Many are acidic and very deficient in major plant nutrients, especially the raised bogs, which are saturated by rainwater and lack connection to nutrient-containing groundwater.

Thus, Histosols are very important ecologically because they, and Gelisols, store large quantities of organic carbon.

Most Histosols occur in Canada, Scandinavia, the West Siberian Plain, Sumatra, Borneo and New Guinea.

However, Histosols formed on very recent glacial lands can often be very productive when drained and produce high-grade pasture for dairying or beef cattle.

Like Gelisols, Histosols have greatly restricted use for civil engineering purposes because heavy structures tend to subside in the wet soil.