Ped refers to aggregates of soil particles that are formed naturally through pedogenic processes. These natural organizations of particles create discrete units that are separated by pores or voids within the soil structure.
The term is primarily used to describe macroscopic structural units when soils are observed in a field setting. For accurate identification, soil peds should be described when they are dry or slightly moist, as they can become difficult to distinguish when wet. In contrast, an artificially formed aggregate of soil particles is referred to as a clod.