Class outline: Aug 30, 2020

What is soil classification?

Why Classification?
Evolution of Classification
Soil Taxonomy/USDA system of soil
Classification
Soil Classification: Classification is the grouping
of objects in some orderly and logical manner
into compartments. It is based on the properties
of objects for the purpose of studying, and
identifying them. Broad groupings are made on
the basis of general characteristics and
subdivisions are made on the basis of more
detailed differences in specific properties. The
properties are selected in accordance with the
purpose of the classification.
 Purposes of Classification
Like the botanists or the zoologists, soil scientists are
keen to classify soils in some systematic manner so
as to remember their properties and understand
their relationship. The purpose of any classification is
therefore to :
• Organize our knowledge in such a way that it
contributes to economy of thought,
• Remember properties of the objects classified,
• Brings out and understand relationships among
individuals and classes of the population being
classified,
• Learn new relationships and principles in the
population being classified,
Purposes contd..
• Establish groups or subdivisions(classes) of the
objects under study in a manner useful for
practical and applied purposes in:
– Predicting their behaviour,
– Identifying their best uses,
– Estimating their productivity,
– Providing objects for research; and
– Extrapolating research findings to other areas (agro-
technology transfer)
 Evolution of soil classification system
Early system of soil classification were
- quite simple & practical
- the purpose was primarily utilization; for instance:
• Economic Classification- for the purpose of
taxation. Eg, Nepal: Abbal, Doyam, Sim & Chahar
• Physical Classification- loamy, sandy and clayey
• Chemical classification- acidic, alkaline, calcarious
• Geological Classification- Basalt, Limestone,
alluvium, Aeolian
• Physiographic Classification- Levee, basin, terrace,
mountain, valley, upland, lowland etc.
In recent part of the 19th century:
1. Dokuchaiev’s Genetic System(1900)
He divided soil into three categories as
Class A – Normal soils (Zonal)
Class B – Transitional soils (Intrazonal)
Class C – Abnormal soils (Azonal)
this is based on Zonality concept.
2. Coffey’s system (1912)
Classified soil based on their own properties. Proposed
five major groups:
Arid soils, Dark coloured Prairie soils, Light coloured
timbered soils, Black swamp soils and Organic soils.
3. Marbut’s Morphogenic System(1935)
Pedocals ( in areas of low rainfall)
Zonal Soil Accumulation of CaCO3
Pedalfers (in areas of high rainfall)
Accumulation of Fe & Al oxides
4. Baldwin & Associate’s Genetic Approach
The morphogenetic system of Marbut was revised and elaborated by
Baldwin, Kellogg and Thorp (1938). The system marked the start of
truly comprehensive approach. The salient features of the system are:
- A return to the zonality concept of Russian school of thought.
- The Pedocal-Pedalfer concept was deemphasized.
- More emphasis was laid on soil as a 3- D body with its own
characteristics.
In 1970’s revolutions occur in the area of soil
classification which tried to make a universally
acceptable system of classifying soils. The most
common two classification systems followed are:
1. Soil Taxonomy developed by US Soil Survey
Staff(1975)
2. FAO/UNESCO system later known as World
Reference Base for Soil Resources in 1998.
 Soil Taxonomy: A comprehensive US system of soil
classification
From series of revision and advancement since 1953
Soil Survey Staff(1975) of United States of America
brought out as Soil Taxonomy, which was designed to
serve the soil survey needs. This system was adopted in
many countries including India, Iraq, Belgium and
Holland along with our country Nepal.
This soil classification system - Keys to Soil Taxonomy,
Twelfth Edition (2014) - has found widespread
international acceptance particularly in countries in
Latin America and Asia. The principles that
were developed by Soil Taxonomy were taken up
by WRB and the FAO Legend to set international
standards.
This system is a hierarchical
classification that tries to
group similar soils into
increasingly general
categories. It was designed
to support soil survey in the
USA, specifically the
correlation of soil series and
the provision of map unit
names at various levels of
cartographic detail. It tries to
classify all World soils, but
the main aim has always
been to group soils of the
USA.
Salient Features of Soil Taxonomy
1. The system is based on soil properties that are easily
verified by others.

• Include both soil genesis and morphology.

• This lessens the likelihood of controversy over the
classification of a given soil, which can occur when
scientists deal with systems based on soil genesis
only.
2. The nomenclature, using coined words, is derived
mainly from Greek and Latin languages. Although it
appears difficult, yet, once understood, it is the most
logical system and helps in relating the place of taxon in
the system and in making interpretations.
 Structure of Soil Taxonomy

Order Higher
Increasing categories
- Information Suborder
- Knowledge
- experience
Great group

Subgroup
Lower
categories
Family

Series

Fig: The hierarchy of soil taxonomy (Sehgal, 1996)

Str. cond..
The system has six categories of classification from the highest to
the lowest levels of generalization. These are grouped under two
broad categories, vit. higher and lower.
Higher categories:
1. Order- the highest category in the system
2. Suborder- comparable to great soil groups of the genetic
system
3. Great group- a basic category, based on diagnostic
subsurface horizon
Lower categories:
4. Subgroup- a new category designed to define the central
concepts of Great group.
5. Family- a practical category for making predictions for land use
plans.
6. Series- the lowest and the most specific category.
Soil Order: 12 soil order and their formative elements
with meaning

“ A VAGAMI HOUSE”
 Illustration of nomenclature used in Soil Taxonomy
Mollisols Order
Aquolls Suborder
Argiaquolls Great group
Typic Agriaquolls Subgroup
Typic Argiaquolls, fine, mixed, mesic, active Family
Typic Argiaquolls, fine, mixed, mesic, active, Miami Series

The names of orders are combinations of (1)

formative elements, which generally define the
characteristics of the soils, and (2) the ending sols
Nomenclature contd..
The names of suborders automatically identify the order of which
they are a part. For example, soils of the suborder Aquolls are the
wetter soil (from the Latin aqua, water) of the Mollisols order.
Likewise, the name of the great group identifies the suborder and
order of which it is a part. Argiaquolls are Aquolls with clay or
argillic (Latin argilla, white clay) horizons.
As mention in above illustration, if one is given only the subgroup
name; the great group, suborder, and order to which the soil
belongs are automatically known.
Family names in general identify subsets of the subgroup that are
similar in texture, mineral composition, and mean soil
temperature at a depth of 50 cm. Thus the name fine, mixed,
mesic, active, Typic Argiaquolls identifies a family in the Typic
Argiaquolls subgroup with a fine texture, mixed clay mineral
content, mesic (8 to 150C)soil temperature, and clays active in
cation exchange.
Soil series are named after a geographic feature (town, river, etc.)
near where they were first recognized. Eg. Miami, Rampur etc.