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14 views22 pagesSoil Classification Systems Explained
The document discusses various soil classification systems, highlighting the contributions of Russian scientist V. Dokuchaev and the evolution of classification methods in the U.S. It details the USDA's system, which categorizes soils into 12 orders based on physical and chemical characteristics, and describes each order's unique properties. The document emphasizes the importance of soil classification for understanding and communicating soil properties and their implications for agriculture and land use.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
14 views22 pagesSoil Classification Systems Explained
The document discusses various soil classification systems, highlighting the contributions of Russian scientist V. Dokuchaev and the evolution of classification methods in the U.S. It details the USDA's system, which categorizes soils into 12 orders based on physical and chemical characteristics, and describes each order's unique properties. The document emphasizes the importance of soil classification for understanding and communicating soil properties and their implications for agriculture and land use.
Translated by
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
CLASSIFICATION OF
FLOORS
Soil classification
There are many soil classification systems and in each
paía has developed one based on some main ones.
The study of soil depends on the grouping system of
soils with equal properties.
The classification of soils helps us understand, remember and
communicate any knowledge about it.
The Russian soil scientist V. Dokuchaev
he was the first to suggest a
soil classification method
around the year 1880.
•He suggested that soils were bodies
natural factors created by the factors
soil formation
particularly the weather.
Dokuchaev determined three types of soil:
Zonal Soilswhose evolution depended on the climate.
Intrazonal Soils, whose evolution is independent of
climate.
Azonal Soils, poorly evolved, it is not known as
evolve.
This proposal was adopted by edaphologists in the States
United but then changed.
Over the years, the U.S. has used three systems of
classification.
In 1973, the FAO created an international reference base,
which was adopted by many countries, especially
Europeans.
Then the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) uses a
improved system, starting from 1975, which is more inductive
and objective, putting aside the soil genetics and
using physical and chemical characteristics more, being
in a more measurable way.
This system consists of six levels.
The highest level is the ORDER of the soil that recognizes twelve
soil levels, based mainly on the presence or
absence of certain key horizons in the role of the soil, and in
the average temperature and rainfall.
Order (12)
Suborder (54)
Group (>200)
Subgroup (>1000)
Family (>5000)
Series (>10500)
The classification is usually based on the morphology and composition of the
soil, with emphasis on the properties that can be felt or measured,
For example, depth, color, texture, structure, and chemical composition.
The soils that share many common characteristics
are grouped into series and these into families. In the same way, the families are
they combine into groups and these into suborders that are grouped in turn
in orders.
The names are based on Greek and Latin roots and each one is
choose trying to indicate the relationships between one class and the others
categories.
Soil organization
There is a need for a sampling unit.
Concept of Pedion:
It is the smallest division of the soil in a given area that can
recognize oneself as an individual floor, whose dimensions
laterals are sufficient to allow the study of the
forms of horizons and their relationships.
It is a soil column that extends from the surface
until reaching the limit with the regolith or bedrock.
Soil organization
Pedion
Soil organization
Polypedion
A simple and unique set of properties is applied to the polypedon.
and this set differs from the adjacent polypedion. The polypedion is
conceived in terms of spatial geometry and this
composed of pedions.
Each polypedion falls within one and only one of the 12
orders. Each order has a unique criterion that excludes
other orders.
Soil organization
polypedon
Polypedion
isopedia
inclusion
plain
Soil organization
The criteria that include the polypedons are:
1. Group composition of organic and mineral material (by
example, percentage of organic matter or clay)
2. Degree of development of the horizons
3. Presence or absence of certain diagnostic horizons
4. Degree of soil mineralization, expressed in
cation exchange or base saturation percentage
Soil classification
There are 12 types of orders
of soil, described by the
USDA:
Alfisol, Andisol, Aridisol
Entisol, Spodosol, Gelisol
["Histosol","Inceptisol","Mollisol"]
Oxisol, Ultisol, and Vertisol.
Figure. Degree of evolution
of the soils. Source:
Malagón (2004) cited by
Posada (2010) that distributes
the degree of evolution of the
soil orders according
on a numerical scale of 0
a 5.
Description of soil orders.
Jaramillo (2002) describes the 12 soil orders as follows:
EntisolEntisols are soils derived from rock fragments.
loose, which are typically formed by erosion and deposition of
sedimentary materials that are transported by the action of water.
They are young soils without natural genetic horizons.
InceptisolInceptisols are soils with few characteristics.
defined just like their horizons. In cold climate areas, they
presents accumulation of organic materials on the surface due to
low degradation conditions. They exhibit an acidic pH, poor
drainage conditions and can contain amorphous clay minerals
like the alofan. These soils occupy a large part of the slopes of
Colombia, having a development based on recently formed rocks.
exposed.
HistosolHistosols are organic soils that have an O horizon.
quite deep, thanks to the accumulation of plant tissues that have not
suffered decomposition processes due to low temperature and high
humidity. These soils are saturated with water at least once a year,
and can be found in Colombian territory in paramo areas running the
risk of use for agricultural purposes due to its use as an organic substrate. Of these
Soils largely depend on the water regulation of the moors and the
water supply in our country.
AndisolAndisols are soils derived from volcanic ashes. They exhibit
excellent physical properties, especially drainage, as well as good fertility
thanks to the superficial accumulation of humified organic matter and the presence
from allophanic clay. These soils are found in the Andean region, They are the
responsible for coffee production in countries like Colombia and therefore their
great importance.
AlfisolAlfisols are typical soils of areas with seasonal changes.
between (humid to semi-arid), with a moisture deficit of more than five months
per year. They have a good content of exchangeable cations, but high
susceptibility to degradation processes. They present a horizon
superficial de color claro con bajo contenido de materia orgánica. Se
they are found in the Caribbean Region, especially in the departments of
Magdalena and Bolívar and in the Inter-Andean valleys of Magdalena and Cauca.
MolisoMollisols are dark-colored soils with high content of
organic matter. They are the most fertile soils as they are found in areas
warm valleys, with high clay content and a good amount of
cations that form bases and nutrient salts for plants. They present
heavy textures due to continuous mechanization conditions what the
make them susceptible to compaction processes. They are very productive soils.
in the Cauca Valley and the Caribbean area such as the lower Sinú region.
VertisolVertisols are fertile soils due to their high content
of clays. However, due to the presence of expandable clays
of type 2:1 like montmorillonite and vermiculite, present
cracking conditions in summer and high plasticity in
winter, causing floods due to its low infiltration.
They represent very unstable soils for construction work.
civilians. In the Vertisols, the main crop is flood rice,
the rainfed rice during the rainy season.
OxisolOxisols are soils rich in iron sesquioxides and
aluminum with a predominance of 1:1 type clays. They are weathered soils.
and low fertility. They have an acidic pH and low retention of
humidity, which can limit plant growth due to stress.
They are located in the Orinoquía region, the Eastern Plains and the
The Amazon, and according to the different environmental conditions require
different managements.
UltisolUltisols are younger soils than oxisols,
however, they present similar characteristics such as the high
weathering, reddish and brown colors due to the presence of
iron and aluminum sesquioxides. They present a horizon of
accumulation of clays and low content of mineral bases,
what makes them less fertile for agriculture.
GelisolGelisols are soils that exhibit conditions of
freezing for long periods of time,
presenting or not ice on the surface. They are the soils
characteristics of the poles and very high glacial areas.
EspodosolPodzols are soils that show a horizon
dark accumulation of organic matter and high aluminum content,
with or without iron, which is located below a horizon clearer than
has contributed those metallic elements. They exhibit an acidic pH and low
fertility.
AridisolAridisols are soils found in very dry areas.
arid, with very low precipitation and high evapotranspiration. By
under this condition, the aridisols show high contents of salts
calcium and magnesium, as well as sodium carbonates and bicarbonates.
In Colombia, they are present in the high part of the Caribbean region,
department of La Guajira, where the rainfall is below
of the 500 mm annually (Malagón, 2003).
Some soil orders and their morphological characteristics. (A) Andisol,
(B) Entisol, (C) Inceptisol, (D) Alfisol, (E) Mollisol, and (F) Oxisol. Source
Jaramillo (2002).