SIST EN ISO 25177:2020

Soil quality - Field soil description (ISO 25177:2019)

This Standard rovides guidance on the description of soil in the field and its environmental context. It is applicable to natural, near-natural, urban and industrial sites. The soil observations and measurements can be made on a project site level, on a plot level, on layer or horizon level and on specific soil constituents. It also provides guidance on how to describe layers of anthropogenic (artificial) material or layers that were not modified by pedogenic processes in the strict sense and how to describe coarse material of natural or artificial origin. This document can be used in combination with other publications that provide guidance or requirements regarding specific aspects of soil observations and measurements.

Bodenbeschaffenheit - Bodenbeschreibung im Felde (ISO 25177:2019)

Das vorliegende Dokument enthält eine Anleitung zur Beschreibung von Boden im Feld und dessen Umweltkontext. Es gilt für natürliche, naturnahe, urbane und industrielle Standorte. Die Bodenbeobachtungen und Messungen können auf einer Projektstandortebene, Parzellenebene, Schicht- oder Horizontebene und an bestimmten Bodenbestandteilen vorgenommen werden.
Es enthält außerdem eine Anleitung dazu, wie Schichten anthropogenen (künstlichen) Materials oder Schichten, die nicht durch bodenbildende Prozesse im engen Sinne verändert wurden, zu beschreiben sind, und wie Grobbestandteile natürlichen oder künstlichen Ursprungs zu beschreiben sind.
Dieses Dokument kann in Verbindung mit weiteren Veröffentlichungen angewendet werden, die Anleitungen oder Anforderungen bezüglich spezieller Gesichtspunkte von Bodenbeobachtungen und Messungen enthalten.
ANMERKUNG 1   Nicht unter allen in dieser Beschreibung aufgeführten Überschriften in Abschnitt 4 bis Abschnitt 11 können oder müssen Daten aufgezeichnet werden.
ANMERKUNG 2   Eine umfassende Anleitung für die Darstellung von Informationen aus Bodenuntersuchungen enthält ISO 15903.
ANMERKUNG 3   Die vorgelegte Anleitung setzt voraus, dass die Probenahme nach ISO 18400 erfolgt.

Qualité du sol - Description du sol sur le terrain (ISO 25177:2019)

Le présent document fournit des recommandations sur la description du sol sur le terrain et de son contexte environnemental. Il est applicable aux sites naturels, quasi-naturels, urbains et industriels. Les observations et les mesurages du sol peuvent être effectués sur un site de projet, sur une parcelle, sur une couche ou sur un horizon et sur des constituants spécifiques du sol.
Il fournit également des recommandations indiquant comment décrire les couches de matériau anthropogénique (artificiel) ou les couches qui n'ont pas été modifiées par des processus pédogénétiques au sens strict, et comment décrire un matériau grossier d'origine naturelle ou artificielle.
Le présent document peut être utilisé en association avec d'autres publications donnant des recommandations ou des exigences sur les aspects spécifiques des observations et mesurages du sol.
NOTE 1    Il peut ne pas être possible ou nécessaire d'enregistrer les données correspondant à tous les titres énumérés aux Articles 4 à 11.
NOTE 2    L'ISO 15903 donne des recommandations générales pour la présentation des informations issues des études de sol.
NOTE 3    Les recommandations fournies partent du principe que l'échantillonnage sera effectué conformément à l'ISO 18400.

Kakovost tal - Terenski opis tal (ISO 25177:2019)

Ta standard podaja smernice za opis tal na terenu in okoljskih razmer. Uporablja se v naravnih, skoraj naravnih, mestnih in industrijskih območjih. Opazovanja tal in meritve se lahko izvedejo na ravni projektnega območja, ravni parcele, ravni sloja ali obzorja in na določenih sestavnih delih tal. Prav tako podaja smernice, kako opisati plasti antropogenega (umetnega) materiala ali plasti, ki jih tlotvorni procesi v strogem pomenu niso spremenili, in kako opisati grobo snov naravnega ali umetnega izvora. Ta dokument se lahko uporablja v kombinaciji z drugimi publikacijami, ki podajajo smernice ali zahteve glede posebnih vidikov opazovanja in meritev tal.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 28-Feb-2018
• Publication Date: 02-Dec-2019
• ICS: 13.080.05 - Examination of soils in general
• Technical Committee: KAT - Soil quality
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 11-Nov-2019
• Due Date: 16-Jan-2020
• Completion Date: 03-Dec-2019
• Directive: TP168 - Pravilnik o monitoringu kakovosti tal
• Ref Project: EN ISO 25177:2019 - Soil quality - Field soil description (ISO 25177:2019)

Relations

• Replaces: SIST ISO 25177:2011 - Soil quality - Field soil description
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2020
• Replaces: SIST EN ISO 25177:2011 - Soil quality - Field soil description (ISO 25177:2008)
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN ISO 25177:2020
01-januar-2020
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 25177:2011
Kakovost tal - Terenski opis tal (ISO 25177:2019)
Soil quality - Field soil description (ISO 25177:2019)
Bodenbeschaffenheit - Bodenbeschreibung im Felde (ISO 25177:2019)
Qualité du sol - Description du sol sur le terrain (ISO 25177:2019)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 25177:2019
ICS:
13.080.05 Preiskava tal na splošno Examination of soils in
general
SIST EN ISO 25177:2020 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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SIST EN ISO 25177:2020

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SIST EN ISO 25177:2020


EN ISO 25177
EUROPEAN STANDARD

NORME EUROPÉENNE

October 2019
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.080.01 Supersedes EN ISO 25177:2011
English Version

Soil quality - Field soil description (ISO 25177:2019)
Qualité du sol - Description du sol sur le terrain (ISO Bodenbeschaffenheit - Bodenbeschreibung im Felde
25177:2019) (ISO 25177:2019)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 27 August 2019.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.





EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2019 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 25177:2019 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

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SIST EN ISO 25177:2020
EN ISO 25177:2019 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3

2

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SIST EN ISO 25177:2020
EN ISO 25177:2019 (E)
European foreword
This document (EN ISO 25177:2019) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 190 "Soil
quality" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 345 “Characterization of soils” the
secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by April 2020, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by April 2020.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 25177:2011.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 25177:2019 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 25177:2019 without any modification.

3

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SIST EN ISO 25177:2020

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SIST EN ISO 25177:2020
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 25177
Second edition
2019-09
Soil quality — Field soil description
Qualité du sol — Description du sol sur le terrain
Reference number
ISO 25177:2019(E)
©
ISO 2019

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SIST EN ISO 25177:2020
ISO 25177:2019(E)

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2019
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

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SIST EN ISO 25177:2020
ISO 25177:2019(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .vi
Introduction .viii
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 How to use this document . 2
4.1 General . 2
4.2 Combined use with other description standards . 3
4.3 Mandatory or optional observations . 4
4.4 Accuracy and units . . 4
4.5 Encoding . 4
5 Description objectives and methods . 4
5.1 General . 4
5.2 Investigation objectives . 5
5.3 Quality assurance and quality control . 5
5.4 Description structure . 5
6 Description of general references and general information . 6
6.1 General . 6
6.2 Site/profile numbers . 6
6.3 Location . 6
6.4 Geographical coordinates . 6
6.5 Date and time of observations . 7
6.6 Author and organization. 7
7 Profile environment . 7
7.1 General . 7
7.2 Previous precipitation . 7
7.3 Land use at plot level (checked by detailed field survey) . 7
7.4 Type of cultivation or vegetation or human utilization (at the plot level) . 8
7.5 Landform of the site . 8
7.6 Slope length . 8
7.7 Slope value (gradient) . 8
7.8 Slope orientation (aspect) . 9
7.9 Nature of natural and anthropogenic soils and materials . 9
7.9.1 Natural material . 9
7.9.2 Anthropogenic material . 9
7.10 Presence and depth to water table .10
7.10.1 General.10
7.10.2 Present depth to water table .10
7.10.3 Minimum depth to water table .10
7.10.4 Maximum depth to water table .11
7.10.5 Nature of the water .11
8 Surface appearance .11
8.1 General .11
8.2 Description of the surface material .11
8.3 Percentage of land surface occupied by rock outcrops or surface exposures of
“non-natural” material .11
8.4 Evidence of erosion .12
9 Soil profile description .12
9.1 General .12
9.2 Soil descriptions made or changed after the fieldwork .13
9.3 Soil layer or horizon description method .13
© ISO 2019 – All rights reserved iii

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SIST EN ISO 25177:2020
ISO 25177:2019(E)

9.4 Horizon or layer number .13
9.5 Horizon or layer depth .13
9.6 Nature of lower horizon boundary .14
9.7 Estimation of moisture status .14
9.8 Colour of the horizon or layer matrix .15
9.8.1 Colour description method .15
9.8.2 Colour description .16
9.9 Mottles.16
9.9.1 General.16
9.9.2 Mottle abundance .16
9.9.3 Mottle colour .17
9.10 Estimated organic matter content .17
9.11 Texture .17
9.11.1 Classification system used .17
9.11.2 Field determination/ estimation of particle sizes .18
9.11.3 Field determination/estimation of the coarseness of a sandy soil .18
9.11.4 Sampling for texture analyses .20
9.11.5 Description of texture diagram .20
9.12 Coarse elements .20
9.12.1 General.20
9.12.2 Coarse element abundance (in % volume fraction) .20
9.12.3 Maximum size of the most frequently observed coarse elements .21
9.12.4 Nature of the coarse element(s) .21
9.12.5 Non-natural or unknown coarse elements .21
9.13 Carbonates and effervescence .21
9.13.1 Intensity of effervescence .21
9.13.2 Location of effervescence .22
9.14 Main categories of soil structure .22
9.15 Compactness .23
9.16 Total estimated porosity .23
9.17 Roots .23
9.17.1 Root abundance .23
9.17.2 Size (diameter) of most frequently observed roots .24
9.18 Density of worm channels .24
9.19 Odour .24
9.20 Field detection of mineral oil in soil samples (oil-water reaction pan) .24
9.20.1 General.24
9.20.2 Oil floating on water .25
9.20.3 Other oil observations .25
10 General designation .25
10.1 General .25
10.2 Type of soil profile classification used . .26
10.3 Soil type with reference to the soil classification system used .26
10.4 Type of horizon designation used .26
10.5 Sequence of horizons .26
11 Reporting .26
11.1 General .26
11.2 Presentation of field soil descriptions .27
11.3 Profile diagram .27
11.4 Documented information .27
Annex A (informative) Landform .28
Annex B (informative) Charts for estimating proportions of mottles, coarse elements, etc. .29
[30]
Annex C (informative) Soil horizon designation — Example of the FAO System .30
Annex D (informative) Examples of texture diagrams .35
Annex E (informative) Determination of soil texture in the field .37
iv © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

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ISO 25177:2019(E)

Annex F (informative) Some types of soil structure .40
Annex G (informative) List of common elements found in soil and on the soil surface .42
Annex H (informative) Soil description observations to record for specific types of soil
investigations .44
Annex I (informative) Example field layer description method .47
Bibliography .49
© ISO 2019 – All rights reserved v

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SIST EN ISO 25177:2020
ISO 25177:2019(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following
URL: www .iso .org/iso/foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 190, Soil quality.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 25177:2008), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition is as follows.
[24]
— The 2015 edition of the World Reference Base for soil resources has been adapted.
[3] [4]
— References to geotechnical standards ISO 14688-1 and ISO 14688-2 have been made.
— A new Clause 4 describing how to use this document has been added and subsequent clauses have
been renumbered.
— A new Clause 5 describing objectives and methods has been added and subsequent clauses have been
renumbered. The aspects to describe and how to do this is more separate from the observations and
background information.
— The numbering and encoding have been made more consequent and logical.
— New aspects about coarse anthropogenical elements, oil-water reaction pan and signs of pollution
or contamination have been added.
— A new Clause 11 about reporting has been added.
— A new Annex A about landforms has been added and subsequent annexes have been renumbered.
[24]
— The former Annex B listing reference soil groups of the WRB has been removed.
— A new Annex G about common coarse elements found in soil and soil surface has been added.
— A new Annex H about recording soil description observations for specific types of soil quality
investigations has been added.
vi © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

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SIST EN ISO 25177:2020
ISO 25177:2019(E)

Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org
...

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN ISO 25177:2018
01-februar-2018
Kakovost tal - Terenski opis tal (ISO/DIS 25177:2018)
Soil quality - Field soil description (ISO/DIS 25177:2018)
Bodenbeschaffenheit - Bodenbeschreibung im Felde (ISO/DIS 25177:2018)
Qualité du sol - Description du sol sur le terrain (ISO/DIS 25177:2018)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN ISO 25177
ICS:
13.080.05 Preiskava tal na splošno Examination of soils in
general
oSIST prEN ISO 25177:2018 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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oSIST prEN ISO 25177:2018

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oSIST prEN ISO 25177:2018
DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
ISO/DIS 25177
ISO/TC 190/SC 1 Secretariat: AFNOR
Voting begins on: Voting terminates on:
2017-12-29 2018-03-23
Soil quality — Field soil description
Qualité du sol — Description du sol sur le terrain
ICS: 13.080.01
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
This document is circulated as received from the committee secretariat.
FOR COMMENT AND APPROVAL. IT IS
THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY
NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD UNTIL PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
Reference number
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO/DIS 25177:2017(E)
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
©
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. ISO 2017

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oSIST prEN ISO 25177:2018
ISO/DIS 25177:2017(E)

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2017, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
Ch. de Blandonnet 8 • CP 401
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]
www.iso.org
ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

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oSIST prEN ISO 25177:2018
ISO/DIS 25177:2017(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Description scopes and methods . 2
3.1 Investigation scopes . 2
3.2 Combined use with other description standards . 2
3.3 Quality control and quality assurance . 3
3.4 Description structure . 3
4 Description of general references and general information . 3
4.1 Site/profile numbers . 3
4.2 Location . 3
4.3 Geographical coordinates . 4
4.4 Date of observation . 4
4.5 Author and organization. 4
5 Profile environment . 4
5.1 Previous precipitation . 4
5.2 Land use at plot level (checked by detailed field survey) . 5
5.3 Type of cultivation or vegetation or human utilization (at the plot level) . 6
5.4 Landform of the site . 6
5.5 Slope length (in meters) . 6
5.6 Slope value . 6
5.7 Orientation (Aspect) of the slope . 6
5.8 Nature of modified or artificial parent material and modified/artificial material . 6
5.8.1 Natural material . 6
5.8.2 Modified or artificial material . 7
5.9 Presence and depth to water table . 7
5.9.1 General. 7
5.9.2 Depth . 7
5.9.3 Minimum depth to water table . 7
5.9.4 Maximum depth to water table . 7
5.9.5 Nature of the water . 8
6 Surface appearance . 8
6.1 Percentage of land surface occupied by rock outcrops or surface exposures of
"non-natural" material (e.g. on industrial site) . 8
6.2 Evidence of erosion . 8
7 Soil profile description . 9
7.1 General . 9
7.2 Soil layer or horizon description method .10
7.3 Horizon or layer number .10
7.4 Depth .10
7.5 Estimation of moisture status .10
7.6 Colour of the horizon or layer matrix .11
7.7 Mottles.12
7.7.1 General.12
7.7.2 Abundance . .13
7.7.3 Colour .13
7.8 Estimated organic matter content .13
7.9 Texture .13
7.9.1 References for soil texture estimations .13
7.9.2 Field determination/ estimation of the coarseness of a sandy soil .14
7.9.3 Sampling for texture analyzes .16
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved iii

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oSIST prEN ISO 25177:2018
ISO/DIS 25177:2017(E)

7.9.4 Description of texture diagram .16
7.10 Coarse elements .16
7.10.1 General.16
7.10.2 Abundance (in % volume fraction) .16
7.10.3 Maximum size of the most frequently observed coarse elements .17
7.10.4 Nature .17
7.10.5 Non-natural or unknown coarse elements .17
7.11 Carbonates and effervescence .17
7.11.1 Intensity of effervescence .17
7.11.2 Location of effervescence .18
7.12 Main categories of soil structure .18
7.13 Compactness .19
7.14 Total estimated porosity .19
7.15 Roots .19
7.15.1 Size (diameter) of most frequently observed roots .19
7.15.2 Abundance . .20
7.16 Density of worm channels (usually an average over a number of square decimetres) .20
7.17 Nature of lower horizon boundary .20
7.18 Odor or smelling .20
7.19 Detection in the field of mineral oil in soil samples (oil-water reaction pan) .21
8 General designation .21
8.1 General .22
8.2 Type of soil profile classification used . .22
8.3 Soil type with reference to the soil classification used .22
8.4 Type of horizon designation used .22
8.5 Sequence of horizons .22
Annex A (informative) Charts for estimating proportions of mottles, coarse elements, etc. .23
Annex B (informative) Soil horizon designation — Example of the FAO System (2006) .24
Annex C (informative) Examples of texture diagrams .29
Annex D (informative) Determination of soil texture in the field .33
Annex E (informative) Some types of soil structure .36
Annex F (informative) List of common elements found in soil .38
Annex G (informative) Aspects for specific types of soil investigations .40
Annex H (informative) Example field layer description method .43
Bibliography .44
iv © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

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oSIST prEN ISO 25177:2018
ISO/DIS 25177:2017(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies
casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 25177 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 190, SOIL QUALITY, Subcommittee SC 1,
Evaluation of criteria, terminology and codification.
This second/third/. edition cancels and replaces the first/second/. edition (), [clause(s) / subclause(s)
/ table(s) / figure(s) / annex(es)] of which [has / have] been technically revised.
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved v

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oSIST prEN ISO 25177:2018
ISO/DIS 25177:2017(E)

Introduction
Traditionally descriptions of soils and their environment were carried out as parts of soil survey and
soil inventory, the purpose of which was to describe the pedogenetic context of the soil and assess
applied aspects, principally agronomic potentials.
Today many soil observations are made as part of much wider or smaller environmental studies, and
they might include analysis for objectives such as:
— the identification of human influences on the soils, particular attention being paid to the negative
effects of these influences (for example, contamination with possible hazardous substances and
physical deterioration);
— land protection within the context of "sustainable" agriculture;
— the assessment of the fate of contaminants introduced into the soil;
— the assessment of the consequences resulting from changes in the use of the soil;
— setting up monitoring programs for specific purposes (observation of changes of soil properties
in time) ;
— the development of spatial data bases (used in the context of GIS) aimed at facilitating the
geographical representation of these ;
— and many other uses.
The text was originally based on aspects of the traditional approach to soil description [for example
the Guidelines for soil description FAO Rome (2006) and the soil type classification from the World
Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB). Soil descriptions and further soil data are used and reused
for a variety of purposes.
For more multiple use of soil decrypted data the standard can be used with other (common and public)
standards. Some types of soil information, specifically soil contamination data and data on human made
and exogenous material were not available in former versions and have been introduced in this version.
The general framework of this International Standard stayed the same. New e.g. are the references
to the ISO 18400-series (see figure 1), observations for contamination and description of artificial
material and soil layers.
This International Standard has been developed within the framework of ISO/TC 190, Soil quality The
description of soils and sites is often accompanied by field and laboratory measurements. Some field
measurement observations are included.
The quality of field soil descriptions do very much depend on the knowledge and especially the
experience of the person who describes in the field. Most field observations are estimations, sometimes
with the help of some reference figures and devices like colour-charts, magnifiers, sieves, scatter
diagrams.
Depending on the object of the investigation, desired elements of interest are observed and noted.
Even within a specific field of interest the investigation project can require a more or less detailed
description.
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Figure 1 — Soil description process
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DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/DIS 25177:2017(E)
Soil quality — Field soil description
1 Scope
This International Standard defines rules for describing soil and its environmental context at a given
site. This standard describes soil description made in the field. Sites may be natural, near natural,
urban or industrial. The soil observations and measurements can be made on a project site level, on a
plot level, on layer of horizon level and on specific soil constituents.
To be used in soil investigations this International Standard also describes how to describe layers of
artificial material or layers that were not modified by pedogenetic processes s. str. and how to describe
coarse material of natural or artificial origin.
NOTE 1 It may not be possible or necessary to record data under all the headings listed in these descriptions.
NOTE 2 An overall guidance for presentation of information from soil surveys is given in ISO 15903.
NOTE 3 Sampling is done in respect to series ISO 18400.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 3166-1:1997, Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions — Part 1:
Country codes
ISO 3166-2:1998, Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions — Part 2:
Country subdivision code
ISO 3166-3:1999, Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions — Part 3: Code
for formerly used names of countries
ISO 14688-1:2002, Geotechnical investigation and testing — Identification and classification of soil —
Part 1: Identification and description
ISO 14688-2:2004, Geotechnical investigation and testing — Identification and classification of soil —
Part 2: Principles for a classification
ISO 18400-101, Soil quality — Sampling — Part 101: Framework for the preparation and application of a
sampling plan
ISO 18000-103, Soil quality -- Sampling - Part 103 - Safety
ISO 18400-106, Soil quality — Sampling — Part 106: Quality control and quality assurance
ISO 18400-107, Soil quality — Sampling — Part 107: Recording and reporting
ISO 18400-203, Soil quality -- Sampling - Part 203 - Investigation of potentially contaminated sites
ISO 18400-204, Soil quality — Sampling — Part 204: Guidance on sampling of soil gas
ISO 18400-205, Soil quality -- Sampling -- Part 205 - Guidance on the procedure for investigation of natural,
near-natural and cultivated sites
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ISO 18400-206, Soil quality -- Sampling -- Part 206 - Guidance on the collection, handling and storage of soil
for the assessment of biological functional and structural endpoints in the laboratory
ISO 28258:2013, Soil quality — Digital exchange of soil-related data
ISO 11074:2015, Soil quality — Vocabulary
3 Description scopes and methods
3.1 Investigation scopes
Soil investigations usually have specific objectives. Field soil description will usually be adapted to the
scope of the investigation. Other standards are adapted to various scopes and can be combined with
this International Standard.
Main investigation types based on project objectives or approaches are:
— investigation for contamination (e.g. according to ISO 18400-203)
— investigation for nature or near-nature management (e.g. according to ISO 18400-205)
— investigation for cultivation management
— investigation for agricultural management
— investigation for forestry
— investigation for archeology
— investigation of soil gas (e.g. according to ISO 18400-204)
— biological investigation (e.g. according to ISO 18400-206)
Note 1 see figure 1 for a schema how this standard can be used in combination with other standards
Note 2 Annex G provides an informative list of the most used aspects of soil that can be described and the
importance of separate types of soil investigations.
3.2 Combined use with other description standards
This International Standard can also be used in combination with standards that provide guidance or
requirements of specific aspects of soil observations and measurements.
Where relevant, examples are given for the combined use with
— FAO Guidelines for soil descriptions e.g. to describe soils and denominate horizons;
— World Reference Base for soil resources (WRB) e.g. to determine soil types;
— ISO 14688 part 1 and 2 Geotechnical investigation and testing: Identification and classification of soil.
This International Standard can be used with other combined standards if a reference to the combined
standard is given in the field report (this International Standard) and the report of the descriptions in
the investigation report (e.g. according to ISO 18400-107).
If other standards that limit the options given in this International Standard are used in combination,
the reference to this International Standard shall also be given in combination.
Examples
ISO 25177:— FAO
ISO 25177:— ISO 18400-203
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3.3 Quality control and quality assurance
The desired accuracy and detail levels is dependent on the project scope and project objectives.
Where aspects of soil description are mentioned or given ISO 18400-106 Soil sampling – Soil sampling
part 106: Quality control and quality assurance shall be applied.
For digital exchange of soil related data ISO 28258:— Soil quality - Digital exchange of soil-related data
can be applied.
Note 1 Education and training of staff is important, especially the experience with similar soil sites, soil
layers and project scopes. Estimations of e.g. texture can be done by reference analysis and reference samples,
working with (other) experienced soil describers. If no specific (e.g. lawful) regulation is in effect, specific branch
or project method to determine valid estimations is recommended.
Note 2 A check for logical and consistent field data can give a first impression of data quality
Note 3 For field investigations checking of some absolute accurate estimations can be done by comparison
with laboratory analyses e.g. sieving tests. Relatively accurate estimations can be checked by comparison
between two different describers of soil or soil samples.
3.4 Description structure
Soil i
...