{{Short description|Soil formed in layers of volcanic ash in Hawaii}} {{more footnotes|date=February 2015}} {{Infobox soil | name = Hilo | alternative_name = | image =Hilo soil profile.jpg | image_caption =Hilo soil profile, Summer 2009 | image_size = | type =lnceptisols | classification_system = | code = | profile = | mineral = | process = | parent_material =Volcanic ash | climate =Hamakua coast, Hawaii | ph =5.5 | horizons = | composition = | composition_secondary = }} '''Hilo soil''' is the official state soil of the state of Hawaii. These soils cover about {{convert|21000|acre|km2}} and are considered prime agricultural land.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Official Series Description - HILO Series |url=https://soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/H/HILO.html |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov}}</ref> The Hawaiian definition of the word “Hilo” is “first night after the new moon.” Also, the word is the Polynesian term for “Navigator,” and the name of a town, Hilo, Hawaii.
==Profile== The Hilo soil series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils that formed in many layers of volcanic ash with lesser amounts of dust from the deserts of central Asia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Series Description - HILO Series |url=https://soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/H/HILO.html#:~:text=The%20Hilo%20series%20consists%20of,72%20degrees%20F)%20or%20higher. |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov}}</ref> These dust layers are noticeable because their gray color contrasts with the dark brown and dark reddish brown subsoil formed in volcanic ash. There are several buried layers within the Hilo soil profile.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sato |first=Harry H. |date=2007-06-09 |title=Soil Survey of the Island of Hawaii, State of Hawaii |url=http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/soilsurvey/Hawaii/Htm/howmade.htm |access-date=2023-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609163001/http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/soilsurvey/Hawaii/Htm/howmade.htm |archive-date=2007-06-09 }}</ref> Hilo soils occur on the uplands of the Mauna Kea volcano along the Hāmākua Coast on the island of Hawaii.<ref name=":0" />
==See also== *Pedology (soil study) *Soil types *List of U.S. state soils
==References== {{Reflist}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070609163001/http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/soilsurvey/Hawaii/Htm/howmade.htm Soil Survey of the Islands of Hawaii]
Category:Volcanic soils Category:Geography of Hawaii County, Hawaii Category:Geology of Hawaii Category:Hawaii (island) Category:Pedology Category:Soil in the United States Category:Symbols of Hawaii
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