Rendzina (or rendsina) is a soil type recognized in various soil classification systems, including those of Britain[1] and Germany[2] as well as some obsolete systems. They are humus-rich shallow soils that are usually formed from carbonate- or occasionally sulfate-rich parent material.[2] Rendzina soils are often found in karst and mountainous regions.
The term rendzina originated via Russian from the Polish rędzina (the word "rędzina" comes from the old Polish word "rzędzić" (to speak, to talk).[3][4][5]
In the World Reference Base for Soil Resources, rendzina soils would be classified as leptosols, chernozems, kastanozems, or phaeozems, depending on their specific characteristics.[2]