Soil Taxonomy

Definition

Soil taxonomy is a hierarchical classification system used to categorize and identify soils based on their characteristics and properties. This system organizes soils into different categories, such as orders, suborders, and families, which helps scientists and researchers communicate effectively about soil types and understand their distribution, formation, and management practices.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Soil taxonomy was developed by the USDA Soil Conservation Service in the 1960s and has been widely adopted for soil classification worldwide.
2. There are 12 major soil orders in the USDA soil taxonomy system, including Entisols, Inceptisols, Mollisols, and Ultisols, each with distinct characteristics.
3. Each soil order is further divided into suborders, great groups, subgroups, families, and series, creating a detailed hierarchy for identifying specific soil types.
4. Soil taxonomy is crucial for understanding soil fertility and suitability for agriculture, environmental management, and land use planning.
5. The system also considers factors like texture, structure, color, and mineral composition to help differentiate between various soils.

Review Questions

• How does soil taxonomy aid in the understanding of soil profiles and horizons?
  • Soil taxonomy provides a structured way to classify soils based on their horizons and profiles. By categorizing soils into specific orders and suborders according to their layers' characteristics—such as texture and composition—scientists can better understand how different soils form over time. This classification helps in recognizing the relationship between soil layers and their role in agricultural productivity or environmental health.
• Discuss the significance of different soil orders in relation to soil formation processes and their impact on land use.
  • Different soil orders reflect various formation processes influenced by climate, parent material, topography, and biological activity. For example, Mollisols are rich in organic matter due to grassland vegetation, making them highly suitable for agriculture. Understanding these distinctions allows land managers to make informed decisions about sustainable practices that align with the specific needs of each soil type, optimizing land use while maintaining environmental integrity.
• Evaluate how the principles of soil taxonomy can inform strategies for addressing soil degradation in agricultural systems.
  • Evaluating soil taxonomy principles helps identify the unique properties of different soils that may be affected by degradation. By recognizing specific soil orders and their characteristics—such as nutrient content or erosion susceptibility—agricultural practices can be tailored to address these issues effectively. For example, knowing that certain soils may require more organic amendments or cover cropping can lead to improved management strategies that enhance soil health and productivity over time.

Related terms

Soil Horizon: A layer of soil that differs in color, texture, or composition from the layers above and below it, providing vital information about soil formation and classification.

Pedology: The study of soils in their natural environment, focusing on soil formation processes, classification, and mapping.

Soil Order: The highest category in soil taxonomy, which groups soils based on broad characteristics such as moisture regime, temperature regime, and mineral content.