Anthraquic Conditions in Nonagricultural Soils: A Proposal and Case Study

As soil scientists develop recommendations for the classification and interpretation of anthropogenic soils, many altered soils will need to be described and classified, probably at a variety of taxonomic levels. One agent of alteration may be the application of liquid wastes to soils for extended periods of time, with the potential of creating aquic conditions in those soils. Although such conditions could logically be termed anthraquic , no provision exists for recognizing anthraquic conditions in nonagricultural soils. As these morphological characteristics may be reversed if the spraying were discontinued, it is important that future land‐use planners be given such information. The most logical venue is to include anthraquic designators at appropriate levels of classification that may also be applied to nonagricultural soils. An example is given of a wooded plot in New Hampshire that has received secondary Cl‐treated wastewater for >15 yr.