Go to NZSoils Home Page

Pedality

Pedality is the extent that the soil material is organised into peds.

[refer to soil profile structure at right, and Ruawaro picture]

Some soils or soil horizons are not composed of peds or have less than 15 % peds. This material is described as apedal. Examples of apedal material are:

Massive:
Material having no partings at spacings of less than 200 mm such as some clayey or silty material.

Single grain:
More than 85 % of discrete particles such as sand or coarse gravel.

Earthy:
More than 85 % of the material is very fine or finer (< 6 mm) aggregates.

example of a strongly pedal soil profile in which the individual peds are clearly seen
Ruawaro-another strongly pedal soil

Ruawaro-another strongly pedal soil