Soil Properties and Classification (Soil Taxonomy)

Abstract

The consistent use of standard procedures is one of the strengths of the National Cooperative Soil Survey in the USA. Together these standards ensure that soil descriptions and data can be compared, grouped, classified, and interpreted effectively. Important standards include horizon nomenclature to convey soil-forming processes and genetic history of the soil, morphological property terms, and definitions to describe important soil characteristics in the field, laboratory methods for analyzing soil samples, and the use of Soil Taxonomy to classify soils. Soil Taxonomy integrates morphological characteristics with presumed soil genetic pathways through the use of quantitatively defined diagnostic horizons and characteristics. Soil Taxonomy is a six-tiered hierarchical system that uses a unique mnemonic naming system (except for the lowest level, series) that conveys considerable information about the soils making up each taxonomic class.