilor de nivel (taxonomic)
inferior ale solurilor, prin utilizarea de termeni standard WRB, termeni WRB modificai
i/sau termeni nou-definii, similari WRB (mpreun constituind sistemul "WRB extinsSRCS"), urmrind o ct mai bun acuratee de translatare;
(5) Elaborarea unui program de calculator i translatarea n "WRB extins-SRCS", cu
ajutorul acestui program, a definiiilor formalizate ale UCS din Legenda HSR-200, pe baza
dicionarelor de translatare;
(6) Finalizarea definirii UCS ale HSR-200 folosind sistemul WRB, prin revizuirea
translatrii automate i integrarea de tip expert a definiiilor n terminologia "WRB extinsSRCS" la nivel de UCS.
Se prezint pe scurt termenii sistemului "WRB extins-SRCS" elaborai.
1. INTRODUCTION
The interest for the Soil Map of Romania at the scale 1:200,000 (Florea et al., 19631993, 1994a,b; Munteanu et al., 2005), referred in this paper also as SMR-200, is
important because it is the soil map of the largest scale available for the whole area of
Romania (in fact, the density of information corresponds to the scale 1:100,000) and it
provides very useful soil information (Florea et al., 1994b; Munteanu et al., 2005). It is the
most important achievement of soil survey activity in Romania (Munteanu et al., 2005).
Consequently, it was transposed, with some updates, into a geographical information
system SIGSTAR-200 (Vintila et al., 1997, 2004; Vintila, 2009).
The printed version of the SMR-200 comprises 50 sheets, which use together 471
soil mapping units (SMU)1, generically defined as in Lambert et al. (2003), and named also
soil genetic units in Florea et al. (1994a). All these 471 SMUs are defined (characterised)
in a unitary revised legend of the map (Florea et al., 1994a) and are identified on the map
sheets by their codes. That legend preserves also the old codes, based on the soil
systematic list of Romania, 1961, existing on the first published 27 sheets. The updated
version of the map implemented into the SIGSTAR-200 uses 480 SMUs and that is the
version that is taken into account in this work.
A SMU may consist of a single Soil Typological Unit (STU)2 or of an association of
2-5 different STUs which commonly exist within a SMU area. A STU is generically defined
as a kind of soil having a set of homogeneous characteristics over a certain area notidentified on the map and may be present in more SMUs.
The SMUs/STUs are described by using the higher taxonomic level terms (soil
types and subtypes) and some lower taxonomic level information, defined by the
Romanian System of Soil Classification 1980 (Conea et al., 1980), referred as SRCS.
The SRCS is a successful soil classification system developed during a long practice in
Romania (Florea et al., 1988; Munteanu and Florea, 2002)3.
The SMR-200 comprises more than 80,000 areals (smallest contiguous areas
delineated on the map by closed contours, named polygons in the GIS technology). Each
areal is described by one SMU and, also, by the predominant textural class and skeleton
class of topsoil. Many areals may belong to a same SMU.
1

SMUs are named soil complexes in INSPIRE (2011) and soilscapes in Finke et al. (2001).
STUs are named DerivedSoilProfiles in INSPIRE (2011) and soil bodies in Finke et al. (2001).
3
A revised system, the Romanian System of Soil Taxonomy SRTS (Florea and Munteanu, 2003, 2012) is
in use in Romania since 2003.
2

616

Because the SMUs are defined by using the natural language, the use/interpretation
of the SMR-200 information is performed with some difficulties especially by computer
programs, but also by practitioners. That led to the necessity of a SMU definition method
that could facilitate an easier and non-ambiguous interpretation of map information.
In the same time, the need for harmonised georeferenced information (respectively,
soil information) at the European Union level, as well as the need for an international
terminology in providing map information requested by the present globalisation,
determined the development of some important international projects having these
objectives (Finke et al., 2001; Lambert et al., 2003; EC, 2007; GR, 2010a,b; PR, 2010). In
the last time, the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (FAO-ISRIC-ISSS, 1994,
1998; Deckers et al., 2002; IUSS Working Group WRB, 2007; Munteanu, 2007), referred
as WRB, became one of the most widely used classification systems for medium and
small-scale soil maps (Krasilnikov and Arnold, 2009a; Keay et al., 2009; INSPIRE, 2011).
Consequently, in the EU member states the use of the WRB system was requested by the
INSPIRE implementation guidelines (INSPIRE, 2011).
Based on the above considerations, a work was undertaken to provide a formalised
non-ambiguous definition of the SMUs of the SMR-200 and a translation of them, using the
WRB terminology.
The paper briefly presents the Notation used for the SMU formalised definition
using the SRCS and WRB term codes, as well as the method and results of the SMU
translation into an extended terminology of the WRB system.
2. THE NOTATION AND THE FORMALISED DEFINITION OF THE SOIL UNITS
A specialised and formalised language, named Notation, was elaborated (Vlad et
al., 2012), aiming to precisely define the Legend of the SMR-200 in order to facilitate its
interpretation by computer programs and by different users. The Notation establishes
univocal rules for unambiguous definition of the STUs/SMUs by using codes and formulae.
The rules of the Notation are described by successively and recurrently defining the
terms and operators (operation symbols) to be used in formulae. For that, the generic
attributing operator = is used; the different term values are quoted; the terms, operators
and definition texts are delimited by the characters < and >; the formula elements
delimited by the characters { and } are optional; inside the formulae the terms and
operators are separated between them with the character space.
The main terms, operators, and rules of the Notation are briefly defined below.
. <STU formula> = <sg> <sql> {<lcl>} {r:<r>} {u:<u>} {l:<l>} {p:<p>} {f:<f>} {~<z>~}.
.. <sg> = <code of soil type, as defined by SRCS (extended with Limnosol and eight nonsoils: sands, rock outcrops, continuous rocks, limestone-dolomite, peats,
marshes/swamps, lakes/ponds, and urban land)> OR
<code of Reference Soil Group (RSG), as defined by SRCS-extended WRB (see
later)> OR
** (= <different possible soil types, respectively different possible RSGs>).
.. <sql> = <list of codes of soil subtypes, as defined by SRCS (extended with xeroforestic,
oligobazic, holoacid, tionic), in the order of importance; the codes are separated with
-> OR
<list of codes of primary and secondary qualifiers, as defined by SRCS-extended
WRB, in the order of importance; the sublists of primary (prefix) and secondary
(suffix) qualifiers are separated with -, and the codes inside the sublists are
separated with .> OR
* (= <different possible soil subtypes, respectively different possible qualifiers>).
617

.. <lcl> = <list of codes of low-level characteristics of soil, as defined by SRCS, in the

order of importance; the codes are separated with space> OR
<list of codes of low-level qualifiers, as defined by SRCS-extended WRB, in the order
of importance; the qualifiers are separated with space>;
~ In the case of certain specific low-level characteristics/qualifiers the codes are
composed of two parts characteristic subcode and value subcode separated
with :, e.g. <tx:clayloam> = <clay loam textural class>, <gwdepth:small> =
<small depth to the groundwater level> ~.
.. <r> = <code of underlying rock; a pre-defined list of codes is used>.
.. <u> = <code of land use; a pre-defined list of codes is used>.
.. <l> = <code of localisation of STU in landform; a pre-defined list of codes is used>.
.. <p> = <code of percentage specifier of STU weighting within the SMU area; a predefined list of codes is used; it modifies the default value, that is predefined by the
order of the STU position in the SMU definition/formula, depending on the number
of the STUs within the SMU (2 - 5 STUs): 60% - 40%, 50% - 30% - 20%, 40% 30% -20% - 10%, 40% - 25% - 15% - 10% - 10% (a variation of 5% is assumed)>.
.. <f> = <code of frequency specifier of STU presence within SMU areals; a pre-defined
list of codes is used; it defines an average of percentage of areals (a variation of
5% is assumed); the default values are 90-100%>.
.. <z> = <additional information text on STU>.
.. ~ <r>, <u>, <l>, <p>, <f> and <z> are named complementary low-level features of
STUs ~.
. <STU group> = <group of STUs, components of a SMU, delimited by [ and ] in the
SMU formula; the common terms of the STUs of a group may be placed behind the
group end operator ]>.
. <association operator> = <associated with> OR <including>.
.. <associated with> = + = <the STU or STU group that precedes the operator is
associated with the STU or STU group that follows behind the operator>.
.. <including> = & = <the STU or STU group that follows behind the operator is
associated with the STU or STU group that precedes the operator and has a
weighting of 10% (5%) within the SMU area>.
. <alternative operator> = <exclusive OR> OR <inclusive OR>.
.. <exclusive OR> = / = <the two STUs or STU groups separated by / are
alternatively, in the same proportion, associated with the other member of the
group/SMU>.
.. <inclusive OR> = @ = <the two STUs or STU groups separated by @ are
alternatively or together, in the same proportion, associated with the other member
of the group/SMU; e.g. <[STU1 @ STU2]> = <[STU1 / STU2 / [STU1 + STU2] ]> >.
. <SMU formula> = <STU formula>;
.. <SMU formula> = {[} <SMU formula> <association operator> <SMU formula> {]};
.. <SMU formula> = {[} <SMU formula> <alternative operator> <SMU formula> {]}.
By using the above briefly defined Notation, the SMU original definitions of the
SMR-200 Legend were redefined by using appropriate formulae, and thus a formalised
version of the SMR-200 Legend was obtained.
In the Table 10 some examples of SMU formulae of the SMR-200 Legend are
given. Some observations could be emphasized:
(1) For example, in the original definition of the SMU No. 6 the term pe versante
(l:versant /on slopes) may be applied only to the STU erodisoluri (ER *) or to both STUs
soluri balane tipice erodate (SB ti erd) and erodisoluri (ER *). By using the grouping
operators ([ and ]) the ambiguity is solved (both soils are localised on slopes because
l:versant is a common term of the two STU formulae).
618

(2) The SMU formulae are more readable and more easily to understand/analyse
than the original definition. That is more evident in the cases of more complex definitions
like that of the SMU No. 283.
(3) The formulae (which have unambiguous syntax) can be interpreted by computer
programs for further data processing.
(4) By using the Notation, information is better defined, especially regarding the
weightings and frequencies of STUs within SMUs, e.g. the formulae make possible
quantitative area estimations on different soil groups/types, soil subgroups/subtypes and
other soil characteristics.
3. THE METHOD OF TRANSLATION OF THE SOIL UNIT DEFINITIONS
INTO A WRB TERMINOLOGY
The SMU definitions in the SMR-200 Legend use the terms defined by the SRCS
classification system. Munteanu (1994) and Florea and Munteanu (2003, 2012) present
some information on the SRCS correlation with the 1994 version of WRB (FAO-ISRICISSS, 1994), respectively with the 1998 version of WRB (FAO-ISRIC-ISSS, 1998). The
analysis of the SRCS correlation with the 2006 version of WRB update 2007 (IUSS
Working Group WRB, 2007) undertaken within this work showed some important
differences between the two classification systems:
- There are some slight differences between the definitions of the corresponding
classification elements/taxa in the two systems: diagnostic horizons/criteria, WRB
Reference Soil Groups (RSGs) and corresponding SRCS soil types, and WRB
qualifiers and corresponding SRCS soil subtypes. In some specific cases the
differences are important.
- The SRCS is more pedogenic-oriented, using quantitative, but also some
qualitative/fuzzy criteria, while the WRB has more quantitative criteria and more
detailed definitions of diagnostic criteria for the diagnostic horizons / properties /
materials, RSGs and qualifiers.
- In the two systems, there are common terms with different meanings and similar
concepts with partly different scopes, using partly different weightings and priorities of
the diagnostic criteria.
- Some soil taxa in the SRCS system are narrower than the corresponding WRB terms,
some others are broader, while some others have only partly correspondence.
- The SRCS has 40 first-level taxa ("soil types") and the WRB has only 32 first-level taxa
(RSGs), some of them being not found in Romania, hence some of the SRCS soil
types correspond to some WRB second-level taxa ("qualifiers") and two or more soil
types may correspond to a same RSG.
- Some diagnostic soil features (horizons / properties / materials) that are not taken into
account for the SRCS soil type definitions are considered important by the WRB for the
RSG definitions and, consequently, a SRCS soil type may correspond to two or more
RSGs.
- In the WRB system, according to the "Key" algorithm, a soil having certain features
specific to a RSG may be also classified in a different RSG whether these features are
accompanied by some other features specific to the second RSG. In the SRCS system
such a situation is not found because the priorities are, by the case, specifically solved.
Having given the above differences, regarding the translation of the SMR-200
Legend into the WRB system, it was concluded that:

619

It is not possible to transpose exactly or at least with acceptable approximation the

SMR-200 Legend (SMU) definitions into the WRB system using only its standard terms
(taxa) defined by the reference document (IUSS Working Group WRB, 2007) because
of the differences that exist between the two classification systems.
- The soil re-classification using the WRB, based on the primary information used in
original SRCS classification, is also not possible because of some missing information
requested by the WRB and not needed by the SRCS.
- To have a WRB standard description of the SMR-200, its SMUs need be redefined
using standard WRB terms, a lot of additional soil surveys are necessary to obtain the
missing data and a lot of new contours of areals need be re-established according to
the new definitions of SMUs. Such a re-mapping solution practically is not feasible.
Some similar conclusions were reported by other papers, e.g. Karklins (2002), Roca
Pascal and Pazos (2002), Schad (2008) cited by Krasilnikov and Arnold (2009a), Keay et
al. (2009), Krasilnikov and Arnold (2009a,c), and Shishkov (2011).
To obtain an international translation of the SMR-200 Legend usable and as
accurate as possible, it was adopted the solution of defining variants of the WRB
standard terms accordingly to the SRCS definitions of the corresponding terms, that is
defining an extension of the WRB with SRCS-specific terms using WRB terminology
system.
The following steps of translation were implemented:
- Extending the WRB system to the "SRCS-extended WRB" by adding to the WRB
system certain WRB-like terms appropriately defined to the SRCS requirements and
establishing certain "translation dictionaries" between the SRCS terms and the
corresponding SRCS-extended WRB terms;
- Developing a computer program and translating the formalised definitions of the SMUs
of the SMR-200 into the SRCS-extended WRB" terminology, using that computer
program and the translation dictionaries;
- Finalising the WRB definitions of the SMUs of the SMR-200 by expert reviews of the
computer translation and by expert integration of the "SRCS-extended WRB"
definitions at the SMU level.
4. THE SRCS-EXTENDED WRB AND THE BASIC TRANSLATION DICTIONARIES
Each term definition used by SRCS system was analysed comparatively with the
corresponding WRB term definition in order to establish the differences between them.
Three categories of terms were encountered:
(i) SRCS terms having identical definitions with the corresponding WRB terms;
(ii) SRCS terms having slightly different definitions from the corresponding WRB terms;
(iii) SRCS terms not-having an appropriate correspondence within the WRB terms.
The first category terms are directly translated into the corresponding WRB terms.
The second category terms are translated into the corresponding WRB terms
having the definition modified in order to right meet the SRCS definition. The name of the
modified WRB terms is obtained by adding one or two apostrophes (') to the end of the
standard WRB term name.
The third category terms are translated into certain new-defined WRB-like terms.
They are named by using the WRB methodology (nomenclature) and, if possible, related
to the most closed WRB terms. The names of the new-defined diagnostic horizons and
primary (prefix) qualifiers have the character "^" as the last character, in order to be
identifiable. The names of the new-defined non-primary qualifiers have the first letter
written with small case letter, in order to be distinguished from the WRB standard
qualifiers, which have the first letter written with capital letter. No new RSGs were defined.
620

By using the above procedures, the definition and translation dictionaries/lists for all
SRCS terms were established. The definitions are specified by differences from the WRB
standard definitions. Three basic definition and translation dictionaries/lists were
elaborated:
1) The definition and translation dictionary of the diagnostic horizons comprises four
horizons having not-modified WRB standard definitions, 10 horizons having slightly
modified WRB standard definitions and 20 horizons having new-defined definitions. A
list of summary definitions of these horizons is given in the Table 1. Many of the newdefined horizons are referred indirectly also in the WRB, without using explicitly certain
definitions/names. For example, hypersalic^ horizon definition is used without be
named as such in the WRB standard definition of the Hypersalic qualifier.
2) The RSG definition list comprises five RSGs having not-modified WRB standard
definitions (Albeluvisols, Histosols, Luvisols, Podzols and Regosols) and 18 RSGs
having slightly modified WRB standard definitions. Only the modifications that are
strictly necessary to classify the SRCS soil types were included into definitions (taken
into account all SRCS soil types). In all cases where it was possible, in order to solve
the differences, the definition of certain specific qualifiers was preferred. The definitions
of the modifications use the diagnostic horizons of the SRCS-extended WRB. A
summary of the RSG definition list is given in the Table 2.
3) The definition and translation dictionary of the qualifiers comprises 14 qualifiers having
not-modified WRB standard definitions (Table 3), 54 qualifiers having slightly modified
WRB standard definitions, four new-defined primary qualifiers, 20 new-defined
secondary qualifiers, of which 12 new-defined soil colours (Table 6) and 69 newdefined low-level qualifiers. One new specifier, "Proxi" (Table 5), was necessary to be
defined, having the meaning that the required criteria are fulfilled within 20 cm of the
soil surface. A summary of the modified WRB qualifier definitions is given in the Table
4 and a summary of the definitions of the main new-defined qualifiers is given in the
Table 5. The qualifier definitions also use the diagnostic horizons of the SRCSextended WRB.
The diagnostic properties and materials, and other soil descriptions used in all
definition and translation dictionaries/lists have the same meanings as in the WRB,
respectively as in FAO Guidelines (FAO, 2006), assumed by the WRB (IUSS Working
Group WRB, 2007). All definition and translation dictionaries/lists include the SRCS names
and codes and the SRCS-extended WRB names and codes of all the translated/defined
terms.
5. SOIL UNIT TRANSLATION INTO THE SRCS-EXTENDED WRB
By using the RSGs and qualifiers defined in the basic definition and translation
dictionaries/lists an overall translation dictionary was elaborated, which comprises the
translations of the SRCS term codes/formulae used in the STU formulae of the SMR-200
original Legend into the codes/formulae of the corresponding SRCS-extended WRB terms.
The overall dictionary has four parts:
(a) all combinations of SRCS soil type soil subtypes (examples are given in the Table 7);
(b) all SRCS soil types as generic soils (they are used in the definitions of the SMR-200
Legend);
(c) all SRCS low-level characteristics of soils;
(d) all SRCS complementary low-level features of soils (underlying rocks, land uses, kinds
of localisation in landforms, weightings and frequencies of soils within SMUs).

621

Summary of the horizon definitions in the SRCS-extended WRB

Horizon name

albic (Ea)1)
argic (Bt)
fragipan (x)
spodic (Bhs)
calcic (Cca)
cambic (Bv)
folic (O)
histic (T)
mollic (Am)
natric (Btna)
R' layer (R)
salic (sc)
umbric (Au)
vertic' (y)
aric^ (D)
gleyic^ (Gr)
greymollic^ (Ame)
humispodic^ (Bh)
hypersalic^ (sa)
hyposalic^ (sc)
hyposodic^ (ac)
hypostagnic^ (w)
molliochrA^(Aom)
ochrA^ (Ao)
oxigleyic^ (Go)
paraalbic^ (El)

pararendzic^ (Cpr)
Rrz^ layer (Rrz)
rustispodic^ (Bs)
sodic^ (na)
spodialbic^ (Es)

stagnic^ (W)
umbriochrA^(Aou)
xeroforestmollic^
(Amf)

What is modified from the

Modified/additional definition requirements
WRB standard definition
in the SRCS-extended WRB
Diagnostic horizons having not-modified WRB standard definition
Diagnostic horizons having modified WRB standard definition
calcium carbonate equiv. 15%.
calcium carbonate equivalent 12%.
thickness 15 cm.
thickness 10 cm.
thickness 10 cm.
thickness 5 cm.
thickness 10 cm.
thickness 20 cm.
V 50%; chroma 3 (moist);
base saturation (V) 55%;
value 3 (moist) and 5 (dry).
Munsell chroma and value 3.5 (moist) and value 5.5 (dry).
exch.Na 15% within the upp. 40 exchangeable Na 15% within the upper 20 cm of an argic
cm of an argic h.; thickn. 15 cm. horizon; thickness 10 cm.
hard bedrock.
hard bedrock, except those referred to Rrz^ layer; it includes
gravel, too.
ECe 15 dS/m; thickness 15 cm. electr.condctv. sat.extract: 15dS/m<ECe<32dS/m; thickn.10cm.
V < 50%.
V < 55 %.
thickness 25 cm.
thickness 50 cm.
Diagnostic horizons new-defined in the SRCS-extended WRB
resulted from several horizons totally modified "in situ" by deep
ploughing or other mechanical actions; thickness 50 cm.
reducing conditions for a great part of the year; gleyic colour
pattern in > 50% of the soil section area.
mollich.having residual uncoated silt &sand grains on structural
aggregate faces and Munsell value 3 and chroma < 2, when dry.
spodic horizon having predominant illuvial humus.
Hypersalic q.: ECe 30 dS/m.
ECe 32 dS/m; thickness 10 cm.
Hyposalic qualifier:
4dS/mECe<15dS/m;thck.15cm 4 dS/m ECe 15 dS/m; thickness 10cm.
exchangeable Na 6 %. (< 15%) exchangeable Na: 5 - 15%.
stagnic features in 16 - 50% of the soil section area.
characteristics of a mollic horizon, except the thickness.
an A horizon having a colour too pale and being too poor in
organic matter to be mollic or umbric.
reducing conditions for a part of the year; gleyic colour pattern
in 16 - 50% of the soil section area.
albic h.: when dry, either [value
formed above an argic horizon; light colour when dry, having a
of 7 or 8 and chroma 3] OR
value < 6.5 (value 6.5 when associated with a chroma > 3).
[value of 5 or 6 and chroma 2].
a C horizon; marls, clay marls or marly clays; having usually
>32% clay and > 12% carbonates.
R layer: hard bedrock underlying
R layer consisting of limestone, or dolomite, or gypsum, and/or
the soil.
fragments of such rocks, or basic/ultrabasic metamorphic rocks.
spodic horizon having predominant sesquioxides.
exchangeable Na plus Mg 15%. exchangeable Na 15 %; thickness 10 cm.
albic h: [dry: [val.7-8,chr. 3] OR formed above a spodic horizon; light colours: Munsell value > 5
[val.5-6, chr. 2] ] AND [moist:
when dry and 4 when moist; structureless; organic matter and
[val. 6-8, chr. 4] OR [val.5,
sesquioxides are elluviated.
chr. 3] OR[val.4, chr. 2] ].
Stagnic qualifier: stagnic colour
stagnic features in > 50% of the soil section area;
pattern in > 25 % of the soil vol.
thickness 15 cm.
characteristics of a umbric horizon, except the thickness.
mollic h. having a specific layer formed under xerophile forest.

__________________________________
1)

Table 1

Between brachets, the corresponding SRCS symbol for the horizon.

622

Table 2
Summary of the RSG definition modifications in the SRCS-extended WRB
RSG

What is modified
from the WRB standard definitions

Albeluvisols
Alisols 1)
Andosols'
Anthrosols'
Arenosols'

base saturation (V) < 50 %.

-

Cambisols'

cambic horizon starting within 50 cm of the soil

surface.
mollic horizon;
calcic horizon or secondary carbonates.
fluvic material starting within 25 cm of the soil
surface and continuing to a depth 50 cm.

Chernozems'
Fluvisols'
Gleysols

Histosols
Kastanozems'
Leptosols

Luvisols
Phaeozems'
Planosols'

Podzols
Regosols
Solonchaks'
Solonetz'

reducing conditions in some parts of the soil

surface layer (50 cm thick) and a gleyic colour
pattern throughout.
mollic horizon;
calcic horizon or secondary carbonates.
[continuous rock within 25 cm of the soil
surface] OR [less than 20 % (by volume) fine
earth averaged over a depth of 75 cm from the
soil surface or to continuous rock].
mollic horizon.
having [directly above or below the abrupt
textural change, a layer 5 cm or more thick, that
has in some parts reducing conditions for some
time during the year] AND [in half or more of
the soil volume [stagnic colour patern] OR [an
albic horizon] ].
salic horizon starting within 50 cm of the soil
surface.
natric horizon starting within 100 cm of the soil
surface.

Stagnosols'

Modified/additional definition requirements in

the SRCS-extended WRB
V 55 %.
dominant andic properties in one of the horizons.
aric^ horizon.
undeveloped soil from aeolian sand deposits that
have the thickness 50 cm and clay 12 %.
cambic' horizon below an A horizon.
mollic' horizon;
calcic' horizon or secondary carbonates.
fluvic material that underlies an A horizon and has
the thickness 50 cm.
associated gleyic^ horizon within the soil surface
layer (50 cm thick).
mollic' horizon;
calcic' horizon or secondary carbonates.
continuous rock within 20 cm of the soil surface.

mollic horizon.
[ [paraalbic^ horizon] OR [albic horizon] ] AND
[ [stagnic^-argic horizon starting between 50 200
cm of the soil surface] OR [hypostagnic^-argic
horizon within 100 cm of the soil surface] ].

hypersalic^ horizon starting within 50 cm of the

soil surface.
[natric' horizon (natric conditions within the upper
20 cm of an argic horizon)]
OR [sodic^ horizon starting within 20 cm of the
soil surface].
stagnic^ horizon [starting within 50 cm of the soil
surface] AND [sited within the first 50 cm of a B
horizon].

having within 50 cm of the soil surface [in some

parts, reducing conditions, for some time during
the year] AND [in half or more of the soil
volume [stagnic colour patern] OR [albic
horizon] ].
Technosols'
artefacts in the upper 100 cm from the soil
artefacts within the surface layer, that has the
surface.
thickness of 50 cm or more.
Umbrisols'
umbric or mollic horizon.
umbric' horizon.
Vertisols'
vertic horizon starting within 100 cm of the soil vertic' horizon starting at the soil surface
surface.
OR underlying an A horizon.
________________________
1) Modified WRB terms are marked by an apostrophe ( ' ) as the last character of their name.

623

Table 3
List of the not-modified WRB standard qualifiers used in the SRCS-extended WRB
WRB qualifier
Corresponding SRCS term
WRB qualifier
Abruptic
Planosol 1)
Limnic
2)
Albic
albic
Luvic
Bathycalcaric
Nudilithic
3)
Calcaric
semi-carbonatic
Protic
3)
Endocalcaric
slab levigat
Spodic
3)
Fragic
fragipan
Subaquatic
2)
Glossalbic
glosic
Thionic
1)
2)
3)
soil type;
soil subtype;
soil low-level (taxonomic) characteristic.

Corresponding SRCS term

Limnosol 1)
2)
argiloiluvial
1)
Podzol
2)
tionic

A SRCS soil type as generic soil comprises all soils of that type indifferently of
subtypes that they could be (e.g. the formula <RS *> means all Regosols of any subtypes).
The translation of a soil type as generic soil was obtained by integrating the translations of
the combinations of that soil type with all subtypes found within the SMR-200 Legend, that
is, with those found in the part (a) of the overall dictionary. This translation result the part
(b) of the overall dictionary is given in the Table 8 and Table 9.
A SRCS soil (STU) is usually translated into the SRCS-extended WRB using a RSG
completed with one or more qualifiers in a certain order, which is established accordingly
to the importance/relevance of the corresponding properties in the respective SRCS soil
definition. Three categories of qualifiers are established (Table 5):
- primary qualifiers correspond to the most important/relevant diagnostic
characteristics/features related to the definition of the given SRCS soil type-subtype; in
the translated soil name they are considered as prefix qualifiers, separated with space;
- secondary qualifiers are the other qualifiers that are necessary for the translation of the
given SRCS soil type-subtype; in the translated soil name they are considered as suffix
qualifiers and are placed in brackets, separated with commas;
- low-level qualifiers correspond to the other characteristics/features specified in the
definition of the given soil (STU); in the translated soil name they are placed behind the
end bracket of the secondary qualifier sublist and are separated with commas.
By applying the WRB Key it is possible that a SRCS soil to be translated into an
association of SRCS-extended WRB soils. In these cases the rules and operators of the
Notation defined in the Chapter 2 are used.
A computer program was developed, which automatically translates the SRCS
codes/formulae of the soil types-subtypes, low-level characteristics and complementary
low-level features of each SMU from the formalised version of the SMR-200 original
Legend (Chapter 2) into SRCS-extended WRB codes/formulae and names, by using the
above overall dictionary. By running this computer program, a preliminary version of the
SRCS-extended WRB Legend of the SMR-200 was obtained.
Each SMU definition resulted from automatic translation was analysed, revised and
integrated by soil scientist expert judgement, thus the final version of the SRCSextended WRB Legend of the SMR-200 was obtained. Some examples of final
translation of SMU definitions are given in the Table 10.
The expert reviewing was necessary to apply the rules that were too difficultly to be
implemented into the computer program, such as the priority order of the qualifiers (the
importance in the soil definition), their separation into the three categories, removing the
qualifier similarities (redundancy) and removing the unlikely soils from associations. For
example, in the automatically translated version, the definition of the SMU No. 6 (Table 10)
contained hypereroded Cambisols, Luvisols, Solonchaks and Vertisols, resulted from the
automatic translation of the generic soil <ER *> (Erodisols). Because it is unlikely that
these soils to be found in association with Calcaric Kastanozems located on slopes, they
were removed by expert reviewing in the final definition of the SMU No. 6.
624

Table 4
Summary of the modified qualifier definitions in the SRCS-extended WRB
Qualifier name
Arenic'
Aric'
Bathycalcaric'
(moderat levigat)
Bathycalcaric''
(puternic levigat)
Bathyhypogleyic'
(freatic-umed)
Bathyorthogleyic'
Calcaric'
Calcic'
Cambic (ca)1)
Colluvic' (CO)
Dystric'
Endogleyic
Endohypogleyic
Endoorthogleyic'
Entic'
Epigleyic'
Epihistic (tb)
Epihyperdystric
(oligobazic)
Epihypersalic'
Epihypogleyic
Epihypohistic
(semi-tb)
Epileptic (li)
Eutric'
Fluvic'
Folic' (organic)
Gleyic (gc)
Greyic
(slab luvic)
Histic' (TB)
Hypergleyic
Hypoabruptic' (pl)
Hypoandic (an)

What is modified from the WRB

standard definition
text. of loamy fine sand or coarser, thickn.
50 cm, within 100 cm of the soil surface.
disturbed by deep ploughing.
calcaric, 100-200 cm from the soil surface.

Modified/additional definition requirements

in the SRCS-extended WRB
texture of loamy fine sand or coarser, thickn. 50
cm, starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.
disturbed or totally modified or mixed by deep
ploughing or other mechanical actions.
calcaric, 100-150 cm from the soil surface.

calcaric, 100-200 cm from the soil surface.

calcaric, 150-200 cm from the soil surface.

hypogleyic layer between 100-200 cm

from the soil surface.
orthogleyic, 100-200 cm from the soil surf.
calcaric material between 20-50 cm
calcic horizon.
cambic horizon, which does not part of an
albic horizon.
colluvic material, thickness 20 cm, by
human-induced lateral movement.
V < 50%.
layer having gleyic features between 50100 cm from the soil surf., thickn. 25 cm.
hypogleyic layer between 50-100 cm from
the soil surface.
orthogleyic, 50-100 cm from the soil surf.
not having an albic horizon
AND having a loose spodic horizon.
min.25cm gl.feat.within 50cm of the s.surf.
histic horizon within 50 cm of the soil
surface (histic horizon thickness 10 cm).

layer having gleyic features between 5-15 % of the

soil section area, that has the depth > 150 cm.
oxigleyic^ horizon, 100-200 cm from the soil surf.
calcaric material between 0-50 cm
calcic' horizon.
cambic horizon, chrome values <3.5 when moist
and <5.5 when dry on sides/inside of the str. aggr.
not-humified colluvic material, thickness 50, by
natural- or/and human- induced lateral movement.
V 55%.
gleyic^ horizon starting between 50-125 cm from
the soil surface (50-85 cm for Arenosols).
layer having gleyic features between 5-15 % of the
soil section area, betw. 50-100cm from the soil surf.
oxigleyic^ horizon, 50-100 cm from the soil surf.
not having a spodialbic^ horizon
AND having a rustispodic^ horizon.
gleyic^ horiz. starting within 50 cm of the soil surf.
histic horizon within 50 cm of the soil surface
(histic horizon thickness between 20-50 cm).

... base saturation (V) < 20 % in some

layer within 50 cm of the soil surface.
Episalic: salic horizon starting within 50
cm of the soil surface.
hypogleyic layer within 50 cm of the soil
surface.
weak expression of histic features within
50 cm of the soil surface.
continous rock starting within 50 cm of the
soil surface.
V 50%.
fluvic material in a layer, 25 cm or more
thick, within 100 cm of the soil surface.
folic h. starting within 40 cm of the s. surf.
layer having gleyic features within 100 cm
of the soil surface, thickness 25 cm.
uncoated silt and sand grains on structural
faces; chroma 3 when moist, value 3
when moist and 5 when dry.
histic horizon starting within 40 cm of the
soil surface (histic hor. thickness 10 cm).
Gleyic: having gleyic features within 100
cm of the soil surf., a thickness 25 cm.
abrupt textural change (within 7.5 cm)
within 100 cm of the soil surface.
Andic: one or more layers with andic or
vitric prop. within 100 cm of the soil surf.

... V between 10-30 % within the surface horizon

(A, E).
hypersalic^ horizon between 20-50 cm from the soil
surface.
layer having gleyic features between 5-15 % of the
soil section area, within 50 cm of the soil surface.
surf.horiz. with intense accumulation of humus with
hydromorphic features (>10%) and low vol. weight.
continous rock starting between 20-50 cm from the
soil surface.
V > 55%.
fluvic material in a layer, 50 cm or more thick,
within 100 cm of the soil surface.
surface folic horizon.
gleyic^ horizon starting within 125 cm of the soil
surface (85 cm for Arenosols).
mollic /greymollic^ /ochrA^ horizon with uncoated
silt and sand grains on structural faces not enough
to be an E horizon (albic, paraalbic or spodialbic^).
histic horizon starting at the soil surface, having
the thickness > 50 cm.
gleyic^ h. starting at the soil surf. and having gleyic
col. pattern in more than 70% of the s.section area.
abrupt textural change within 7.5-15 cm.
non-dominant material with andic properties at least
in one of the horizons.

________________________________________________________________________
1)

Between brackets, the corresponding SRCS name/symbol for the qualifier (soil type/subtype/characteristic).

625

Table 4
Summary of the modified qualifier definitions in the SRCS-extended WRB (cont.)
Qualifier name
Hypogleyic
(gz)1)
Hypostagnic
(pz)
Lamellic
(lamelar)
Mollic (mo)
Natric
Paraalbic (lv)
Paraentic (cp)
Pararendzic
(PR)
Pararendzic
(pr)
Proxicalcaric
(carbonatic)
Proxihistic
(turbificat)
Proxihypersalic'
Proxisodic'
Rendzic (RZ)
Rendzic (rz)
Rhodic (ro)

Rustic (fe)

Salic'

What is modified from the WRB standard

definition
Gleyic: layer having gleyic features within
100 cm of the soil surface, and having the
thickness 25 cm.
Stagnic: stagnic features in > 25% (of the soil
volume) within 100 cm of the soil surface.
clay lamellae with the combined thickness
15 cm within 100 cm of the soil surface.
mollic horizon.
natric h. starting within 100 cm of the soil surf.
albic h. starting within 100 cm of the soil surf.
not having an albic horizon and having a loose
spodic horizon.
Rendzic: mollic horizon that contains or
immediately overlies calcaric materials
containing 40 % calcium equivalent.
Rendzic: mollic horizon that contains or
immediately overlies calcaric materials
containing 40 % calcium equivalent.
Calcaric: calcaric mat. between 20-50 cm
Histic: histic horizon starting within 40 cm of
the soil surface (histic hor. thickness 10 cm).
Episalic: salic h. start. within50cm of the s.surf
Sodic: exchangeable Na plus Mg > 15%
within 50 cm of the soil surface.
mollic h. that contains or immediately overlies
calcaric materials containing 40% calc.equiv.
mollic h. that contains or immediately overlies
calcaric materials containing 40% calc.equiv.
Having within 150 cm of the soil surface a
subsurface layer, 30 cm or more thick, with a
Munsell hue of 2.5 YR or redder, a value,
moist, of less than 3.5 and a value, dry, no
more than one unit higher than the moist value.
spodic horizon in which the ratio of the
percentage of acid oxalate (pH3) extractable Fe
to the percentage of organic carbon is 6.
salic horizon starting within 100 cm of the soil
surface.

Sodic' (ac)

exchangeable Na plus Mg > 15% within 50

cm of the soil surface.

Stagnic' (pg)

having within100cm of the s.surf.in some parts

reducing cond. for some time during the year
and in 25%or more of the soil vol., single or in
combination, a stagnic col.pattern or an albic h.
umbric horizon.
vermic activity 50% in the upper 100 cm.

Umbric (um)
Vermic (vm)
Vertic (vs)

having a vertic horizon or vertic properties

starting within 100 cm of the soil surface.

Modified/additional definition requirements

in the SRCS-extended WRB
[gleyic^ horizon starting below 125 cm depth (85
cm for Arenosols)] OR [oxigleyic^ horiz. within the
200 cm of the soil surface (135 cm for Arenosols)].
[stagnic^ horizon (stagnic features > 50%) within
50-200 cm of the soil surf.] OR [hypostagnic^ hor.
(stagn.feat.: 6-50%) within 100 cm of the soil surf.].
clay lamellas with the combined thickness 15 cm
within 150 cm of the soil surf.
mollic horizon.
natric horiz. starting within 100 cm of the soil surf.
paraalbic horizon formed above an argic horizon.
not having a spodialbic^ horizon AND having a
cambic horizon with accumulation of Al oxides
pararendzic^ horizon starting within 150 cm of the
soil surface and mollic horizon formed from the
underlying pararendzic^ horizon.
pararendzic^ horizon starting within 150 cm of the
soil surface and an A horizon formed from other
materials than the underlying pararendzic^ horizon.
calcaric mat. within 20 cm of the soil surface ...
surface histic horizon with the thickness < 20 cm.
hypersalic^ horizon within 20 cm of the soil surf.
sodic^ horizon (exchangeable Na > 15%, thickness
of min. 10 cm) within 20 cm of the soil surface.
Rrz^ layer starting within150cm of the soil surf. and
mollic hor. formed from the underlying Rrz^ layer.
Rrz^ layer start. within150cm of the s.surf. and A h.
formed from other mat. than the underlying Rrz^ l.
Having a B horizon that has in its lower part and at
least on mottles (more than 50 %) in its higher part
a Munsell hue of 5YR or redder with a value and a
chroma 3.5 when moist, both on the faces and in
the insides of the structural elements.
rustispodic^ horizon (which is dominated by Fe and
Al oxides).
[hypersalic^ hor. between 50-100 cm of the s. surf.]
OR [a salic' horizon or a hyposalic^ horizon within
100 cm of the soil surface].
[sodic^ horizon (exchangeable Na > 15% with a
tickness of min. 10 cm) between 20-100 cm of the
soil surf.] OR [a hyposodic^ horizon (exchangeable
Na 5-15%) starting within 100 cm of the soil surf.].
[stagnic^ horizon (stagnic features > 50%) starting
between 20-50 cm of the soil surface]
AND [the stagnic^ hor. sited within an A or E hor.
AND, at least, within the first 50 cm of a B hor.].
umbric horizon.
vermic activity 30% in the surface horizon and
25% in the folowing horizon.
having, between bottom of an A horizon and 100
cm from the s.surf., [the upper limit of a vertic
horizon] OR [cracks that go up to the soil surface].

________________________________________________________________________
1)

Between brackets, the corresponding SRCS name/symbol for the qualifier (soil type/subtype/characteristic)

626

Table 5
Summary of the new qualifier definitions in the SRCS-extended WRB (extract)
Qualifier name

What is modified from the WRB

standard definition

Darkcoatic ^
(Cernoziomoid) 1)

Proxi (..x) 2)
Silicatohumic^
(humicosilicatic)
Spodialbic^
Xeroforestic^ (xf)
epiC
eroded
hypereroded
ochrA
ochrumbric
proxi 3)
subproxi

thinochrA

Modified/additional definition requirements

in the SRCS-extended WRB

Primary qualifiers/specifiers new-defined in the SRCS-extended WRB

mollic and [AC or B] horizons; dark colour; AC /B
horizon has organic-mineral coatings with chroma <
2 and values < 3.5 when moist; the mollic' horizon
has a difference 1.5 between the colour values, or
values and chroma, when moist and dry.
the required criteria are fulfilled within 20 cm of the
soil surface.
humified organic matter easily detachable by
rubbing from the silicon mineral part.
[Albic: having an albic horizon starting having a spodialbic^ horizon formed above a spodic
within 100 cm of the soil surface].
horizon.
having a xeroforestmollic^ horizon.

Secondary qualifiers new-defined in the SRCS-extended WRB (except soil colours)

having a C horizon (parent material) starting near
the soil surface and underlying an A horizon.
eroded soil having diagnostic horizons.
C or B horizon partially eroded and starting at the
soil surface.
having an ochrA^ horizon.
having an umbriochrA^ horizon.
the required criteria for RSG are fulfilled within 20
cm of the soil surface; (only for Solonchaks').
not having the stagnic or hypersalic conditions
within 20 cm but between 20 and 50 cm of the soil
surface; (only for Stagnosols and Solonchaks).
having an ochrA^ hor. that has the thickn. < 20 cm.

B-only-stagnic
branchog (branciog)
continental
(continental)
emerged (emers)
erubasic (erubazic)

Low-level qualifiers new-defined in the SRCS-extended WRB (extract)

stagnic features only in the B horizon.
Rrz^ layer of lime or lime-dominant gravel.
continental (only for sand/deposit).
-

emerged from water (only for Gleysol or Fluvisol).

Rrz^ layer of basic/ultrabasic eruptive/metamorphic
rock.
depth to the natric horizon 15 cm (only for
Solonetz).
marine (only for sand/deposit).
Rrz^ layer of gypsum (dominant) rock.

great depth to the

natric horizon
marine (marin)
overlying gypsum rock
(gipsic)
overlying limstone or
Rrz^ layer of limestone or dolomite.
dolomite (calcarodolomitic)
recarbonated (regradat) carbonates brought up from deeper layers.
relictgleyic (relict gleic) having relict gleyic features (drained soil).
sandy (nisipos)
sandy texture.
shifting (nefixat)
shifting (only for sand).
small depth to the
3 m (if medium-fine texture);
groundwater level
2 m (if sandy texture).
small depth to the
depth to the underlying gravel 50 cm.
underlying gravel
thinspodialbic (brun)
discontinuous or very thin spodialbic^ horizon.
_____________________
1)
Between brackets, the corresponding SRCS name/symbol of the term (soil type/subtype/characteristic);
2)
specifier; 3) qualifier.

627

Table 6
New-defined soil colours (secondary qualifiers) in the SRCS-extended WRB
Colour name

Horizon

vertichromic
(cromic) 1)
reddishbrown
(brun-roscat)
brown (brun)
chromicbrown

vertic

palebrown
yellowishbrown
lightgrey (albic)
chestnut
(balan)
partdark
(melanic)
dark

Munsell hue

Munsell value
(moist)

Munsell chroma
(moist)
>2

argic

7.5 YR

3.5

3.5

argic
cambic /
gleyic^ / oxigleyic^
cambic

7.5 YR

3.5
3.5

3.5
3.5

> 5 YR
(yellower than 5 YR)
10 YR
> 5 YR

3.5

3.5

3.5
>5

3.5
< 3.5
>2
< 3.5
< 3.5

argic
argic
mollic
AC
argic,
a part only
mollic / umbric /
umbriochrA^
AC / AR / B
verydark
mollic
(negru)
B
vertipellic
vertic
______________________
1)
Between brackets, the SRCS name of the colour.

< 3.5
< 3.5

2
< 3.5
< 3.5

< 3.5
2
< 1.5
2

In order to design the new definition of the SMR-200 Legend, the WRB Guidelines
for constructing small-scale map legends (IUSS Working Group WRB, 2010) and the
Manual of procedures of the 1:250,000 Georeferenced Soil Database for Europe (Finke et
al., 2001) were analysed and found not applicable. The first guidelines refer to the soil
maps at the scale 1:250,000 and smaller, and are not applicable because of the
complexity of the SMUs of the SMR-200 (taken into consideration that its information
density corresponds to the scale 1:100,000). The second guidelines are database-oriented
and do not provide proper rules for legend design.
6. CONCLUSIONS
1. The soil map legends defined in natural languages are sometimes difficultly
interpreted especially by computer programs, but also by practitioners because of
some possibly fuzzy and ambiguous definitions. A useful and practical solution of that
problem is the use of a specialised formalised language in order to precisely define the soil
map legends. Such a language, named Notation, was successfully used for redefining
unambiguously the Legend of the Soil Map of Romania at the scale 1:200,000 (SMR-200).
2. In order to provide a formalised definition of the legends of the medium scale soil
maps, a notation need comprise (i) certain elaborated terms and rules appropriate to
different kinds of soil information (attributes), characterising different soil typological units
and their weightings and frequencies within the soil mapping units, and (ii) certain
elaborated mechanisms (operators and rules) appropriate to define soil complex
associations (soil mapping units), e.g. grouping operators and different types of
association operators and alternative operators for soil typological units.
628

Table 7
SRCS SRCS-extended WRB Dictionary for SRCS Soil Types-Subtypes Examples
SRCS

SRCS-extended WRB

Formula

Name

Formula

Name

BD pz

LV stw'-yebrn.oA

Hypostagnic' LUVISOL (yellowishbrown, ochrA)

CM' eu'.rzr''-plbrn.oA

BM ti

Sol Brun Argiloiluvial

pseudogleizat
Sol Brun Eu-mezobazic
pseudorendzinic
Sol Brun Eu-mezobazic tipic

CM' eu'-plbrn.oA

Pararendzic'' Eutric' CAMBISOL' (palebrown,

ochrA)
Eutric' CAMBISOL' (palebrown,ochrA)

BP ha

Sol Brun Luvic tipic holoacid

AL' abr'-yebrn.oA

Paraalbic' ALISOL' (yellowishbrown, ochrA)

BP ob

Sol Brun Luvic tipic

oligobazic
Sol Brun Luvic pseudogleizat

LV abr'.hdp'-yebrn.oA

CM gz

Sol Cernoziomoid gleizat

PH' dkct^.glw'

Epihyperdystric Paraalbic' LUVISOL

(yellowishbrown, ochrA)
Hypostagnic Paraalbic' LUVISOL (yellowishbrown,
ochrA)
Hypogleyic' Darkcoatic^ PHAEOZEM'

CZ ti

Cernoziom tipic

CH' ha-dk

Haplic CHERNOZEM' (dark)

BM pr

BP pz

LV abr'.stw-yebrn.oA

CZ vm

Cernoziom vermic

CH' vm'-dk

Vermic' CHERNOZEM' (dark)

CZ vs

Cernoziom vertic

VR' mo'-dk

Mollic' VERTISOL' (dark)

CZ vs-ro

Cernoziom vertic-rodic

Rhodic' Mollic' VERTISOL' (dark)

CZ xf
HS cp

Cernoziom xeroforestic
Sol Humicosilicatic
criptospodic

VR' mo'.ro'-dk
CH' xef^-dk
UM' sihu^.etr^-dk @
UM' sihu^.etr^-ochrum.dk

LC sc-ac

Lacoviste saraturata
(salinizata-alcalizata)

CH' ng'.sz'.so'-dk @
PH' ng'.sz'.so'-dk @
SC' mo'.ng'.so'-sprox.dk

PR ca

Pseudorendzina cambica

CH' rzr'.cm'-dk @
PH' rzr'.cm'-dk

Xeroforestic^ CHERNOZEM' (dark)

Paraentic^ Silicatohumic^ UMBRISOL' (dark) @
Paraentic^ Silicatohumic^ UMBRISOL' (ochrumbric,
dark)
Sodic' Salic' Endogleyic' CHERNOZEM' (dark) @
Sodic' Salic' Endogleyic' PHAEOZEM' (dark) @
Sodic' Endogleyic' Mollic' SOLONCHAK' (subproxi,
dark)
Cambic' Pararendzic' CHERNOZEM' (dark) @
Cambic' Pararendzic' PHAEOZEM' (dark)

SA ls

Sol Aluvial litic

FL' el'-oA

Epileptic' FLUVISOL' (ochrA)

SA ls-gz

Sol Aluvial litic-gleizat

FL' el'.glw'-oA

Hypogleyic' Epileptic' FLUVISOL' (ochrA)

SB ti
SN lv

Sol Balan tipic

Solonet luvic

KS' cc.ca-chnt
SN' na'.abr'-oA

Calcaric Calcic KASTANOZEM' (chestnut)

Paraalbic' Natric' SOLONETZ' (ochrA)

SN sc

Solonet salinizat

VS gz-ac

Vertisol gleizat-alcalizat

SN' na'.hsp'-oA @
SN' na'.sz'-oA
VR' glw'.so'-vrtpe

Epihypersalic' Natric' SOLONETZ' (ochrA) @

Salic' Natric' SOLONETZ' (ochrA)
Sodic' Hypogleyic' VERTISOL' (vertipellic)

3. Some important differences between the Romanian System of Soil Classification

SRCS, which is used in the SMR-200 Legend definition, and the WRB international soil
classification system, were identified:
- There are some slight differences between the definitions of the corresponding
classification elements/taxa in the two systems. In some cases the differences are
important.
- The SRCS is more pedogenic-oriented, using quantitative, but also some
qualitative/fuzzy criteria, while the WRB has more quantitative criteria and more
detailed definitions.
- In the two systems, there are common terms with different meanings and similar
concepts with partly different scopes, using partly different weightings and priorities of
the diagnostic criteria.
- Some soil taxa in the SRCS system are narrower than the corresponding WRB terms,
some others are broader, while some others have only partly correspondence.
- Some of the SRCS first level taxa (soil types) correspond to some WRB second-level
taxa ("qualifiers") and two or more soil types may correspond to a same RSG.
- Some diagnostic soil features that are not taken into account for the SRCS soil type
definitions are considered important by the WRB for the RSG definitions and,
consequently, a SRCS soil type may correspond to two or more RSGs.
629

Table 8
Translation of the SRCS Soil Types into the SRCS-extended WRB system
SRCS Soil Types
Class
1.
Mollisols

2.
Argiluvisols

3.
Cambisols

SRCS-extension WRB Reference Soil Groups / Qualifiers

Code
SB *

Type
Chestnut Soils

Formula1)
KS' * cc'.ca'-chnt
SC' * mo'.cc'.ca'-sprox.chnt

CZ *

Chernozems

CH' * -dk
VR' * mo'-dk
SC' * mo'-sprox.dk

Name1)
* Calcaric' Calcic' KASTANOZEMS' (chestnut)
* Calcaric' Calcic' Mollic' SOLONCHAKS' (subproxi,
chestnut)
* CHERNOZEMS' (dark)
* Mollic' VERTISOLS' (dark)
* Mollic' SOLONCHAKS' (subproxi, dark)

CC *

Cambic
Chernozems

CI *

Argillo-illuvial
Chernozems

CM *

Chernozemoid
Soils

CN *

Grey Soils

RZ *

Rendzinas

PR *

Pseudorendzinas

BR *

Reddish-Brown
Soils

BD *

Argillo-illuvial
Brown Soils

RP *

Luvic ReddishBrown Soils

CH' * cm'-dk
PH' * cm'-dk
VR' * mo'.cm'-dk
SC' * mo'.cm'-sprox.dk
CH' * lv-dk
PH' * lv-dk
VR' * mo'.lv-dk
SC' mo'.lv-sprox.dk
PH' * dkct^
CH' * dkct^
VR' * mo'.dkct^
PH' * gz'-dk
CH' * gz'-dk
CH' * rz'
PH' * rz'
CH' * rzr'-dk
PH' * rzr'-dk
VR' * mo'.rzr'-dk
LV * -rdbrn.oA
PH' * lv-rdbrn
VR' * lv-rdbrn.oA
LV * -yebrn.oA
LV * ro'-oA
PH' * lv-yebrn
VR' * lv-yebrn.oA
AL' ha-yebrn.oA
LV * abr'-rdbrn.oA
VR' * lv.abr'-rdbrn.oA

* Cambic' CHERNOZEMS' (dark)

* Cambic' PHAEOZEMS' (dark)
* Cambic' Mollic' VERTISOLS' (dark)
* Cambic' Mollic' SOLONCHAKS' (subproxi, dark)
* Luvic CHERNOZEMS' (dark)
* Luvic PHAEOZEMS' (dark)
* Luvic Mollic' VERTISOLS' (dark)
Luvic Mollic' SOLONCHAKS' (subproxi, dark)
* Darkcoatic^ PHAEOZEMS'
* Darkcoatic^ CHERNOZEMS'
* Darkcoatic^ Mollic' VERTISOLS'
* Greyic' PHAEOZEMS' (dark)
* Greyic' CHERNOZEMS' (dark)
* Rendzic' CHERNOZEMS' (dark)
* Rendzic' PHAEOZEMS' (dark
* Pararendzic' CHERNOZEMS' (dark)
* Pararendzic' PHAEOZEMS' (dark)
* Pararendzic' Mollic' VERTISOLS' (dark)
* LUVISOLS (reddishbrown, ochrA)
* Luvic PHAEOZEMS' (reddishbrown)
* Luvic VERTISOLS' (reddishbrown, ochrA)
* LUVISOLS (yellowishbrown, ochrA)
* Rhodic' LUVISOLS (ochrA)
* Luvic PHAEOZEMS' (yellowishbrown)
* Luvic VERTISOLS' (yellowishbrown, ochrA)
Haplic ALISOLS' (yellowishbrown, ochrA)
* Paraalbic' LUVISOLS (reddishbrown, ochrA)
* Paraalbic' Luvic VERTISOLS' (reddishbrown, ochrA)

BP *

Luvic-Brown
Soils

SP *

Albic Luvisols

PL *

Planosols

BM *

Eu-mesobasic
Brown Soils

LV * abr'-yebrn.oA
LV * abr'.ro-oA
VR' * lv.abr'-yebrn.oA
AL' * abr'-yebrn.oA
LV * ab-ltgry.oA
LV * ab.ro'-oA
VR' * lv.ab-ltgry.oA
ST' * lv.ab-sprox.ltgry.oA
B-only-stagnic
AL' * ab-ltgry.oA
AB * -ltgry.oA
PL' * lv.stw'
PL' * lv.st'
VR' * ap.lv
CM' * eu'-plbrn.oA
PH' * cm'-plbrn
VR' * cm'.eu'-plbrn
SC' * cm'.eu'-sprox.plbrn
ST' cm'.eu'.glw'-sprox.plbrn.oA

TR *

Red Soils
(Terra Rossa)

CM' * eu'.ro'-oA

* Paraalbic' LUVISOLS (yellowishbrown, ochrA)

* Rhodic Paraalbic' LUVISOLS (ochrA)
* Paraalbic' Luvic VERTISOLS' (yellowishbrown, ochrA)
* Paraalbic' ALISOLS' (yellowishbrown, ochrA)
* Albic LUVISOLS (lightgrey, ochrA)
* Rhodic' Albic LUVISOLS (ochrA)
* Albic Luvic VERTISOLS' (lightgrey, ochrA)
* Albic Luvic STAGNOSOLS' (subproxi, lightgrey,
ochrA) B-only-stagnic
* Albic ALISOLS' (lightgrey, ochrA)
* ALBELUVISOLS (lightgrey, ochrA)
* Hypostagnic' Luvic PLANOSOLS'
* Stagnic' Luvic PLANOSOLS'
* Luvic Abruptic VERTISOLS'
* Eutric' CAMBISOLS' (palebrown, ochrA)
* Cambic' PHAEOZEMS' (palebrown)
* Eutric' Cambic' VERTISOLS' (palebrown)
* Eutric' Cambic' SOLONCHAKS' (subproxi, palebrown)
Hypogleyic Eutric' Cambic' STAGNOSOLS' (subproxi,
palebrown, ochrA)
* Rhodic' Eutric' CAMBISOLS' (ochrA)

BO *

Acid Brown Soils

CM' * dy'-crbrn.oA
CM' * dy'.etr'-crbrn.ochrum
UM' * cm'-crbrn

1)

the main corresponding terms are in bold characters

630

* Dystric' CAMBISOLS' (chromicbrown, ochrA)

* Paraentic' Dystric' CAMBISOLS' (chromicbrown,
ochrumbric)
* Cambic' UMBRISOLS' (chromicbrown)

Table 8
Translation of the SRCS Soil Types into the SRCS-extended WRB system (cont.)
SRCS Soil Types
Class
4.
Spodosols

Code
PB *
PD *

5.
Umbrisols

NO *
HS *

SRCS-extension WRB Reference Soil Groups / Qualifiers

Type
Ferri-illuvial
Brown Soils
Podzols

Formula1)
PZ * et'
HS hip'.et'
PZ * sdab^
HS hip'.sd.sdab^
UM' * cm'-dk
UM' * sihu^-dk

Name1)
* Entic' PODZOLS
Entic' Epihistic' HISTOSOLS
* Spodialbic^ PODZOLS
Spodialbic^ Spodic Epihistic' HISTOSOLS
* Cambic' UMBRISOLS' (dark)
* Silicatohumic^ UMBRISOLS' (dark)

AN' * -dk

* ANDOSOLS' (dark)
* Endogleyic' PHAEOZEMS' (dark)
* Endogleyic' CHERNOZEMS' (dark)
Endogleyic' Mollic' VERTISOLS' (dark)
* Gleyic' Mollic' SOLONCHAKS' (subproxi, dark)
* Mollic' GLEYSOLS' (dark)
* Hypostagnic' Hypogleyic' PHAEOZEMS' (verydark)
* Hypostagnic' Hypogleyic' CHERNOZEMS' (verydark)
* Hypostagnic' Hypogleyic' Mollic' VERTISOLS' (verydark)
* GLEYSOLS' (chromicbrown)
* Endogleyic' ** (chromicbrown)
Epigleyic' SOLONCHAKS' (subproxi, ochrA, chromicbrown)
Epigleyic' Epihistic' HISTOSOLS (chromicbrown)
* STAGNOSOLS'
* Stagnic' VERTISOLS' (ochrA)
* Stagnic' Epihistic' HISTOSOLS
* Proxihypersalic' SOLONCHAKS'
* Proxihypersalic' VERTISOLS' (ochrA)
* SOLONETZ'

AN *

Acid Dark Soils

Humico-silicatic
Soils
Andosols

LC *

Lacoveshte

NF *

GC *

Slopehydromorphic
Dark Soils
Gleyic Soils

PG *

Pseudogleyic Soils

7. Halo-morphic
Soils

SC *

Solonchaks

SN *

Solonetz

PH' * ng'-dk
CH' * ng'-dk
VR' mo'.ng'-dk
SC' * mo'.gl'-sprox.dk
GL' * mo'-dk
PH' * glw'.stw'-vdk
CH' * glw'.stw'-vdk
VR' * mo'.glw'.stw'-vdk
GL' * -crbrn
** * ng'-crbrn
SC' glp'-sprox.oA.crbrn
HS hip'.glp'-crbrn
ST' *
VR' * st'-oA
HS * hip'.st'
SC' * hsx'
VR' * hsx'-oA
SN' *

8.Vertisols

VS *

Vertisols

VR' *

* VERTISOLS'

9.
Undeveloped/
Truncated/
Deepplowed
Soils

LS *

Lithosols

PS *

Psammosols

AA *

Alluvial Protosols

LP' * -oA
HS * fo'.el'
AR' * -oA
PH' * ar'
CH' * ar'
GL' * ar'-oA
SC' * ar'-sprox
FL' * -thinoA

* LEPTOSOLS' (ochrA)
* Epileptic' Folic' HISTOSOLS
* ARENOSOLS' (ochrA)
* Arenic' PHAEOZEMS'
* Arenic' CHERNOZEMS'
* Arenic' GLEYSOLS' (ochrA)
* Arenic' SOLONCHAKS' (subproxi)
* FLUVISOLS' (thinochrA)

SA *

Alluvial Soils

RS *

Regosols

ER *

Erodisols

CO *

Colluvisols

FL' * -oA
FL' * mo'
FL' * um'
VR' * fv'-oA
RG * -epiC.oA
PH' * -epiC
UM' * -epiC
SC' * -sprox.epiC
RG * -erodh
** * -erodh
RG * co'-epiC

* FLUVISOLS' (ochrA)
* Mollic' FLUVISOLS'
* Umbric' FLUVISOLS'
* Fluvic' VERTISOLS' (ochrA)
* REGOSOLS (epiC, ochrA)
* PHAEOZEMS' (epiC)
* UMBRISOLS' (epiC)
* SOLONCHAKS' (subproxi, epiC)
* REGOSOLS (hypereroded)
* ** (hypereroded)
* Colluvic' REGOSOLS (epiC)

DD *

Deep-plowed
2)
Soils
Anthropic
Protosols 2)

AT' * ai'

* Aric' ANTHROSOLS'

TC' *

* TECHNOSOLS'

TB *

Histic Soils

HS * hi'

* Histic' HISTOSOLS

LM *

Limnosols

FL' * lm.sq
HS * lm.sq

* Subaquatic Limnic FLUVISOLS'

* Subaquatic Limnic HISTOSOLS

6. Hydro-morphic
Soils

PA *
10.
Histosols
11.
Limnisols
1)
2)
3)

2)

3)

the main corresponding terms are in bold characters

not-used in the Legend of the SMR-200
extension of the SRCS system during the 2009-2011 updating of the SMR-200

631

Table 9
Correspondence between SRCS Soil Types and WRB Reference Soil Groups
WRB
SRCS
1

H
S

A
T'

T
C'

L
P'

V
R'

SB

F
L'

S
N'

S
C'

G
L'

A
N'

P
Z

P
L'

S
T'

C
H'

K
S'

P
H'

A
B

A
L'

L
V

U
M'

A
R'

C
M'

R
G

CZ

CC

CI

CM

CN
RZ

PR

BR

BD

RP

BP

SP

PL

BM

X
X

TR
BO
4

PB

PD

NO
HS
AN

LC

NF

GC

PG

SC

SN
8

VS

LS

PS

AA
SA

RS
ER

X
X

CO
DD
PA
10

TB

11

LM

: main correspondence;

X
X

X : secondary correspondence.

632

Translation of the SMR-200 Soil Mapping Units into the SRCS-extended WRB system Examples
SMU
No.
6

SMU
Code
SBti/e/1-

SMU Original Definition

using the SRCS
Soluri balane tipice erodate si
erodisoluri (pe versante)
Cernoziomuri carbonatice
freatic-umede

SMU Original Formula

using the SRCS
[SB ti erd + ER *]
l:versant
CZ * kar fru

Cernoziomuri tipice
semicarbonatice (inclusiv
vermice semicarbonatice pe
terase cu depozite loessoide)
Cernoziomuri vertice sau vertice
rodice
Cernoziomuri argiloiluviale
(slab luvice) si soloneturi luvice,
freatic-umede

Table 10

CZ ti semikar &
CZ vm semikar
r:dloessoid l:terasa

SMU Translated Definition

using the SRCS-extended WRB
[Calcaric' Calcic' Kastanozems' (chestnut, eroded) +
* Regosols (hypereroded)] on slopes
* Bathyhypogleyic' Proxicalcaric Chernozems' (dark) @
[* Bathyhypogleyic' Proxicalcaric Mollic' Vertisols' (dark) @
*Bathyhypogleyic' Proxicalcaric Mollic' Solonchaks'(subproxi,dark)]
Calcaric Chernozems' (dark) &
Calcaric Vermic' Chernozems' (dark) from loessoid deposits,
on terraces

SMU Translated Formula

using the SRCS-extended WRB
[KS' cc'.ca'-chnt.erod +
RG * -erodh] l: slope
CH' * cax.glwd'-dk @
[VR' * mo'.cax.glwd'-dk @
SC' * mo'.cax.glwd'-sprox.dk]
CH' ca-dk &
CH' vm'.ca-dk r:loessoiddep l:terrace

CZ vs / CZ vs-ro

Mollic' Vertisols' (dark) / Rhodic' Mollic' Vertisols' (dark)

VR' mo'-dk / VR' mo'.ro'-dk

CI * lvslab fru +
SN lv fru

[*Bathyhypogleyic' Greyic' Luvic Chernozems' (dark) @

* Bathyhypogleyic' Greyic' Luvic Phaeozems' (dark) @
[*Bathyhypogleyic' Greyic' Luvic Mollic' Vertisols' (dark) @
Bathyhypogleyic' Greyic' Luvic Mollic' Solonchaks' (subproxi,
dark)] ] + Bathyhypogleyic' Paraalbic' Natric' Solonetz' (ochrA)
Hypogleyic' Darkcoatic^ Phaeozems'
~Epihypogleyic'@Endoorthogleyic'~ +
[* Endogleyic' Phaeozems' (dark) @
* Endogleyic' Chernozems' (dark) @
[Endogleyic' Mollic' Vertisols' (dark) @
* Gleyic' Mollic' Solonchaks' (subproxi, dark) @
* Mollic' Gleysols' (dark)] ] relictgleyic
* Rendzic' Phaeozems' (dark) erubasic + [* Eutric' Cambisols'
(palebrown, ochrA) @ [* Cambic' Phaeozems' (palebrown) @
* Eutric' Cambic' Vertisols' (palebrown) @ Hypogleyic' Eutric'
Cambic' Stagnosols' (subproxi, palebrown, ochrA)] ]
[Epileptic' Rendzic' Chernozems' / Epileptic' Rendzic' Phaeozems'] +
Nudilithic Leptosols' ~continuous rocks~
Hypostagnic' Luvisols (yellowishbrown, ochrA) +
Hypostagnic' Paraalbic' Luvisols (yellowishbrown, ochrA)

[CH' * lv.gz'.glwd'-dk @
PH' * lv.gz'.glwd'-dk @
[VR' * mo'.lv.gz'.glwd'-dk @
SC' mo'.lv.gz'.glwd'-sprox.dk] ] +
SN' na'.abr'.glwd'-oA
PH' dkct^.glw' ~glwp'@glon'~ +
[PH' * ng'-dk @ CH' * ng'-dk @
[VR' mo'.ng'-dk @ SC' * mo'.gl'-sprox.dk
@ GL' * mo'-dk] ] relictgl

[Epihyperdystric' Paraalbic' Luvisols (yellowishbrown, ochrA) @

Paraalbic' Alisols' (yellowishbrown, ochrA)] +
[* Dystric' Cambisols' (chromicbrown, ochrA) @
[* Paraentic' Dystric' Cambisols' (chromicbrown, ochrumbric) @
* Cambic' Umbrisols' (chromicbrown)] ]

[LV abr'.hdp'-yebrn.oA @
AL' abr'-yebrn.oA] +
[CM' * dy'-crbrn.oA @
[CM' * dy'.etr'-crbrn.ochrum @
UM' * cm'-crbrn] ]

CZ/kf

16

CZti/lk

24

CZvs

102

CI/p/2

120

CMgz/1

Soluri cernoziomoide gleizate

puternic si lacovisti cu gleizare
relicta (drenate)

CM gz gzpu +
LC * gzrelict

148

RZ/4

Rendzine erubazice si soluri

brune eu-mezobazice

RZ * erubazic + BM *

151

RZls/2

RZ ls + #R

191

BDpz/1

227

BPti/o/6

Rendzine litice si roci compacte

la zi
Soluri brune argiloiluviale
pseudogleizate si soluri brune
luvice pseudogleizate
Soluri brune luvice tipice
oligobazice si/sau holoacide si
soluri brune acide

BD pz + BP pz

[BP ob @ BP ha] + BO
*

633

PH' * rz'-dk rz:erubasic +

[CM' * eu'-plbrn.oA @ [PH' * cm'-plbrn @
VR' * cm'.eu'-plbrn @
ST' cm'.eu'.glw'-sprox.plbrn.oA] ]
[CH' rz'.el' / PH' rz'.el'] +
LS' nt ~continuous rocks~
LV stw'-yebrn.oA + LV abr'.stw'-yebrn.oA

Translation of the SMR-200 Soil Mapping Units into the SRCS-extended WRB system - Examples (cont.)
SMU
No.
283

SMU
Code
BM/3

SMU Original Definition

using the SRCS
Soluri brune eu-mezobazice
(tipice sau pseudorendzinice) si
pseudorendzine (predominant
cambice) frecvent asociate cu
erodisoluri si/sau regosoluri

SMU Original Formula

using the SRCS
[BM ti / BM pr] + [PR
ca p:predom + PR *] +
[ER * @ RS * ] f:frecv

342

PD/1

PD * + PB * & LS *
~local~ & #Z ~local~

352

HScp

Podzoluri si soluri brune

feriiluviale (podzolice); local,
litosoluri si stancarie
Soluri humicosilicatice
criptospodice (local litosoluri)

367

LCsc-ac/a

Lacovisti saraturate pe depozite

fluviatile si fluvio-lacustre
recente

LC sc-ac r:dfluvlacre

397

SC/1

Solonceacuri (pe depozite

continentale) si soloneturi
salinizate

SC * r:dcontl + SN sc

410

VSgz-ac/a

VS gz-ac r:dfluvlacre

440

N /2-

Vertisoluri gleizate-alcalizate pe
depozite fluviatile si fluviolacustre recente
Nisipuri, psamosoluri si
cernoziomuri cambice, pe
nisipuri (relief valurit eolian)

458

SAls

Soluri aluviale litice, uneori

gleizate, (pe conuri de dejectie)

469

TB/d/1

472

CZxf/k
(Xk)

Soluri turboase, districe si

turbe oligotrofe
Cernoziomuri xeroforestice
(castanii) carbonatice, sub
paduri xerofile si sibleacuri

[SA ls / SA ls-gz
f:uneori] l:condej
TB * distric + #T otrof

HS cp & LS * ~local~

[#N contl + PS * r:nisip

+ CC * r:nisip] l:relveol

CZ xf kar u:padxe

Table 10

SMU Translated Definition

using the SRCS-extended WRB
[Eutric' Cambisols' (palebrown,ochrA) / Pararendzic'' Eutric'
Cambisols' (palebrown, ochrA)] + [Cambic' Pararendzic' Phaeozems'
(dark)] predominant + [* Pararendzic' Phaeozems' (dark) @
* Pararendzic' Mollic' Vertisols' (dark)] ] +
[ [* Regosols (hypereroded) @ [* Cambisols' (hypereroded) @
* Luvisols (hypereroded) @ * Vertisols' (hypereroded)] ] @
[* Regosols (epiC, ochrA) @ * Phaeozems' (epiC)] ] frequently
associated
* Spodialbic^ Podzols + * Entic' Podzols
& * Leptosols' (ochrA) ~local~
& Nudilithic Leptosols' ~rock outcrops, local~
[Paraentic^ Silicatohumic^ Umbrisols' (dark) @
Paraentic^ Silicatohumic^ Umbrisols' (ochrumbric, dark)]
& * Leptosols' (ochrA) ~local~
[Sodic' Salic' Endogleyic' Chernozems' (dark) @
Sodic' Salic' Endogleyic' Phaeozems' (dark) @
Sodic' Endogleyic' Mollic' Solonchaks' (subproxi, dark)] from recent
fluviatile or fluvio-lacustrine deposits
[* Proxihypersalic' Solonchaks' @
* Proxihypersalic' Vertisols' (ochrA)] from continental deposits +
[Epihypersalic' Natric' Solonetz' (ochrA) @
Salic' Natric' Solonetz' (ochrA)]
Sodic' Hypogleyic' Vertisols' (vertipellic) from recent fluviatile or
fluvio-lacustrine deposits

SMU Translated Formula

using the SRCS-extended WRB
[CM' eu'-plbrn.oA / CM' eu'.rzr''-plbrn.oA]
+ [PH' rzr'.cm'-dk p:predom +
[PH' * rzr'-dk @ VR' * mo'.rzr'-dk] ] +
[ [RG * erodh @ [CM' * erodh @
LV * erodh @ VR' * erodh] ] @
[RG * epiC.oA @ PH' * epiC] ] f:freq

[Protic Arenosols' continental ~sands~ + [* Arenosols' ochrA @

[* Arenic' Phaeozems' @ * Arenic' Gleysols' (ochrA) @
* Arenic' Solonchaks' (subproxi)] ] from sands +
[* Cambic' Chernozems' (dark) @ * Cambic' Phaeozems' (dark) @
* Cambic' Mollic' Solonchaks' (subproxi, dark)] from sands]
on aeolian undulating landforms
[Epileptic' Fluvisols' (ochrA) / Hypogleyic' Epileptic' Fluvisols'
(ochrA) seldom] on sedimentary dejection cones
* Dystric' Histic' Histosols + Dystric' Histic' Histosols ~peats~

[AR' pr contl ~sands~ + [AR' * oA @

[PH' * ar' @ GL' * ar'-oA @
SC' * ar'-sprox] ] r:sand +
[CH' * cm'-dk @ PH' * cm'-dk @
SC' * mo'.cm'-sprox.dk] r:sand]
l:aeolundullandform
[FL' el'-oA / FL' el'.glw'-oA f:seldom]
l:dejcone
HS * hi'.dy' + HS hi'.dy' ~peats~

Proxicalcaric Xeroforestic^ Chernozems' (dark) in xerophile

forest/shrub land

CH' xef^.cax-dk u:xeforest

634

PZ * sdab^ + PZ * et'
& LP' * -oA ~local~
& LS' nt ~rock outcrops, local~
UM' sihu^.etr^-dk @
UM' sihu^.etr^-ochrum.dk
& LP' * -oA ~local~
[CH' ng'.sz'.so'-dk @
PH' ng'.sz'.so'-dk @
SC' mo'.ng'.so'-sprox.dk] r:refluvlacdep
[SC' * hsx' @ VR' * hsx'-oA] r:contldep +
[SN' na'.hsp'-oA @ SN' na'.sz'-oA]

VR' glw'.so'-vrtpe r:refluvlacdep

4. These differences led to some important conclusions, regarding the translation of

the SMR-200 Legend into the WRB system:
- In the case of the SMR-200 (and probably of the most soil maps that were defined
earlier than the WRB) a direct precise translation into the WRB is not possible;
- The soil re-classification using the WRB, based on the primary information used in
original SRCS classification, is also not possible because of some missing information
requested by the WRB and not needed by the SRCS.
- To have a WRB standard description of the SMR-200, its SMUs need be redefined
using standard WRB terms, a lot of additional soil surveys are necessary to obtain the
missing data and a lot of new contours of areals need be re-established according to
the new definitions of SMUs. Such a re-mapping solution practically is not feasible.
5. To obtain an international translation of the SMR-200 Legend usable and as
accurate as possible, an appropriate solution is the definition of variants of the WRB
standard terms accordingly to the SRCS definitions of the corresponding terms. In this
respect, the WRB was extended with WRB-like terms specific to SRCS, obtaining the
SRCS-extended WRB. The appropriate translation dictionaries were established
containing not-modified WRB terms, slightly-modified WRB terms and new-defined WRBlike terms. The modified terms are named with the original WRB name having one or two
apostrophes as the last character(s) and the new-defined terms are named using the WRB
nomenclature system. By removing the apostrophes and eliminating the new-defined
terms from a SRCS-extended WRB translation, an approximation as good as possible of
the translation into the standard WRB can be obtained.
6. In the case of the soil map legends having a large number of complex soil
mapping units, by using together a formalised Notation, an appropriate translation
dictionary and a computer program, a hard and huge part of the work for their translation is
eliminated. However, also in that case, the expert reviewing of the automatic translation
output is necessary.
7. To translate the soil typological units defined in a medium-scale soil map (like the
SMR-200) into the WRB system, three categories of qualifiers are proposed: primary (most
relevant, used as prefix qualifiers), secondary (others needed for translation of the higher
level taxa, used as suffix qualifiers) and low-level qualifiers (the others). By strictly applying
the WRB standard designation of the qualifiers as prefix and suffix, some relevance of
translation is lost. Also, different WRB qualifiers possibly need be placed in different taxon
levels. In order to translate the earlier-defined soil map legends, using the two WRB
standard categories and defining only a third category of the WRB to accommodate local
diversity at country level, seems not to be a feasible solution. A hierarchy of three levels
could be established only for the new-designed local/national soil classification systems,
which in that way could partly loose the links with the traditional definitions / terms.
8. The SRCS-extended WRB version of the SMR-200 Legend and the SRCS
SRCS-extended WRB translation dictionaries are useful both to the Romanian soil
scientists and practitioners that want to internationally describe the Romanian soils, and to
the soil scientists and practitioners without knowledge of the Romanian language that want
to use the SMR-200 or other soil maps described in the SRCS system terms.
7. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
1. Conea, A., Florea, N., Puiu, St. (coord.). (1980). Sistemul Romn de
Clasificare a Solurilor. ICPA Bucureti, 174 p.
2. Deckers, J., Driessen, P., Nachtergaele, F., Spaargaren, O. (2002). World
Reference Base for Soil Resources in a nutshell. In: European Soil Bureau, Research
Report No. 7, EC, JRC, p.173-181.
635

3. EC. (2007). Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 14 March 2007 Establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European
Community (INSPIRE), L 108, 14 p.
4. FAO-ISRIC-ISSS, (1994). World Reference Base for Soil Resources. FAOISRIC, Rome.
5. FAO-ISRIC-ISSS, (1998). World Reference Base for Soil Resources. World Soil
Resources Report 84, FAO, Rome, 88p.
6. FAO. (2006). Guidelines for soil description, 4-th edition. FAO, Rome, 10+97 p.
7. Finke, P., Hartwich, R., Dudal, R., Ibez, J., Jamagne, M., King, D.,
Montanarella, L., Yassoglou. N. (2001). Georeferenced Soil Database for Europe:
Manual of Procedures Version 1.1. EC, JRC, European Soil Bureau, Scientific Committee,
Research Report No. 5, EUR 18092 EN, 172p.
8. Florea, N., Munteanu, I., Oancea, C., (1988) Opt ani de aplicare a Sistemului
Romn de Clasificare a Solurilor. tiina Solului, Bucureti, nr. 2, p.3-8.
9. Florea, N., Blceanu, V., Munteanu, I., Asvadurov, H., Conea, A., Oancea,
C., Cernescu, N., Popov, M. (coord.). (1963-1993). Harta Solurilor Romniei, scara
1:200.000. / Soil Map of Romania, scale 1:200,000. Bucureti, Inst.Geologic / IGFCOT, 50
sheets.
10. Florea, N., Blceanu, V., Munteanu, I., Asvadurov, H., Conea, A., Oancea,
C. (coord.). (1994a). Harta Solurilor Romniei, scara 1:200.000. Legenda General. (Soil
Map of Romania, scale 1:200,000. General Legend), Ed. IGFCOT, Bucureti, 1 sheet A1.
11. Florea, N., Blceanu, V., Munteanu, I. (1994b). Harta solurilor Romniei la
scara 1:200.000. Lucrrile Conferinei Naionale pentru tiina Solului, Publicaiile SNRSS,
nr. 28A, p.27-29.
12. Florea, N., Munteanu, I. (2003). Sistemul Romn de Taxonomie a Solurilor
(SRTS). Ediia 2003. Ed. Estfalia, Bucureti, 182 p.
13. Florea, N., Munteanu, I. (2012). Sistemul Romn de Taxonomie a Solurilor
(SRTS). Ediia 2012. Ed. Sitech, Craiova, 206 p.
14. GR. (2010a). Ordonan privind instituirea Infrastructurii naionale pentru
informaii spaiale n Romnia. Guvernul Romniei, Ordonana nr. 4/2010, Monitorul Oficial
al Romniei, Partea I, nr. 66/2010, p. 2-12.
15. GR. (2010b). Hotrre privind aprobarea Regulamentului de organizare i
funcionare a Consiliului Infrastructurii naionale pentru informaii spaiale n Romnia.
Guvernul Romniei, Hotrre nr. 493/2010.
16. INSPIRE. (2011). INSPIRE Data Specification on SOIL Guidelines,
D2.8.III.3_v2.0, INSPIRE Thematic Working Group SOIL, 10+186 p.
17. IUSS Working Group WRB. (2007). World Reference Base for Soil Resources
2006, First update 2007. A framework for international classification, correlation and
communication. IUSS/ISRIC/FAO, World Soil Resources Reports, No. 103, FAO, Roma,
123 p.
18. IUSS Working Group WRB. (2010). Guidelines for constructing small-scale
map legends using the World Reference Base for Soil Resources. Addendum to the World
Reference Base for Soil Resources. 26 p.
19. Karklins, A. (2002). A comparative study of the Latvian soil classification with
WRB. In: European Soil Bureau, Research Report No. 7, EC, JRC, p.199-204.
20. Keay, C.A., Hallett, S.H., Farewell, T.S., Rayner, A.P., Jones, R.J.A. (2009).
Moving the National Soil Database for England and Wales (LandIS) towards INSPIRE
Compliance. International Journal of Spatial Data Infrastructures Researches, vol. 4, p.
134-155.
21. Krasilnikov, P., Arnold, R. (2009a). World Reference Base for Soil Resources
A tool for international soil correlation. In: Krasilnikov, P., Ibanez, J.J., Arnold, R., Shoba,

636

S. (eds.). A Handbook of Soil Terminology, Correlation and Classification. Earthscan,

London, Sterling, Chapter 4, p. 47-74.
22. Krasilnikov, P., Arnold, R. (2009b). Soil classification of Romania. In:
Krasilnikov, P., Ibanez, J.J., Arnold, R., Shoba, S. (eds.). A Handbook of Soil Terminology,
Correlation and Classification. Earthscan, London, Sterling, Chapter 17, p. 176-181.
23. Krasilnikov, P., Arnold, R. (2009c). A review of world soil classifications. In:
Krasilnikov, P., Ibanez, J.J., Arnold, R., Shoba, S. (eds.). A Handbook of Soil Terminology,
Correlation and Classification. Earthscan, London, Sterling, Chapter 33, p. 328-335.
24. Lambert, J.J., Daroussin, J., Eimberck, M., Le Bas, C., Jamagne, M., King,
D., Montanarella L. (eds.). (2003). Soil Geographical Database for Eurasia & The
Mediterranean: Instructions Guide for Elaboration at scale 1:1,000,000, Version 4.0., EC,
JRC, European Soil Bureau, Research Report No.8, EUR 20422 EN, 64p.
25. Munteanu, I. (1994). Solurile Romniei n sistemele de clasificare
internaionale. tiina Solului, Bucureti, nr. 3-4, p.1-84.
26. Munteanu, I., Florea, N. (2002). Present-day status of Soil Classification in
Romania. In: Micheli, E., Nachtergaele, F.O., Jones, R.J.A., Montanarella, L. (eds.), Soil
Classification 2001, EC, JRC, European Soil Bureau, Research Report No. 7, EUR 20398
EN, p.55-62.
27. Munteanu, I., Dumitru, M., Florea, N., Canarache, A., Lctuu, R., Vlad, V.,
Simota, C., Ciobanu, C., Rou, C. (2005). Status of soil mapping, monitoring and
database compilation in Romania at the beginning of the 21-st century. In: Jones, R.J.A.,
Houskova, B., Bullock, P., Montanarella, L. (eds.), Soil Resources of Europe, second
edition, EC, JRC, European Soil Bureau, Research Report No. 9, EUR 20559 EN, p.281296.
28. Munteanu, I. (2007). Despre evoluiile recente n sistemele internaionale de
clasificare a solurilor: Baza Mondial de Referin pentru Resursele de Sol (WRB-SR) i
Sistemul american USDA Soil Taxonomy. tiina Solului / Soil Science, Bucureti, vol.
XLI, nr. 1, p.105-114.
29. PR. (2010). Lege pentru aprobarea Ordonanei Guvernului nr. 4/2010 privind
instituirea Infrastructurii naionale pentru informaii spaiale n Romnia. Parlamentul
Romniei, Legea nr. 190/2010, Monitorul Oficial al Romniei, Partea I, nr. 695/2010.
30. Roca Pascual, N., Pazos, M.S. (2002). The WRB applied to Argentinian soils:
two case studies. In: European Soil Bureau, Research Report No. 7, EC, JRC, p.191-197.
31. Shishkov, T. (2011). Implications of the World Reference Base and Soil
Taxonomy within the Framework of Bulgarian Soil Classification. Soil Science
Agrochemistry and Ecology, v. 45 (3), p. 9-26.
32. Vintil, R., Munteanu, I., Curelariu, G, Moise, I. (1997). Aplicaii ale sistemului
informatic geografic "SIGSTAR" al resurselor de sol i de teren agricol ale Romniei n
judeul Sibiu. Lucrrile celei de a XV-a Conferine Naionale pentru tiina Solului,
Publicaiile SNRSS, nr. 29D, p.175-185.
33. Vintil, R., Munteanu, I., Cojocaru, G., Radnea, C., Turnea, D., Curelariu,
G., Nilca, I., Jalb, M., Piciu, I., Rnoveanu, I., ilechi, C., Trandafir, M., Untaru, G.,
Vespremeanu, R. (2004). Sistemul Informatic Geografic al Resurselor de Sol ale
Romniei SIGSTAR-200: Metodologie de realizare i principalele tipuri de aplicaii.
Lucrrile celei de a XVII-a Conferine Naionale pentru tiina Solului, Publicaiile SNRSS,
nr. 34A, Vol 1, p.439-449 (http://www.icpa.ro/proiecte/SIGSTAR-200.pdf).
34. Vintil, R. (2009). The Soil Geographical Information System of Romania at the
scale 1:200,000. Version 2 beta. Internal Report, ICPA Bucureti, 11 p.
35. Vlad, V., Florea, N., Munteanu, I., Seceleanu, I. (2012). Notation for a
formalised description of the Legend of the Soil Map of Romania at the scale 1:200,000,
tiina Solului - Soil Science (ISSN: 0585-3052), Vol. XLVI (1), p. 15-32.

637