Dark subsurface horizons with morphological characteristics similar to sombric horizons are found in higher altitude areas of the eastern portion of the Sul-Rio-Grandense Shield, Brazil. They developed in the A2, AB (or AC), and BA horizons of Ultisols, Alfisols, and Entisols. The mechanisms responsible for their genesis are still poorly understood, although most authors agree on the illuvial origin of the humus horizon and on its diagnostic character. The objective of this study was to characterize and analyze nine soil profiles with dark subsurface horizons from the Sul-Rio-Grandense Shield within the current criteria of the Brazilian Soil Classification System (SiBCS), the WRB, and Soil Taxonomy, seven of these soils having morphological characteristics of the sombric horizon. Field observation (lateral continuity in the landscape) and soil morphology (absence of E horizon, darker color than the overlying horizons, and the presence of cutans) support the sombric character for most of the soils studied, adding the sombric trait to the subgroup level in the Gray-Brown Argisol (Argissolo Bruno-Acinzentado), Yellow Argisol (Argissolo Amarelo), and Red-Yellow Argisol (Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo), as well as to the Luvisol (Luvissolo) and Regolitic Neosol (Neossolo Regolítico) classes, in addition to including eutrophic in the Great Group level of the Gray-Brown Argisol (Argissolo Bruno-Acinzentado) class. The data suggest revising the definition of base desaturation (dystrophic) for the sombric character in the SiBCS, with adoption of the base saturation value of 65 %, fitting it to the Soil Taxonomy and WRB definition, as well as a deeper investigation of the lack of association of humus with Al and disregard of cation exchange capacity of organic matter in calculating clay activity for the dark subsurface horizons.
pedology; sombric character; soil morphology
