Fragipan

A fragipan is a diagnostic horizon in USDA soil taxonomy. They are altered subsurface soil layers that restrict water flow and root penetration. Fragipans are similar to a duripan in how they affect land-use limitations. In soil descriptions, they are commonly denoted by a Bx or Btx symbol. They often form in loess ground.^[1] The first record of fragipans is probably that by John Hardcastle in New Zealand in the 1880s.^[2]

^ Smalley,I.J.,Davin,J.E. 1982. Fragipan horizons in soils: a bibliographic study and review of some of the hard layers in loess and other materials. New Zealand Soil Bureau Bibliographic Report 30, 122p
^ Hardcastle,J. 1889. Origin of the loess deposit of the Timaru plateau. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 22, 406-414, also Loess Letter 71,www.loessletter.msu.edu

[1] Smalley,I.J.,Davin,J.E. 1982. Fragipan horizons in soils: a bibliographic study and review of some of the hard layers in loess and other materials. New Zealand Soil Bureau Bibliographic Report 30, 122p

[2] Hardcastle,J. 1889. Origin of the loess deposit of the Timaru plateau. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 22, 406-414, also Loess Letter 71,www.loessletter.msu.edu

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