# Sapric

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A **sapric** is a subtype of a [histosol](/source/Histosol)[1] wherein virtually all of the organic material has undergone sufficient decomposition to prevent the identification of plant parts and even fecal matter.[2][3] **Muck** is a sapric soil that is naturally [waterlogged](/source/Waterlogging_(agriculture)) or is artificially drained.

## Classification

The soils are deep, dark colored, and [friable](/source/Friability), often underlain by [marl](/source/Marl), or marly [clay](/source/Clay).[citation needed]

### World Reference Base

The [World Reference Base for Soil Resources](/source/World_Reference_Base_for_Soil_Resources) (WRB) defines "sapric" (sa) as a histosol having less than one-sixth (by volume) of the organic material consisting of recognizable plant tissue within 100 cm of the soil surface.[4]

### Canada

Muck soils fall under the Organic Order in the [Canadian system of soil classification](/source/Canadian_system_of_soil_classification).[5] Muck soils are organic soils, with a minimum of 30% organic matter and a depth of at least 40 cm.[5]

### United States

In the [USDA soil taxonomy](/source/USDA_soil_taxonomy), sapric may be a subtype of a [haplohemist](/source/Haplohemist) or [glacistel](/source/Glacistel) type, and may also be a diagnostic organic [soil](/source/Soil) material whose fiber content is less than one-sixth of the volume.[2] Muck soils are defined by the USDA [NRCS](/source/Natural_Resources_Conservation_Service) as sapric organic soils that are saturated more than 30 cumulative days in normal years or are artificially drained.[6] An example would be a soil made up primarily of [humus](/source/Humus) from drained [swampland](/source/Swamp).[citation needed]

## Use and vegetation

Muck soil is used for growing specialty crops such as [onions](/source/Onion), [carrots](/source/Carrot), [celery](/source/Celery), and [potatoes](/source/Potato).[citation needed]

## Geography

Muck farming on drained swamps is an important part of agriculture in [New York](/source/New_York_(state)), [Ohio](/source/Ohio), [Illinois](/source/Illinois), [Indiana](/source/Indiana), [Michigan](/source/Michigan), [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin), and [Florida](/source/Florida), where mostly vegetables are grown. The muckland of [Torrey Farms](/source/Torrey_Farms) of [Elba, New York](/source/Elba,_New_York), which covers the counties of [Orleans](/source/Orleans_County,_New_York), [Niagara](/source/Niagara_County,_New_York), and [Genesee](/source/Genesee_County,_New_York), is thought to be the largest continuous section of muckland in the world.[7] Another large tract of muckland, known as the [Black Dirt Region](/source/Black_Dirt_Region), exists in the lower Hudson Valley. American "muckers" often have roots from the [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands) or [Eastern Europe](/source/Eastern_Europe), where their ancestors practiced a similar type of farming. [Holland Marsh](/source/Holland_Marsh), north of [Toronto, Ontario](/source/Toronto), is the site of the [Muck Crops Research Station](/source/Muck_Crops_Research_Station), a [University of Guelph](/source/University_of_Guelph) facility.[citation needed]

## Conservation

Muck farming is controversial because the drainage of [wetlands](/source/Wetland) destroys wildlife [habitats](/source/Habitat_(ecology)) and results in a variety of environmental problems. It is unlikely that any more will be created in the United States because of environmental regulations. It is prone to problems. The soil is very light, so windbreaks are necessary to protect these fields in dry weather. It also can catch fire and burn underground for months. [Oxidation](/source/Oxidation) also removes a portion of the soil each year, making it progressively shallower. Oxidation also discharges [carbon dioxide](/source/Carbon_dioxide). Some muck land has been reclaimed and restored as wetlands for [wildlife preserves](/source/Wildlife_preserve).[citation needed]

The impacts of drainage and agricultural production cause the loss of organic matter in muck soils through erosion, oxidation, and other processes collectively called "subsidence." Agricultural practices such as cover cropping and reduced tillage can significantly reduce subsidence but can not reverse it. Muck soils are, in essence, a non-renewable agricultural resource.[8]

## Etymology

The word *muck* has much usage in the [English language](/source/English_language), referring in some cases to agricultural soil, and in others to dirt in general, and animal [dung](/source/Feces) (sometimes human feces) in particular. Origins are probably from Norse, Danish, and Proto-Germanic roots referring to cow dung.[9][10]

## See also

- [Peat](/source/Peat)

## References

1. According to the [World Reference Base for Soil Resources](/source/World_Reference_Base_for_Soil_Resources) and similar [soil classification](/source/Soil_classification) systems

1. Canarache, A.; Vintila, I.I.; Munteanu, I. (2006). [*Elsevier's Dictionary of Soil Science*](https://books.google.com/books?id=L-W47LTHVEMC&pg=PA745). [Elsevier](/source/Elsevier). p. 745. ISBN 9780080561318.

1. [*Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States: A Guide for Identifying and Delineating Hydric Soils*](https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/natural-resource-concerns/soil/soil-use). version 8.1 ed. [Natural Resources Conservation Service](/source/Natural_Resources_Conservation_Service). 2017. p. 38. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170524001339/https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/use/hydric/) 2017-05-24 at the Wayback Machine.

1. IUSS Working Group WRB (2015). [*World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014, update 2015*](http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3794e.pdf). Vol. World Soil Resources Reports No. 106. International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps. Rome: [FAO](/source/FAO). ISBN 978-92-5-108370-3. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161213042704/http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3794e.pdf) 2016-12-13 at the Wayback Machine.

1. Canada Soil Survey Committee, Subcommittee on soil classification (1978). "The Canadian system of soil classification.". *Can. Dep. Agric. Publ. 1646. Supply and Services Canada (Pb), Ottawa, Ontario. 83pp*

1. [*Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils*](https://web.archive.org/web/20170501122002/https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/research/guide/?cid=nrcs142p2_054184). version 3.0 ed. [Natural Resources Conservation Service](/source/Natural_Resources_Conservation_Service). 2012. p. 2–43. Archived from [the original](https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/research/guide/?cid=nrcs142p2_054184) on 2017-05-01.

1. ["Number 21: Elba Mucklands"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090417230821/http://www.hollandlandoffice.com/21muck.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.hollandlandoffice.com/21muck.html) on 2009-04-17. Retrieved 2009-06-01.

1. Conservation of Muck Soils in New York. Agronomy Fact Sheet Series, Cornell Cooperative Extension. Accessed 7/13/20. [https://nmsp.cals.cornell.edu/publications/factsheets/factsheet86.pdf](https://nmsp.cals.cornell.edu/publications/factsheets/factsheet86.pdf)

1. ["Online Etymology Dictionary"](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=muck&searchmode=none). *etymonline.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150711023339/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=muck&searchmode=none) 11 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 July 2015.

1. ["Muck - Definition of muck by Merriam-Webster"](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muck). *merriam-webster.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150711055001/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muck) 11 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 July 2015.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sapric](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapric) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapric?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.