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Notes:

E horizon: is a mineral horizon in the upper part of the soil. Typically present only in forested areas it underlies an O or A horizon. It is a light colored, leached horizon.

Field criteria:

• Commonly near the surface, underlying an O or A horizon and above a B horizon.
• Generally lighter in color than either the overlying organic and/or A horizons and the underlying B horizon (E horizons MUST have a B horizon below).
• Formation (in New England soils): Upland soils - weak organic acids strip iron coating from the sand grains and material is leached down into the subsoil. The light color of the E horizon is due to the natural color of the dominant quartz sand grains. Wet-Sandy soils - Tend to have rapidly fluctuating water tables. When the water is at or near the surface, iron is reduced and becomes soluble. When the water drops the iron precipitates out into the underlying B-horizon (organic material is often moved into the B horizon).

Hydric Soil Concerns: E horizons (and Spodosols in general) may cause problems for hydric soil determination, the gray color of the E can be mis-interpreted for a gleyed horizon. E horizons can occur in upland soils as well as hydric soils. Always look below the E for signs of wetness and see if the wetness morphology connects to the surface. If the E horizon formed by saturation and reduction by a water table, call it an Eg horizon to differentiate it from an upland E.

From Soil Taxonomy:
E horizons: Mineral horizons in which the main feature is loss of silicate clay, iron, or aluminum, or some combination of these, leaving a concentration of sand and silt particles. These horizons exhibit obliteration of all or much of the original rock structure.

An E horizon is most commonly differentiated from an underlying B horizon in the same sequum by a color of higher value or lower chroma or both, by coarser texture, or by a combination of these properties. In some soils the color of the E horizon is that of the sand and silt particles, but in many soils coatings of iron oxides or other compounds mask the color of the primary particles. An E horizon is most commonly differentiated from an overlying A horizon by its lighter color. It generally contains less organic matter than the A horizon. An E horizon is commonly near the surface below an O or A horizon and above a B horizon, but the symbol E can be used for eluvial horizons which are within or between parts of the B horizon, or which extend to depths greater than normal observation if the horizon is pedogenic.