Guide to soil types

Lithosols are shallow soils with rock less than 10 cm from the surface. The Scottish soil classification (2013) includes four sub-groups

Rock
Brown lithosols
Humic lithosols
Peaty lithosols

Rankers are shallow soils more than 10 cm thick with rock near the surface. The Scottish soil classification (2013) includes six sub-groups

Magnesian rankers
Brown rankers
Podzolic rankers
Gley rankers
Humic rankers
Peaty rankers

Regosols are well drained, poorly developed soils often with a mineral topsoil and no distinct layering in the subsoil. The Scottish soil classification (2013) includes four sub-groups

Scree
Shingle
Calcareous regosols
Noncalcareous regosols

Alluvial soils are developed in recent river, estuary or marine deposits. The Scottish soil classification (2013) includes three sub-groups

Saline alluvial soils
Mineral alluvial soils
Peaty alluvial soils

Rendzinas are shallow calcareous soils (rich in calcium carbonate) developed on limestone and more than 10 cm thick. The Scottish soil classification (2013) includes two sub-groups

Brown rendzinas
Humic rendzinas

Calcareous soils are relatively thick soils, rich in calcium carbonate. The Scottish soil classification (2013) includes two sub-groups

Brown calcareous soils
Humic calcareous soils

Magnesian soils are soils with a high magnesium content. The Scottish soil classification (2013) includes two sub-groups

Brown magnesian soils
Humic magnesian soils

Brown soils are moderately acid soils with brown mineral topsoils and brown or yellowish subsoils. The Scottish soil classification (2013) includes two sub-groups

Brown earths
Brown podzolic soils

Podzols are acid soils with a grey leached layer just below the surface and bright orangey-brown coloured subsoils and/or dark brown to black, organic rich subsoils. The Scottish soil classification (2013) includes seven sub-groups

Humus podzols
Humus-iron podzols
Iron podzols
Peaty podzols
Peaty gleyed podzols
Subalpine (Orohemiarctic)
Alpine (Oroarctic)

Gleys are soils that are periodically or permanently waterlogged. The Scottish soil classification (2013) includes eight sub-groups

Saline gleys
Calcareous gleys
Magnesian gleys
Noncalcareous gleys
Humic gleys
Peaty gleys
Subalpine (Orohemiarctic)
Alpine (Oroarctic)

Poorly drained lowland soils with an organic surface layer at least 50 cm thick. Basin peat generally forms at low levels in distinct depressions. The Scottish soil classification (2013) includes three sub-groups

Eutrophic basin peat
Mesotrophic basin peat
Dystrophic basin peat

Poorly drained partly confined soils with an organic surface layer at least 50 cm thick. Semi-confined peat is generally formed in valleys, on terraces or between ridges. The Scottish soil classification (2013) includes three sub-groups

Eutrophic semi-confined peat
Mesotrophic semi-confined peat
Dystrophic semi-confined peat

Poorly drained upland soil with an organic surface layer at least 50 cm thick. It in unconfined and 'blankets' the landscape. The Scottish soil classification (2013) includes three sub-groups

Eutrophic blanket peat
Mesotrophic blanket peat
Dystrophic blanket peat