Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Formal apparatus of soil classification

  • Genesis and Geography of Soils
  • Published:
Eurasian Soil Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mathematical tools that may be applied for soil classification purposes are discussed. They include the evaluation of information contained in particular soil attributes, the grouping of soil objects into a given (automatically determined) number of classes, the optimization of the classification decisions, and the development of the models and rules (algorithms) used to classify soil objects. The algorithms of multivariate statistical methods and cluster analysis used for solving these problems are described. The major attention is paid to the development of the systems of informative attributes of soil objects and their classes and to the assessment of the quality of the classification decisions. Particular examples of the solution of the problems of soil classification with the use of formal mathematical methods are given. It is argued that the theoretical and practical problems of classification in science cannot find objective solutions without the application of the modern methods of information analysis. The major problems of the numerical taxonomy of the soil objects described in this paper and the appropriate software tools for their solution should serve as the basis for the creation of not only formal soil classification systems but also the theory of soil classification.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. S. A. Aivazyan, Z. I. Bezhaeva, and O. V. Staroverov, Classification of Multidimensional Observations (Statistika, Moscow, 1974) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  2. A. G. Arkad’ev and E. M. Bravermann, Supervised Computer-Based Classification of Objects (Nauka, Moscow, 1971) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  3. N. T. J. Bailey, The Mathematical Approach to Biology and Medicine (J. Wiley and Sons, London-New York-Sydney, 1967). Translated under the title Matematika v biologii i meditsine (Mir, Moscow, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  4. V. M. Balyk, N. S. Kalutskii, and R. D. Kulakova, “Structural-Parametric Self-Organization of Complex Technical Systems,” Delovaya Rossiya, 58–63 (2007).

  5. V. A. Bobrov, “Approximation of Some Soil Functions and an Integral Way to Calculate the Amount of Humus in Soil,” in Methods of Biology and Soil Science (Nauka, Alma-Ata, 1976), pp. 103–111 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  6. The Great Russian Encyclopedia (Izd. BSE, Moscow, 2005), Vol. 1 [in Russian].

  7. S. W. Boul, F. D. Hole, and R. J. McCracken, Soil Genesis and Classification (Ames, 1973). Translated under the title Genezis i klassifikatsiya pochv, (Progress, Moscow, 1977).

  8. Yu. A. Voronin, Fundamentals of Similarity Theory (Nauka, Novosibirsk, 1991) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  9. G. N. Vysokos and V. A. Rozhkov, “Scales of Soil Features and the Choice of Similarity Measures for Soil Objects,” in Soil and Agrochemical Studies with the Use of Computers (Tr. Pochv. Inst. im. V.V. Dokuchaeva), pp. 30–39 (1981).

  10. G. V. Dobrovol’skii, Soils of Floodplains in the Center of the Russian Plain (Izd. Mosk. Gos. Univ., Moscow, 1968) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  11. E. N. Knyazeva and S. P. Kurdyumov, Basics of Synergetics. Human Constructing Himself and His Future (KomKniga, Moscow, 2007) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  12. I. K. Lur’e, Geoinformation Mapping (KDU, Moscow, 2010) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  13. T. B. Makhlin, “Approximation of Johnson’s Curves of Element Distribution in Soils,” Pochvovedenie, No. 6, 123–130 (1973).

  14. J. Pfanzagl, Theory of Measurement (Physica Verlag, Wurzburg-Wien, 1971). Translated under the title Teoriya izmerenii (Mir, Moscow, 1976) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  15. L. Yu. Reintam, “Correlation and Regression between the Properties of Brown Forest, Pseudopodzolic, and Soddy-Podzolic Soil Types,” Pochvovedenie, No. 1, 116–132 (1971).

  16. I. V. Reshetukha, “Approximation of Tabulated Function f(x, y) by the Method of Least Squares with a Polynomial P n,m (x, y),” in Program Support of Computers MIR-1 and MIR-2, Vol. 2 (Naukova dumka, Kiev, 1976), pp. 126–129 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  17. V. A. Rozhkov, “Algebra of the WRB (Formalized Concept),” in Experimental Information in Soil Science: Theory and Methods of Standardization (Proc. All-Russia Conf.) (Izd. Mosk. Gos. Univ., Moscow, 2005), pp. 73–82 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  18. V. A. Rozhkov, Algorithms and Programs for a Computer-Based (MIR-2) Objective Soil Classification (Izd. VASKhNiL, Moscow, 1976) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  19. V. A. Rozhkov, “Method of Principal Components and Its Application in Soil Science,” Pochvovedenie, No. 10, 141–151 (1975).

  20. V. A. Rozhkov, “On the Mathematical Formalization of Distribution of Substances in the Soil Profile,” Byul. Pochv. Inst. im. V.V. Dokuchaeva, Iss. IV, 66–73 (1972).

  21. V. A. Rozhkov, Soil Informatics (Agropromizdat, Moscow, 1989) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  22. V. A. Rozhkov, “Efficient Coding of Soil Data,” Byul. Pochv. Inst. im. V.V. Dokuchaeva, No. 53, 32–35 (1972).

  23. V. A. Rozhkov and E. B. Skvortsova, “Tectology of Soil Megasystems: Universal Principles of Organization and Analysis of Data,” Pochvovedenie, No. 10, 1155–1164 (2009) [Eur. Soil Sci. 42 (10), 1073–1082 (2009)].

  24. R. R. Sokal, “Clustering and Classification: Background and Current Directions,” in Classification and Clustering, J. van Ryzin (Ed.), (Academic Press, New York, 1977), pp. 7–19.

    Google Scholar 

  25. A. M. Chandra and S. K. Ghosh, Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (Alpha Science Int. Ltd., 2008).

  26. B. V. Sheremet and V. A. Rozhkov, “An Experience in Numerical Taxonomy of Floodplain Soils of the Ob River according to Their Morphological Features,” Vest. Mosk. Univ., Ser. 17: Pochvoved., No. 3, 41–50 (1977).

  27. L. L. Shishov, V. A. Rozhkov, and V. S. Stolbovoi, “Information Base of Soil Classification,” Pochvovedenie, No. 9, 9–20 (1985).

  28. V. I. Shrag, Floodplain Soils, Their Reclamation and Agricultural Use (Rossel’khozizdat, Moscow, 1969) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  29. J. D. Colwell, “A Statistical-Chemical Characterization of Four Great Soil Groups in Southern New South Wales Based on Orthogonal Polynomials,” Austral. J. Soil Sci. Res. 8(3), 221–238 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. K. T. Erle, “Application of the Spline Function on Soil Science,” Soil Sci. 114(5), 333–338 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. L. A. Goodman and W. K. Kruskal, “Measure of Association for Cross Classification,” J. Amer. Statist. Assoc, 49, 732–764 (1954).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. J. J. de Gruijter, “Numerical Classification of Soils and Its Application in Survey,” Soil Surv. Papers, No. 12, 117 pp. (1977).

  33. R. Protz, R. W. Arnold, and E. W. Presant, “The Approximation of the True Modal Profile with Use of the High Speed Computer and Landscape Control,” Trans. 9th Int. Congr. Soil Sci., Adelaide, 1968, Vol. 4, 193–204.

    Google Scholar 

  34. R. R. Sokal and F. I. Rohlf, “The Comparison of Dendrograms by the Objective Methods,” Taxon., No. 11, 33–40 (1962).

  35. R. R. Sokal and P. H. A. Sneath, Principles of Numerical Taxonomy (W.H. Freeman and Co., San-Francisco, 1963).

    Google Scholar 

  36. R. Webster, Quantitative and Numerical Methods in Soil Classification and Survey (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, per. Pyzhevskii 7, Moscow, 119017, Russia

    V. A. Rozhkov

Authors
  1. V. A. Rozhkov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. A. Rozhkov.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © V.A. Rozhkov, 2011, published in Pochvovedenie, 2011, No. 12, pp. 1411–1424.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rozhkov, V.A. Formal apparatus of soil classification. Eurasian Soil Sc. 44, 1289–1303 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229311120106

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229311120106

Keywords

Search

Navigation