EUROPEAN SOIL BUREAU  RESEARCH REPORT NO.

Present-day status of Soil

Classification in Romania
MUNTEANU Ioan and FLOREA Nicolae
Research Institute for Soil Science and Agrochemistry, Bul. Marasti Nr. 61. Sector 1
Bucharest, Romania
Email: munteanu@icpa.ro

Abstract
As everywhere the soil classification in Romania is still evolving. At the end of XXth century an updated
version of the "Romanian Soil Classification System " (RSCS-1980)-(Conea et al, 1980) was issued under
the name "Romanian System of Soil Taxonomy" (RSST-2000) (Florea and Munteanu, 2000). This new
system incorporates the progress made in soil classification in Romania in the last 20 years as well as the
progress in soil classification worldwide, mainly that evidenced by the World Reference Base for Soil
Resources (FAO et al, 1998). The RSST-2000 is a hierarchical, multicategorical system including three
higher level categories (class, genetical soil type and genetical soil subtype) and four lower level categories
(soil variety, soil species, soil family and soil variant). Continuing the Romanian tradition the basic
taxonomic unit is the genetical soil type. As diagnostic criteria at higher levels the RSST-2000 uses 29
diagnostic horizons, 23 diagnostic properties and 6 diagnostic parent materials. At lower levels 18
indicators are used. In contrast to RSCS-1980, the RSST-2000 brings some important conceptual, structural
and linguistic (terminology) improvements: new diagnostic horizons and properties (e.g. limnic horizon,
hortic horizon, eutric and dystric properties etc), new soil classes (e.g. Andisols) and new soil types (e.g.
Limnosols, Alosols and Pelosols). Although the Romanian language is not very suitable for making
composed words, at class and soil type level single word substantives were coined (e.g. Dystricambosols
for Dystric Cambisols) or borrowed (e.g. Salsodisols for Saline and Sodic soils).

Key words: soil classification, soil taxonomy, Romania.

Introduction
In Romania soil classification has a long lasting tradition. The first scientific classification of soils in our
country is as old as the beginning of the XXth century and belongs to G. M. Murgoci the founder of
Romanian soil science. Following Murgoci several attempts had been made to improve it but a successful
one the "Romanian Soil Classification System" (RSCS) was issued not earlier than the end of the seventies
(1980). The RSCS-1980 is officially still in use and proves to be efficient both in soil mapping and in soil
interpretations. However, as new experience accumulated that system became partly obsolete, unevenly
structured, and the nomenclature partly inadequate to match the requirements of present-day usage. The
obsolescence of the RSCS 1980 became more striking when compared with the progress in soil
classification worldwide as evidenced by the World Reference Base for Soil Resources -1998
(WRBSR.1998), the second edition of the USDA Soil Taxonomy, 1999 and by the Référentiel Pédologique
Français. As a consequence in the last ten years a revised system of soil classification, named "Romanian
1
System of Soil Taxonomy (RSST-2000)" has been worked out and published in 2000.

1
Authors: N.Florea, I.Munteanu

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 EUROPEAN SOIL BUREAU  RESEARCH REPORT NO. 7

Differences between RSST - 2000 and RSCS - 1980

The changes introduced by RSST-2000 compared with RSCS-1980 are the followings:
• Introduction of:
- new diagnostic horizons: limnic A horizon, hortic A horizon, pelic, petrocalcic, cryptospodic,
skeletic, anthropedogenetic, and folic horizons;
- new diagnostic properties: eutric, dystric, alic and cryostagnic;
- new diagnostic parent materials: fluvic, anthropogenetic, calcareous, marly, etc.
- new soil classes, namely: Andisols, Protisols and Anthrisols. The last two by splitting of the
former very heterogeneous class of "Undeveloped soils".
- several new soil types: Limnosols (soils developed under shallow water bodies), Alosols
(deep acid soils with Bt horizon), Pelosols (very clayey soils that do not meet the
requirements for Vertisols).
- new soil subtypes (e.g. psamic, pelic, skeletic, calcaric, eutric, distric, aluvic, cryostagnic,
prespodic etc.). Uniformisation of nomenclature, by coining a single word, for naming soils at
class and genetical soil type level.
• Deleting the Mollisol class that was a source of confusion because the concept used in Romania
was different from the original one used in the USDA Soil Taxonomy.
• Regrouping of some soil types e.g. Chenozems and Cambic Chernozems (as Chernozems); Clay-
illuvial Chernozems, Chernozemlike soils, Grey soils and Pseudorendzinas (as Phaeozems);
Reddish Brown soil and Clay Illuvial Brown soil (as Preluvosols); Luvic Brown soil and Albic
Luvisols (as Luvisols). In all these cases, the former genetical soil types are now found as
genetical subtypes.

The guiding principles of the RSST-2000

The Romanian System of Soil Taxonomy -2000 (RSST-2000) represents an updated version of the former
Romanian Soil Classification System-1980 (RSCS-1980) whose structure was not altered and its main
entities preserved. However, RSST-2000 provides a better fit of soils into the system, a more consequent
use of diagnostic criteria, an increase of the practical applicability, and uniformity of soil terminology and
nomenclature.

The basic characteristics of RSST-2000 can be summarised as follows:

a) It preserves and continues the Romanian Soil Science School tradition concerning the concept of
soil as natural body resulting from the combined action over time of the soil-forming factors and
processes upon the uppermost part of the Earth’s Crust. An important part of the criteria used as
differentiating parameters of the system’s categories are specific "Romanians".
b) In parallel with preservation of regional and national peculiarities, RSST-2000 is aligned with
international standards aiming to facilitate as much as possible the best correlation with the World
Reference Base for Soil Resources-1998 as well as with other world-wide classification systems
e.g. USDA Soil Taxonomy.
c) RSST-2000 is a multicategorial system, with two main levels: one of higher categories and one of
lower categories. The basic taxonomic unit is the genetical soil type.
d) The definition of each category (taxon) is operational and has the same meaning for each kind of
use. The taxa (categories) refer to real, natural soil bodies that occupy distinct portions of the
landscape.
e) The differentiating elements between categories are those soil properties that can be directly
observable in the field or those that can be deduced from other soil properties that can be observed
in the field or from data of soil science combined with data of other disciplines (e.g. mineralogy,
geology etc). The system also uses laboratory-based measurements as criteria (e.g. pH, base
saturation degree, and soluble salt content).
f) The specific properties used as differentiate may vary independently each other, and their
importance depends upon their combination with other properties.
g) The differentiating elements have been chosen in such a way that the soil classification does not
change following cropping or other anthropic interventions of weak intensity (plowing, loosening,
surficial stripping etc).
h) The informational data base that has been used for compilation of the RSST-2000, assures the
introduction in the system of all soils that may occur within a given area of the national territory
and, in principle, of all soils presently known in Romania.

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 EUROPEAN SOIL BUREAU  RESEARCH REPORT NO. 7

i) The RSST-2000 is a flexible system in so far as new soils that will be identified in Romania would
be introduced without disturbing its general structure.

Diagnostic elements used to identify soils

Within RSST-2000 there is a clear distinction between the morphologic horizons (used in soil description)
and diagnostic horizons and properties used to classify soils. In this system 29 diagnostic horizons, 23
diagnostic properties and 6 diagnostic soil parent materials are used.
Diagnostic horizons
• Mollic A horizons (Am)
• Powdered Mollic A horizon (Ame) - (A horizon showing uncoated silt and sand grains on
structural ped surfaces)2
• Umbric A horizon (Au)
• Ochric A horizon (Ao)
• Limnic A horizon (Al) - (A horizon developed on the surface of permanently submerged deposits,
under shallow waterbodies)
• Hortic A horizon (Af) - (A horizon resulted by intense and long-lasting fertilisation with manure
and earthy materials)
• Luvic E horizon (El) - (Eluvial horizon that does not meet the requirements for an albic E horizon
and overlying an argic B horizon)
• Eluvial Albic E horizon (Ea) - (Albic E horizon overlying on argic B horizon)
• Spodic Albic E horizon (Es) - (Albic E horizon overlying a spodic B horizon)
• Cambic B horizon (Bv)
• Argic B horizon (Bt)
• Argic-Natric B horizon (Btna)
• Spodic B horizon (Bs, Bhs)
• Calcic or calxic C horizon (Cca)
• Salic horizon (sa)
• Hiposalic horizon (sc)
• Natric horizon (na)
• Hiponatric or hiposodic horizon (ac)
• Sulphidic horizon (sf)
• Sulphuric horizon (su)
• Vertic horizon (y)
• Pelic horizon (Z)
• Petrocalxic horizon (pc)
• Fragipan (x)
• Criptospodic horizon (Bcp)
• Skeletic horizon (q)
• Folic horizon (O)
• Peaty horizon (T)
• Anthropedogenetic horizon (N).
Diagnostic properties
• Vermic character (Vm)
• Abrupt textural change (pl)
• Andic soil properties
• Albeluvic tonguing (E+B) (gl)
• Lithic contact or continuous hard rock (li)
• Base saturation (V%)
• Eutric properties (eu)
• Dystric properties (di)
• Alic properties (al)
• Segregable organic matter (ms)

2
The underlined horizons/properties are new introductions.

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 EUROPEAN SOIL BUREAU  RESEARCH REPORT NO. 7

• Soft powdery secondary carbonates (km)

• Aquic properties: anthraquic, stagnic and gleyic
• Gleyic properties
• Reductomorphic properties
• Redoximorphic properties
• Stagnic properties
• Anthraquic properties
• Cryostagnic properties
• Diagnostic colours
• Diagnostic horizon or diagnostic property depth
• Skeletic character
• Skeletiferous character
• Salsodic properties
Diagnostic parent materials
• Fluvic material (MF)
• Anthropogenous material (MA)
• Calcareous skeletic material (MK)
• Marly material (MM)
• Erubazic material (ME)
• Bauxitic material (MB)

The system structure

The Romanian System of Soil Taxonomy includes soil units of different ranks in an unitary hierarchical
taxonomic system cf. table 1.

Table 1. Organisation of Romanian System of Soil Taxonomy

Taxonomic hierarchy Example of a soil in the system

Rank Taxa
Higher Soil class Luvisols (LUV)
Level genetical soil type Preluvosols (EL)
genetical soil subtype Gleyic-Psamic-Reddish Preluvosol (Elrs-ps-gc)
Lower Soil variety Bathygleyic-psamic Reddish Preluvosol
Level Soil species (texture) Loamy sandy/loamy
Soil family on coarse loess
Soil variant arable, compacted, slightly wind eroded

Higher level categories

Soil class. Represents the totality (collection) of soils characterised by a specific stage of soil profile
development as given by the presence of a specific diagnostic horizon or property.
Genetical soil type. Represents a group (collection) of similar soils, distinguished within a class of soils,
characterised by a specific mode of expression of one or many of the diagnostics elements.
Genetical soil subtypes. This is a subdivision of the genetical soil type that groups soils either with a
specific degree of expression of the soil type characteristics or by a specific horizon sequence, some
marking transitions to other types and others being characteristics of high practical importance.
Soil classes and genetical soil types. The system is comprised of 12 soil classes and 32 genetical soil types.
The main characteristics of soil classes and the genetical soil types included are given in the following
table.
Differentiae used to separate genetical soil types
The criteria used to separate genetical soil types are the diagnostic horizons, and properties, and diagnostic
parent materials. These criteria are used alone but often in association.
In some cases in separating soil types we tried to emphasize genetical links and idea of evolution. This is
illustrated by the soil types of the Luvisols and Spodisols classes where "pre" soil types (Preluvosols and
Prepodzols) were distinguished.

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Differentiae used to separate genetical soil subtypes

To designate genetical soil subtypes 60 attributes (characteristics) were selected. They refer either to
features induced by genetical soil processes (e.g. albic, alcalic, brunic, eutric, dystric, etc.) or reflect
transitions between different genetical soil types or classes (e.g cernic, gleyic, stagnic, etc). A large part of
attributes used at soil subtype level represent characteristics induced by soil parent material (e.g. andic,
psamic, aluvic, urbic, etc) or that designate extragrades to non-soil (e.g. lithic, gravelly). For evidencing the
depth at which some of these characteristics begin, terms as: proxi, mezo and bathy (e.g. proxygleic,
bathysalic) are used.
Lower level categories
At lower levels RSST-2000 consists of four categories namely: soil variety, soil species, soil family and
soil variant.
The soil variety is a subdivision of the genetical soil subtype determined either by some characteristics that
were not used at higher level, or by some peculiar characteristic of the soil, usually qualitatively defined;
and also by the quantitative scaling of some soil type/subtype characteristics (e.g. gleyzation and
stagnogleyzation degree, salinity and sodicity degree, calcium carbonates depth and bedrock depth.
The soil species underlines the soil particle size characteristics of mineral soils, or the degree of
decomposition of organic matter (organic soils).

The soil family is a lithological grouping. Two parameters were taken into consideration: the kind of parent
material (or of surface deposits) and the particle size class in a simplified form.
The soil variant is a minor subdivision that recognizes anthropic influences upon the soil that are not so
strong to include the soil in anthroposols or in other anthropic subdivisions.
For separating lower categories 18 indicators were provided: 7 for soil variety, 6 for soil
family and 5 for soil variant, as follows.
Indicators for soil variety
1. Particular soil characteristics (28 genetical, 27 others);
2. Gleyzation degree;
3. Stagnogleyzation degree;
4. Salinity degree;
5. Sodicity degree;
6. Calcium carbonate depth;
7. Depth to bedrock.
Indicators for soil species and soil family
1. Textural group classes and subclasses;
2. Class group and classes according to skeleton content;
3. Organic matter decomposition degree (organic soils);
4. Surface deposits or soil parent materials;
5. Underlying rock;
6. Simplified particle size class.
Indicators for soil variant
1. Land use type and subtype;
2. Soil changes following cropping;
3. Erosion or stripping degree;
4. Degradation types through excavation, soil covering and soil pollution;
5. Pollution degree.

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Table 2. Main characteristics of soil classes

Soil class Diagnostic horizons and/or Genetical soil types
Symbol Name properties included
PRO PROTISOLS A or O horizon (<20 cm thick) LS - Lithosol
lacking other diagnostic horizons RS - Regosol
PS - Psamosol
AS - Aluviosol
ET - Entianthroposol
PEL PELISOLS Pelic or vertic horizon starting within PE - Pelosol
20 cm of the soil surface or VS – Vertosol
immediately below an Ap
AND ANDISOLS Andic soil properties, lacking a AN – Andosol
spodic horizon
CER CERNISOLS Mollic A horizon (Am) overlying an KS - Kastanozem
intermediate horizon (AC, AR, Bv or CZ - Chernozem
Bt), and having in the upper part FZ - Phaeozem
colours with values and chroma, RZ - Rendzina
moist, ≤ 3.5
UMB UMBRISOLS Umbric A horizon (Au) overlying an NS - Nigrosol
intermediate horizon (AC, AR or Bv), HS - Humosiolsol
and having in the upper part colours
with values and chroma, moist ≤ 3.5
CAM CAMBISOLS Cambic B horizon (Bv) having EC - Eutricambosol
colours with values and chroma, DC - Dystricambosol
moist > 3.5 starting from the upper
part
LUV LUVISOLS Argic B horizon (Bt) having colours EL - Preluvosol
with values and chroma, moist >3.5 LV - Luvosol
starting from the upper part PL - Planosol
AL - Alosol
SPO SPODISOLS Spodic B horizon (Bhs, Bs) or EP - Prepodzol
cryptospodic horizon (Bcp) PD - Podzol
CP - Cryptopodzol
HID HIDRISOLS1) Gleyic properties (Gr) or intense SG -Stagnosol
stagnic properties (W) starting within GS - Gleyosol
the upper 50 cm, or limnic A horizon LM - Limnosol
(Al) or submerged histic horizon (T).
SAL SALSODISOLS2) Salic (sa) or natric (na) horizon SC - Solonchack
within 50 cm of the soil surface or SN - Solonetz
natric-argic B horizon (Btna).
HIS HISTISOLS Folic (O) or histic (T) horizon within TB - Turbosol
the upper part of the soil and that is FB - Foliosol
>50 cm thick or only 20 cm if directly
overlies an R horizon.
ANT ANTHRISOLS Anthropedogenetic horizon or lack of ER-Erodosol
the A and E horizon removed by AT-Anthroposol
accelerated erosion or by stripping
1) Term borrowed from the Australian Soil Classification
2) Term borrowed from the Référentiel Pédologique Francais

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Table 3. Correlation of the genetical soil types of RSST with main international systems

RSST – 2000 FAO/UNESCO, WRB SR, USDA Soil Taxonomy, 1999

(in Romanian) 1988 1998
Litosol Leptosols Leptosols Lithic Udorthents (pp)
Lithic Ustorthents (pp)
Regosol Regosols Regosols Orthents
Psamosol Arenosols Arenosols Psamments
Aluviosol Fluvisol Fluvisol Fluvents
Entiantroposol (Regosol) Anthropic Regosols Arents (pp)
Pelosol Vertic subunits Vertic subunits Vertic subgroups
Vertosol Vertisols Vertisols Vertisols
Andosol Andosols Andosols Andisols
Kastanoziom Kastanozeoms Kastanozeoms Ustolls
Cernoziom Chernozems Chernozems Ustolls (pp)
Udolls (pp)
Faeoziom Phaeozems Phaeozems Udolls
Rendzină Rendzic Leptosols Rendzic Leptosols Rendolls
Nigrosol Humic Cambisols Humic Umbrisols Humic Dystrudepts (pp)
Humic Dystrocryepts (pp)
Eutricambosol Eutric Cambisols Eutric Cambisols Eutrudepts (pp)
Eutrocryepts (pp)
Districam-bosol Dystric Cambisols Dystric Cambisols Dystrudepts (pp)
Dystrocryepts (pp)
Preluvosol Haplic Luvisols Haplic Luvisols Hapludalfs (pp)
Calcic Luvisols Calcic Luvisols Haplustalfs (pp)
Luvosol Luvisols (pp) Luvisols (pp) Hapludalfs (pp)
Podzoluvisols (pp) Albeluvisols (pp) Glossudalfs (pp)
Planosol Planosols Planosols Albaqualfs
Alosol Alisols Alisols Cryalfs
Prepodzol Cambic Podzols Entic Podzols Haplocryods (pp)
Haplorthods (pp)
Podzol Haplic Podzols Haplic Podzols Haplocryods (pp)
Humicryods (pp)
Criptopodzol Spodo - dystric Spodo - dystric Humicryods
Cambisols Cambisols
Gleiosol Gleysols Gleysols Endoaquepts (pp)
Endoaquents (pp)
Limnosol - - Hydraquents ?
Stagnosol Stagnic Luvisols Stagnic Luvisols Epiaqualfs
Solonceac Solonchaks Solonchaks Aquisalids
Soloneţ Solonetz Solonetz Natraqualfs
Turbosol Histosols Histosols Fibrists (pp)
Hemists (pp)
Saprists (pp
Foliosol Folic Histosols Folic Histosols Folists
Erodosol (strongly eroded (strongly eroded (strongly eroded phases)
phases) phases)
Antroposol Anthrosols Anthrosols Anthrepts
(Plaganthrepts)
(Haplanthrepts)

Designating the soils

As symbols for designating soil types two capital letters are used (3 capital letters for soil classes). To
designate soil subtypes are used groups of two small letters, usually not more than three of such groups.

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For lower categories subdivisions small or capital letters are introduced according the special rules foreseen
for each indicator.

An example of a complete soil formula of a soil is:

CZka-vs-gc / G3-s1-k1-5/6-Tf-a / Ai
<higher level (subtype)> <lower level>
Translated the full name is:
"Gleyic-Vertic-Calcaric Chernozem / bathygleyc, bathyhyposalic, proxycalcaric, clayey loamy/ clayey,
developed on clayey fluvio-lacustrine deposits, arable, irrigated."
When only the name at higher level is used then to the soil formula and the soil name the simplified particle
size class of the upper horizon is added. The soil complete name becomes:
"Clayey loamy-Gleyic-Vertic Calcaric Chernozem" and the formula: CZka-vs-gc/t.

Conclusions
The updated version of the Romanian System of Soil Classification 1980 (RSCS-1980) (Conea et al, 1980)
issued under the name of "Romanian System of Soils Taxonomy -2000" (RSST-2000) (Florea and
Munteanu, 2000) brings some important conceptual, structural and linguistic improvements. Thus, new
diagnostic horizons (e.g. limnic, horizon, hortic a horizon etc), new diagnostic properties (e.g. eutric,
dystric, cryostagnic, etc) and new diagnostic soil parent material (e.g. fluvic, anthropedogenetic) were
introduced. Some soil classes (e.g. mollisols) were deleted, and new ones (andisols, protisols and
anthrisols) introduced. New soil types (e.g. limnosols, alosols, pelosols) were added while other ones were
regrouped and renamed (e.g. argillic brown soils and redish brown were joined and renamed as
preluvosols). As a whole the RSST-2000 is generally aligned to the World Reference Base for Soil
Resource, but in the frame of an original Romanian conception.

References
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62 Present-day status of Soil Classification in Romania. Munteanu & Florea