What defines "hue" in the context of soil color?

In the context of soil color, "hue" refers to the dominant spectral wavelength of light that is reflected by the soil. It is essentially the attribute of a color that allows it to be classified as red, yellow, green, blue, etc. Hue is one of the key variables used in soil color classification alongside value (lightness or darkness of color) and chroma (color purity or intensity). Understanding hue is crucial for soil evaluators because it can provide insights into soil composition, mineral content, and even soil drainage characteristics.

The other factors mentioned, such as color saturation (variation in intensity), the amount of organic material, and brightness of a color, while they relate to color perception in general, do not directly define hue. Therefore, recognizing hue as the dominant spectral wavelength highlights its fundamental role in soil color assessment.