LECTURE 17

Soil Classification

Recap from yesterday

Soil classification: The ordering of soils into a

hierarchy of classes. The product is an
arrangement or system of classification
designed to express interrelationships of soils
and to serve as a filing system. Broad
groupings are made on the basis of general
characteristics; subdivisions on the basis of
more detailed differences in specific
properties. Soil Science Society of South Africa

Why would we want to classify?

To enable communication between specialists

In theory construction

Advancement in science = the ability to make

generalizations and predictive statements

For mapping purposes

There are many different classification

systems worldwide.
Basic units of classification:

In many systems, this is the soil profile

which is defined as being a 3-dimensional
soil body with no significant lateral
variation.
In the USA, it is the soil pedon or
polypedon.

Pedon: The smallest 3-dimensional portion

of the soil mantle needed to describe and
sample soil in order to represent the nature
and arrangement of its horizons. Rock or
material that is too deep to be of interest to
agricultural soil users mark the lower limits of
the pedon. A group of contiguous, similar
pedons is called a polypedon and is the soil
individual for the purpose of classification.
Soil Science Society of South Africa

Taxonomy: Classification, especially

according to natural relationships. The
systematic distinguishing, ordering and
naming of type groups within a subject
field. Soil Science Society of South Africa

Soil Taxonomic System for

South Africa

Has two levels

To date, 73 forms and 400 families identified

Each form has a defined set of Master

Horizons

Form
Each form can contain various families

These differentiated on grounds of position, as

well as physical and chemical properties

Other differences within these forms

distinguish soil families

e.g. signs of wetness, calcareous horizons and

layers

You should understand the concept behind

the SA system (i.e. the theory of it) and be
able to describe at least 3 of the soil forms in
SA along with their families, and know how
each of the horizons is defined.
Reference = Soil Classification a Taxonomic
System for SA (blue book) in the Geography
library.

The United States Soil

Taxonomy (USDA, 1975)

Widely used comprising a hierarchy of 6

levels

Order
Suborder
Great group
Subgroup
Family
Series

Important concepts:

Diagnostic surface horizons (epipedons)

Diagnostic subsurface horizons

7 recognized

18 recognized

Soil moisture regimes

Soil temperature regimes

Nomenclature (names) are largely logical

12 orders:

Alfisols
Andisols (ando blacksoil)
Aridisols (aridus dry)
Entisols (recent)
Gelisols (gelid very cold)
Histosols (histos tissue)
Inceptisols (inceptum beginning)
Mollisols (mollis soft)
Oxisols (oxide)
Spodosols (spodos wood ash)
Ultisols (ultimus last)
Vertisols (verto turn)

Suborders and great groups see handout of

Tables 3.6, 3.7 and 3.8 from Brady & Weil.
Subgroups

More than 1300 recognised

Typic = properties typical to a particular great
group.
Other subgroups indicate slight deviations from
the typic subgroup

Families

About 8000 recognised.

Within a subgroup, soils fall into a particular family if
they have similar physical and chemical properties
affecting growth of plant roots at a specified depth, e.g.
CEC, texture, mineralogy.

Series

19000 recognized in the US.

Specific range of soil properties involving kind, thickness
and arrangement of horizons.