1.
Introduction to Soil Genesis and Classification
2. Soil-Forming Rocks and Minerals
3. Processes and Factors of Soil Formation
4. International Soil Classification Systems
5. Soil Characterization and Analysis
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ü Lectures
ü Reading assignments
ü Article review and synthesis
ü Field excursion
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MATERIALS
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• Brady, N. C., Weil, R. R., 2002. The nature and properties of soils. 13th ed. Prentice Hall Inc, New Jersey
• Breemen, N.V., Buurman, P., 1998. Soil Formation. Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands.
• Dries Buol, S.W., Southard, R. J., Grahm, R. C., McDaniel, P. A., 2003. Soil genesis and Classification, Sixth ed.
Iowa.
• Driesen, P., Deckers J, Spaargen O, Nachtergale F., 2001. Lecture notes on the major soils of the world. World Soil
Resources Report 94. FAO, Rome.
• FAO-Unesco-ISRIC, 1988;1990: Revised Legend of the Soil Map of the World . World Soil Resources Report n0
60. FAO, Rome.
• FAO, 2006. Guidelines for soil description. 4th edition. FAO, Rome.
• IUSS Working Group WRB, 2006, 2014. World Reference Base for soil resources 2006. 2nd edition. World Soil
Resources report 103, FAO, Rome.
• Nachtergaele, F.O., Spaargaren, O., Deckers, J.A., Ahrens, B., 2000. New developments in soil classification World
Reference Base for Soil Resources. Geoderma 96 (2000) 345-35.
• Schaetzl, R. and S. Anderson. 2005. Soils - Genesis and Geomorphology. First Edition. Cambridge University
Press. New York, NY.
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BOOKS
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Books
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Books
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Books
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BOOKS
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WHAT IS THE COURSE ABOUT ?
Soil Genesis
Is about development of soils!
Classification
Is about systematic categorization of soils based on
distinguished characteristics
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• refers to changes of soil properties with time in one direction:
the content of one component or mineral in a certain horizon
decreases or increases‚ sedimentary layering disappears‚ etc.
• Mostly‚ such changes are slow and can be seen only after
decades to millennia.
• So‚ most soil properties that change during soil formation are
relatively stable. Sometimes‚ however‚ effects of soil formation
can be seen within weeks or months.
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Cont.….
• Examples are the quick drop in pH when sulphides oxidise to
sulfuric acid upon exposure to air and the formation of gley mottles
when a soil becomes very wet.
• Most rapid processes are cyclic‚ however‚ and are not considered
part of soil formation Soils may be moist or dry‚ and warm or cold‚
depending on weather and season.
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The Course
Classification
Soils of the world
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Soil Reference Group of Ethiopia
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• Layman:
• The "dirt" on the surface of the earth.
• Soil Scientists: soil is loose and friable material in which, by
means of their roots, plants may or do find a foothold and
nourishment, as well as other conditions of growth (Hilgrad, 1914).
– This is one of the many definitions that consider soil primarily
as means of plant production.
ü The soil is the upper weathering layer of the solid earth crust
(Ramann, 1911).
– This definition is scientific in the sense that no reference is
made to crop production or to any other utilitarian motive
Cont’d…
Joffe ,1936 a representative of the Russian school of soil science, objects
to Ramann's formulation on the grounds that it does not distinguish
between soil and loose rock material.
According to Joffe,the soil is:
Usually unconsolidated, of variable depth, which differs from the parent material below
in
Soil…
§ The pedologist's concept of soil is not that of a mere mass of
inorganic and organic material; rather it takes cognizance of a
certain element of organization that persistently presents itself in
every soil.
• Although soils vary widely in their properties, they possess one
common feature
• Isotropic: the physical and chemical properties are independent of
direction. Many geological formations such as granite are
macroscopically isotropic i.e., the physical and chemical properties
are independent of direction.
ü If we draw a line through a huge block of granite, we find a certain
sequence of quartz, feldspar, and mica, and of the elements silicon,
aluminum, oxygen, etc.
ü The same type of distribution pattern will be observed along any other
line, selected in any direction.
ü All soils are anisotropic. The spatial distribution of soil characteristics is not
randomized but depends on direction.
ü Along a line extending from the surface of the soil toward the center of the
earth-arbitrarily denoted as Z-axis, the sequence of soil properties differs
profoundly from that along lines parallel to the surface
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• The soil is treated as a physical system.
• Any system is defined when its properties are stated. These properties
possess qualitative and/or quantitative character
v Parent material Soil (mature)
Initial state Intermediate states Final state
of system of system
v In this formulation, soil is treated as a dynamic system.
v Emphasis is placed on the changes of the properties of the soil as a
function of time.
Pedology (pedon-soil or earth in greek).
is the study of the soil as a natural body and does not focus
primarily on the soil's immediate practical use.
A pedologist studies, examines, and classifies soils as they occur
in their natural environment.
Edaphology (edaphos means soil or ground in greek)
is the study of soil from the stand point of higher plants.
Edaphologists consider the various properties of soils in relation
to plant production. They are practical and have the production
of food and fibre as their ultimate goal.
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Dokuchaev (1848-1903)
V.V
“Patriarch of Pedology” (POP for short)
Published Russian Chernozems in 1883
Introduced idea of soils as a natural
body:
Result of interactions with environmental
factors
Soils vary mainly as a function of
vegetation
Ideas resulting from study of Chernozem
soils in Russian grasslands
First scientific classification of soils
Foundation for discipline of pedology
History of Pedology….
E.W. Hilgard (1833-1916)
V.V
Geologist who pioneered early soil
classification and mapping in the U.S.
Emphasized soil forming factors
Contemporary of Dokuchaev – both
believed to develop ideas of soil
genesis independently
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C.F. Marbut (1866-1916)
Geologist and geomorphologist
Chief of the Soil Survey Division of
the USDA
Introduced the ideas of Dokuchaev
to the U.S.
Considered founder of U.S. pedology
Established soil profile as the
fundamental unit of study
Pr epa r ed f i r s t m u l t i p l e c a t e g o r y
system of soil classification
Established criteria for identifying and
naming soil series
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Hans Jenny (1899-1992)
Published Factors of Soil Formation
(1941)
Formalized ideas of soil genesis into
a quantitative framework
I dea t h a t t h e pr oper t i es of t h e s o i l
system may be described by
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Guy D. Smith (1907-1981)
Chief architect of U.S. Soil Taxonomy
Highlighted the idea that
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• Identification and description of soil profiles
• Characterization of physical and chemical properties
of soils
• Categorization and classification of soils according
to similarity of properties and function
• Mapping of the spatial distribution of soils in the
landscape
• Analysis of the relationship between soil properties
and potential uses of soils (Interpretation)
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Concept 1. Soil-forming processes (pedogenic processes and biogeochemical
processes) that are active in soils today have been operating over time and have
varying degrees of expression over space
Concept 2. Many soil-forming (and soil-destroying) processes proceed
simultaneously in a soil, and the resulting soil properties reflect the balance of
both present and past processes
Concept 3. Distinctive combinations of geologic materials and processes produce
distinctive soils.
Concept 4. Five external factors provide the reactants and energy to drive the
pedogenic processes within the soil. These factors are climate, organisms, relief,
parent material, and time.
Concept 5. Present day soils may carry the imprint of a combination of pedogenic
processes and geologic processes not presently active at that site.
Concept 6. A succession of different soils may have taken place at a particular
spatial location as soil-forming factors changed.
Concepts of Soil Genesis …
Concept 7. The time scale for soil formation is much shorter than the geologic
time scale and much longer than the age span of most biological species.
Concept 8. Complexity of soil genesis is more common than simplicity.
Concept 9. Soils are natural sites for clay mineral formation on land surfaces.
Most primary minerals on earth crystallize from magma at high temperature
and pressure, and in the absence of free oxygen.
Concept 10. Understanding and knowledge of soil genesis is useful in soil
classification and mapping, but scientific classification systems cannot be
based entirely on inductive concepts of soil genesis.
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