skip to main contentskip to footer

Quick links

  • Athletics
  • Make a gift
  • Current students
  • Job openings
  • Employee directory
  • Apply
  • Costs
  • Explore
Explore U of I
  • Visit and virtual tour
  • Student life
  • Find your degree
  • Get around campus
  • Meet Moscow
  • Join our email list
  • Events
  • Join ZeeMee
  • Athletics
Academics
  • Academic calendar
  • Find a major
  • Student support resources
  • Undergrad research opportunities
  • Meet the colleges
  • Online learning
  • Explore in-demand careers
Admissions
  • Meet your counselor
  • Deadlines
  • First-year students
  • Graduate students
  • Law students
  • Online students
  • Transfer students
  • International students
  • Admitted students
Financial aid
  • Cost of attendance
  • Steps for financial aid
  • FAFSA information
  • Financial aid FAQs
  • In-state scholarships
  • Out-of-state and international scholarships
  • Connect with financial aid
More
  • Student life
  • Research
  • Recreational offerings
  • Student resources
  • Alumni
  • Parents
  • Newsroom
  • Events
  • Sustainability initiatives
Find your passion - Explore majors Become a Vandal - Start an application
  • Current students
  • Make a gift
  • Athletics
  • Directory
Events
Explore the P1FCU Kibbie Dome’s legacy
Attend the Malcolm Renfrew Interdisciplinary Colloquium 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, in Library 101, where Nels Reese will present a look at one of U of I’s most iconic structures.
Cheer on the Vandals
Support the Vandals as they take on Utah Tech Saturday, Sept. 13, — bring your Vandal spirit and enjoy the excitement!
Head to Moscow for Homecoming
Celebrate Vandal pride and tradition — join University of Idaho Homecoming Oct. 5-11 and be part of the weeklong experience.
Events
News
Student Dan Lauritzen working in the drone lab with Jason Karl for the College of Natural Resources
Drone lab supports aerial-based research
University of Idaho Fall 2023 Start up events.
Five reasons to join a U of I club or organization
News
Support a Vandal - Make a gift
  • Apply
  • Costs
  • Explore
  • Explore
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Financial Aid
  • Student life
  • Research
  • Recreational offerings
  • Student resources
  • Alumni
  • Parents
  • Newsroom
  • Events
  • Sustainability initiatives

Inceptisols

  • CALS
  • Academics
  • Student success
  • Our people
  • News and events
  • Research and Extension
  • Soil Orders
  • Educator resources
  • CALS
  • Academics
  • Student success
  • Our people
  • News and events
  • Research and Extension
  • Soil Orders
  • Educator resources
CALS
  • Academics
  • Student success
  • Our people
  • News and events
  • Research and Extension
  • Soil Orders
  • Educator resources
  1. Home/
  2. CALS/
  3. Soil Orders/
  4. Inceptisols

Inceptisols (from Latin inceptum, "beginning") are soils that exhibit minimal horizon development. They are more developed than Entisols, but still lack the features that are characteristic of other soil orders. Although not found under aridic climate regimes, Inceptisols nevertheless are widely distributed and occur across a wide range of ecological settings. They are often found on fairly steep slopes, young geomorphic surfaces and on resistant parent materials. Land use varies considerably with Inceptisols. A sizable percentage of Inceptisols are found in mountainous areas and are used for forestry, recreation and watershed. Inceptisols are divided into six suborders: Aquepts, Gelepts, Cryepts, Ustepts, Xerepts and Udepts.

Inceptisols occupy an estimated 15% of the global ice-free land area — only the Entisols are more extensive. In the U.S., they occupy approximately 9.7% of the land area. Inceptisols support approximately 20% of the world's population, the largest percentage of any of the soil orders.

Inceptisols layers
Inceptisols range from weakly developed soils to those having various diagnostic horizons and features but not meeting the criteria of other soil orders. In the latter case, diagnostic features may be buried or too deep for classification in another soil order. (USDA-NRCS)

Soil Orders

  • Alfisols
  • Andisols
  • Aridisols
  • Entisols
  • Gelisols
  • Histosols
  • Inceptisols
  • Mollisols
  • Oxisols
  • Spodosols
  • Ultisols
  • Vertisols

Aquepts, Gelepts, Cryepts

Aquepts — Inceptisols with a water table at or near the surface for much of the year; Gelepts — Inceptisols of very cold climates (mean annual soil temperature <0°C); Cryepts — Inceptisols of cold climates 

Ustepts, Xerepts

Ustepts — Inceptisols of semiarid and subhumid climates; Xerepts — temperate Inceptisols with very dry summers and moist winters

Udepts

Inceptisols of humid climates

Footer

Soil Orders

  • Alfisols
  • Andisols
  • Aridisols
  • Entisols
  • Gelisols
  • Histosols
  • Inceptisols
  • Mollisols
  • Oxisols
  • Spodosols
  • Ultisols
  • Vertisols

Ready to apply?

Start your application
Joe Vandal head illustration

Contact us

Department of Soil and Water Systems

Email: rheinse@uidaho.edu
Location: E. J. Iddings Agricultural Science Laboratory, Rm 242; 606 S Rayburn St
Mailing Address:

875 Perimeter Drive MS 2340
Moscow, ID 83844-2340

Subscribe to U of I

Visit the email preference center and subscribe to products that interest you.

Subscribe now

Footer Navigation

Resources

  • Policies
  • Privacy statement
  • Web accessibility
  • Title IX

Campus

  • Directory
  • Map
  • Safety
  • Events

Information For

  • Prospective students
  • Current students
  • Parents
  • Employees
Logo

University of Idaho

875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, ID 83844

208-885-6111

info@uidaho.edu

Engage with U of I on Facebook. Get the latest U of I updates on X. Catch up with U of I on Instagram. Grow your professional network by connecting with U of I on LinkedIn. Interact with University of Idaho's video content on YouTube. Join the University of Idaho ZeeMee conversation.
Support a Vandal - Make a gift
  • Athletics
  • Jobs
  • News

© 2025 University of Idaho