The module focuses on typical hydric soil morphologies associated with major wetland types-tidal marshes, peat bogs, perennially-inundated swamps, mineral soil flats, floodplains, depressions, and slope wetlands. The roles of landscape position, hydroperiod, and hydrodynamics on soil morphology will be emphasized. Soil morphology is impacted by the duration of inundation, and the seasonal vertical fluctuations in water tables. Water collecting surfaces such as closed depressions facilitate ponding; water shedding surfaces on slopes promote rapid movement of surface water through the wetland. Peat bogs are hydrologically isolated and permanently saturated; floodplains receive hydrologic inputs from overbank flow and groundwater discharge, and exhibit short-term inundation. Therefore, because of differences in landscape position and associated hydrologic characteristics different types of wetlands produce distinctive hydric soils.
ASWM
United States
Target audience: Wetland field practitioners who need expertise in hydric soils and seek to understand how hydric soils are formed and how to recognize and interpret the information they provide when observed in the field.