SOIL CLASSIFICATION

Soil is a natural body formed by the interaction of different soil forming factors and pedogenic procssses. Soils are
very much diverse so it is necessary to classify them in systematic and orderly arrangement. Soil classification is
the grouping of soils in some orderly and logical manner into compartments. It is based on the properties of soils
for the purpose of studying, identifying and grouping them. This kind of grouping is called multi categorical or
hierarchical system of classification. The individual soils are grouped into classes of lower category (e.g. soil
series) which are further grouped into classes of higher category (e.g. Soil Orders). The lower categories are
defined by a large number of differentiating characteristics and higher categories by a few differentiating
characteristics.
Purposes of soil Classification:
The Purposes of soil Classification is to:

1. Soils in some systematic manner so as to remember their properties and understand their relationship.
2. Organize knowledge leading to the economy of thoughts
3. Recognize properties of the soils.
4. Learn new relationships and principles in the population being classified.
5. Establish groups or subdivisions (classes) of the soils under study in a manner useful for practical and
applied purposes in –
- predicting their behavior,
- identifying their potential uses,
- estimating their productivity,
- transferring agro-technology from research to cultivators’ fields.

Evolution of Soil Classification systems

1. Early Systems
(a) Economic Classification: It is the grouping of soils based on their productivity for the purpose of taxation.
e.g. rice soil, cotton soils.
(b) Physical Classification : It is the grouping of soils based on their texture. e.g. loamy, sandy and clayey soils.
(c) Chemical Classification : Grouping of soils based on the nature of composition of soil having a bearing on
their chemical characteristics. e.g. acidic, alkaline, calcareous soils etc.
(d) Geological Classification : Grouping of soils based on the nature of underlying parent rock/ parent
material.. e.g. basalt, limestone, sandstone

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 (e) Physiographic Classification : Grouping of soils based on the characteristics of landscape. e.g. basin,
terrace, mountain valley etc.
Since the above systems were based on a single character, their utility was limited. Hence the requirement
of a more comprehensive system was felt.

Recent Genetic systems of soil classification

1. Dokuchaiev’s Genetic System

Dukuchaiev (1900), a Russian scientist, divided soils into three categories-

i) Normal (Zonal): The soils that have fully developed soil profiles reflecting the influence of climate and
vegetation. e.g. Sierozem, Chestnut, Podzol and Laterites.
ii) Transitional (Intrazonal): The soils that occure within a zone reflecting the influence of some local
conditions, like topography, parent material. Under this conditions, the characteristics of soils imparted
by the local conditionsare dominant viz. excessof water, salt, calcium carbonate etc. e.g. Calcimorphic
and Hydromorphic soils( saline, sodic and saline-sodic soils etc.).
iii) Abnormal (Azonal): The soils formed in regions, where time has been a limiting factor to produce fully
developed horizons are termed as Azonal Soils. e.g. Alluvial Soils, Regosols.
2. Marbut’s Morpho- Genetic System

Marbut (1927), an American scientist, was the first to advocate classification of soils on the basis of their
intrinsic properties rather than on soil forming factors, thus reducing emphasis on geology or parent rock. He
was influenced by Dukuchaiev’s approach. He divided Zonal soils into two classes : Pedalfers and Pedocals.
Pedalfers show accumulation of iron and aluminium and Pedocals of calcium as calcium carbonate. The
pedalfers were presumed to occur in areas of high rainfall having real surplus of water for leaching. The
pedocals were occur in areas of high evaporation having real deficit of water.

3. Baldwin and associates Genetic System

Baldwin et al. (1938) and Kellog and Throp (1949) revised the Marbut’s Morpho-Genetic System. The pedocal-
pdalfer concept was de-emphasized. More emphasis was laid on soil as a threedimensional body with its own
characteristics. The soils were grouped in three orders, Zonal, Intrazonal and Azonal, following the Russian
zonality concept, The three orders were further subdivided into 9 suborders on the basis of specific climatic
and vegetative regions. Each suborder, in turn, divided into Great Soil Groups which are an expression of more
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 specific conditions. The great groups were further subdivided into numerous soil families, series and soil types.
A new category viz. Soil Family was introduced between Great Soil Group and Soil Series, but neither the soil
families nor the higher categories were defined in terms of soil properties.

Limitations of Genetic Systems

The major defects in the genetic system of soil classification are as follows:

1. The two highest categories are defined in genetic terms and not on the basis of properties of the soils
themselves.
2. The Great Soil Group concepts and definitions are based on environmental factors rather than the soil
properties. Hence, their definitions are comparative and qualitative.
3. Many of the soils are defined in terms of properties that were obvious under virgin soil conditions and are
destroyed during cultivation and hence, the classification of such arable soils becomes ambiguous.
4. The nomenclature in the highest categories laid too much emphasis on colour or vegetation rater than on
the salient properties of the soils.
5. In this system, it was difficult to intergrades as the nomenclature was evolved from various languages
mixing with nouns and adjectives.

SOIL TAXONOMY- A comprehensive System

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In 1960 a comprehensive System of Soil Classification, popularly known as “7th approximation” (US Soil Survey
Staff,1960) was published. The system was put into official use in the USA and was adopted in many other
countries. The Comprehensive System is a morphogenetic System in which morphology of soil, that is an outcome
of soil genesis, serves as a guide. It is based on the properties of soils as they exist today. In this system, soils are
classified into different categories on the basis of their Diagnostic Horizons and other related features like soil
moisture and temperature regimes.

Diagnostic Horizons

A diagnostic horizon is defined as the horizon of a soil pedon that is formed through pedogenetic
processes and having distinct properties or features that can be described in terms of measurable soil properties.

Pedon

A soil pedon is defined as the smallest classifiable soil unit, large enough to contain the entire root system
of an averaged sized plant and having an usual surface area of 1 m2. A soil area composed of many similar pedons
is known as a polypedon.

Epipedons

The diagnostic surface horizons are called epipedons (Greek, epi- over, Pedon-soil ) (usually upto 0.15 to
0.18 m depth) . The epipedons are simply the uppermost soil horizons and include the upper part of the soil
darkened by organic matter.

Endopedons

The diagnostic sub surface horizons are called endopedons (Greek, endo- endodermis or deep-seated,
Pedon-soil ). The endopedons includes the lower part of the where soil materials accumulate.

Diagnostic surface horizons (epipedons) :

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1. Mollic Epipedon( Latin mollis=soft) : A thick, dark coloured, soft mineral horizon with high (> 50%) base
saturation and strong structure. It contains 1% or more organic matter.

2. Anthropic Epipedon( [Link]=man) : A surface horizon, like the mollic, but formed under long continued
system of farming that involves irrigation and large addition of organic matter (compost). It contains a high
concentration of available phosphorus (more than 250 ppm), which distinguish it from mollic and umbric
epipedon.

3. Umbric Epipedon(L. umbra=shade/dark) : A surface horizon, like the mollic, but low (<50%) in base saturation.

4. Ochric Epipedon( [Link]= pale, light- colored) : A surface horizon that is light in colour. It contains less than
1% organic matter, or is hard or very hard and massive when dry.

5. Histic Epipedon(GK> histos=tissue) : A thin organic horizon(if virgin) or horizon with very high O.M. content
depending on clay content and remains saturated with water for 30 days or more (cumulative) during some season
of the year,, artificially drained.

6. Plaggen Epipedon([Link]=sod) : Man made or an artificial epipedon at least 50 cm thick produced by a

long and continued manuring with sod (grass, bedding materials).

7. Folistic Epipedon : A surface layer that is never saturated with water for more than 30 consecutive days in a
year having organic carbon content like Histic Epipedon.

8. Melanic Epipedon( [Link]=black) :It is a mineral horizon that is very black in color due to its high organic
matter content ( organic carbon >6%).It is >30 cm thick and is extremely light in weight and fluffy for a mineral
soil.

Diagnostic Subsurface Horizons (endopedon)

1. Argillic horizon: Argillic horizon ( L. argilla, white clay) is an illuvial horizon in which layer lattice silicate clays
have accumulate to a significant extent by illuviation. It is formed due to the migration of clay carried by water
from A to B horizon.
2. Agric horizon: Agric horizon (L. ager, field) is an illuvial horizon of clay, silt and humus formed directly under
the plough layer due to long and continued cultivation.
3. Natric horizon: Natric horizon (L. natrium, sodium) is a special type of argillic horizon high in Na with prismatic
or columner structure, Exchangeable Sodium Percent( ESP) is more than 15.
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4. Spodic horizon: Spodic horizon (Gr. spodos, wood ash) is a humus and / or sesquioxides enriched horizon with
or without iron. In virgin soils, the spodic horizon usually lies below an eluvial horizon which is light gray in
color.
5. Cambic horizon: Cambic horizon is an altered horizon. A color or structural B-horizon formed due to alteration
by physical and chemical weathering. The physical alteration is the result of movement of the soil particles
by frost, roots or animals or aggregation of soil particles into peds or both.
6. Oxic horizon : Oxic horizon (F. Oxide, oxide) is a mineral subsurface horizon enriched with Fe and Al oxides,
at least 30 cm thick and is sandy loam or finer in texture and with variable amounts of 1:1 clays.
7. Duripan horizon: Duripan horizon (L. durus, hard pan) is a subsurface horizon that is cemented by silica to
the degree that fragments do not slake either in water or in HCl.
8. Fragipan horizon: Fragipan horizon (L. fragilis, brittle pan) has a very low content of organic matter, high bulk
density relative to the horizons above it and hard consistency.
9. Albic horizon: Albic horizon (L. albus, white) is a bleached E horizon of podzols and planosols. It has typical
color values of >5 (dry) or > 4 (moist).
10. Calcic horizon: Calcic horizon is a horizon of accumulation of calcium carbonate or of calcium and magnesium
carbonate.
11. Gypsic horizon: Gypsic horizon is a noncemented or weakly cemented horizon of secondary enrichment with
calcium sulphate that is 15 cm or more thick, has at least 5 % more gypsum than the underlying stratum.
12. Salic horizon: Salic horizon is at least 15 cm thick with secondary soluble salt (NaCl, Na 2SO4 etc.) enrichment
of over 2%, and the product of thickness and per cent salt is 60 or more.
13. Kandic horizon: Kandic horizon is a subsurface horizon of low activity clays with or without clay skins. It has
CEC of < 16 cmol (p+) kg-1 soil and effective CEC of < 12 cmol (p+) kg-1 soil.
14. Sulphuric horizon: A mineral or organic soil horizon that has a pH of < 3.5 is toxic to plants roots and has
yellow mottles of jarosite.

SOIL MOISTURE AND TEMPERATURE REGIMES

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 Each soil has a specific environment under which it has developed. Soil moisture and temperature regimes control and
guide soil utilization for plant growth. Since these can be measured, they are used in classifying soils at different categoric
levels.

Soil Moisture Regimes (SMR)

Soil moisture regimes (SMR) refers to the presence or absence of water in a soil at different times of the year. Soil is
considered moist when it is at moisture tension of less than 15 bar and dry when the tension is 15 bar or more within the Soil
Moisture Control Section (SMCS). The SMCS is defined as the depth limits of the soil that regulate the moisture supply to
crops, and this depends on its texture. The broad soil moisture regimes are aquic, udic, ustic, xeric, aridic and torric.

Class criteria of different soil moisture regimes:

1. Aquic : Poorly drained soils.

(a) Saturated for some time of a year by ground water itself or by capillary rise.

(b) Reduced soils because of lack of dissolved oxygen.

2. Udic : Moist soils throughts.

(a) The SMCS is not dry in any part for as long as 90 cumulative days ( to exclude from ustic)
(b) The SMCS is not dry in all part for as long as 45 consecutive days following summer solstice* ( to exclude from
xeric)
3. Ustic: Soils with limited moisture.

(a) If MAST (Mean Annual Soil Temperature) >22 oC and MSST (Mean Summer Soil Temperature) and MWST (Mean
Winter Soil Temperature) differ by <5 oC (tropical condition), the SMCS is dry in some or all parts of 90 cumulative
days. But the SMCS is moist in some parts for 180 days (cumulative) or continuously moist in some parts for at least
90 consecutive days.
(b) If MAST >22 oC and MSST (Mean Summer Soil Temperature) and MWST (Mean Winter Soil Temperature) differ
by >5 oC, the SMCS is dry in some or all parts for >90 cumulative days, but is moist in all parts for >6 months (to
exclude aridic regime). It is moist in all parts for 45 consecutive days or more in 4 months following summer solstice
and it is dry in all parts for 45 consecutive days or more in 4 months following winter solstice** (to exclude Xeric).
4. Xeric: Soils with limited moisture.

The xeric moisture regime is associated with Mediterranean climate, MAST <22 oC, MSST (Mean Summer Soil Temperature)
and MWST (Mean Winter Soil Temperature) differ by >5 oC.

a. The SMCS is dry in all parts for 45 or more consecutive days within 4 months following summer solstice in 6 or
more years out of 10 years.
b. The SMCS is moist in all parts for >45 consecutive days following winter solstice.
5. Aridic and torric ( soils with negligible moisture )

(a) The SMCS is dry throughout for more than 180 days (cumulative) if the

soil temperature is >5 oC.

(b)The SMCS is never moist in some or all parts for as long as 90 consecutive

days when the soil temperature is >8 oC.

*Summer solstice- from 22nd June onwards; **Winter solstice- from 23rd December onwards;

Soil Temperature Regimes (STR)

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Soil Temperature Regimes are the ranges in temperature classes within which biological activity of different extent
prevails. Each pedon has a characteristic temperature regime that can be described by mean annual soil temperature,
the average seasonal fluctuations from the mean and the mean warm or cold seasonal soil temperature gradient
within the 5 to 100 cm root zone. STRs play an important role in classifying soils at the family and suborder levels.
The following STRs are used in defining classes of soils.
[Link] : The soil has a mean annual soil temperature lower than 0 0C.

2. Cryic : The soil has a mean annual soil temperature higher than 0 0C, but lower than 8 0C.

3. Frigid : The soil is warmer in summer than in the cryic regime, but its mean annual

temperature lower than 8 0C, and the difference between mean winter and mean summer soil temperature is
more than 5 0C.

4. Mesic :The mean annual soil temperature is 8 0C or higher, but lower than 15 0C and the difference between
mean summer and mean winter soil temperature is more than 5 0C.

5. Thermic : The mean annual soil temperature is 15 0C or higher, but lower than 22 0C and the difference between
mean summer and mean winter soil temperature is more than 5 0C.

[Link] : The mean annual soil temperature is 22 0C or higher, but lower than 28 0C and the difference
between mean summer and mean winter soil temperature is more than 5 0C.

[Link] : The mean annual soil temperature is 28 0C or higher and the difference between mean summer
and mean winter soil temperature is more than 5 0C.

The prefix iso is used with the name of STRs if the difference between the mean summer and mean winter
temperature is less than 5 0C. e.g. Isofrigid, Isomesic, Isothermic, Isohyperthermic and Isomegathermic.

Fig. Class criteria of different STRs.

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 MEAN ANNUAL SOIL TEMPERATURE (0C)

<0 0 to <8 8 to <15 15 to <22 22 to <28 28 or >28

CRYIC Difference
between
Pergelic (very cold MESIC THERMIC HYPER- MEGA-
MSST and
soils) THERMIC
THERMIC MWST is >
FRIGID 5 0C
(permanent
frost) (like cryic but
with warmer
summer than
cryic)

Difference
between
ISOFRIGID ISOMESIC ISO- ISOHYPER- ISOMEGA-
MSST and
THERMIC THERMIC THERMIC MWST is <
5 0C

Application Used at Used at family categoric level

suborder level

BOREAL TROPICAL

Categories in Soil Taxonomy

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The System has six categories of classification from the highest to the lowest levels of generalization.
These are grouped into two broad categories, viz, higher and lower.

Higher categories : Order, Suborder and Great group

Lower Categories : Subgroup, Family and Series

Differentiating characteristics of different categories:

Category Differentiating characteristics and description

(No. of Taxa)
Order (12) Orders are based largely on soil morphology, as produced by
soil forming processes, and indicated by presence and
absence of major diagnostic horizons.
Suborder (63) Suborders emphasize genetic homogeneity, wetness, climatic
environment, parent material and vegetational effects.
Mostly, tend to emphasize wetness and moisture regime.
Great Group The major emphasis is on the diagnostic horizons and
(240+) presence or absence of diagnostic layers, base status, soil
temperature and moisture regimes.
Subgroup The subgroups are intergrades between two Great Groups.
(1000) The ‘Typic is used to define the central concept of a great
group.
Family(8000) The soil properties that are important for plant growth (like
texture, mineralogical class (dominant in solum), soil
temperature (based on MAST at 50 cm depth) and pH are
used to differentiate families.
Series (500+ in The series is a collection of soil individuals, essentially uniform
Bangladesh and in differentiating characteristics (like colour, texture,
19,000 in USA ) structure, consistence, pH and EC) and in arrangement of
horizons.

Formative elements of soil orders and their derivation

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 Name of Order Formative Derivation of formative
element in element
name of order

1. Entisol ent Nonsense Syllable

2. Vertisol ert L. Verto, turn

3. Inceptisol ept L. inceptum, beginning

4. Aridisol id L. aridus, dry

5. Mollisol oll L. mollis, soft

6. Spodosol od Gk. spodos, woodash

7. Alfisol alf Nonsense Syllable

8. Ultisols ult L. ultimus, last

9. Oxisol ox Fr. Oxide, oxide

10. Histosol ist Gk. histos, tissue

11. Andisol and Jap. and, black soil

12. Gelisol el Gk. gel, ice

Orders and Suborders and approximate equivalents of Bangladesh Soils

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1. Entisol: These are very recently developed mineral soils with no diagnostic horizon other than ochric
or anthropic epipedon. Most entisols are formed either in fresh deposits such as alluvium or in actively
eroding steep slopes.

Suborders Approximate equivalents of Bangladesh Soils

Aquents Calcareous Alluvium
Fluvent Noncalcareous Alluvium
Psamments Unripened Acid Sulphate Soils
Arents Poorly drained Acid Basin Clays
Orthents Grey Flood plain Soils
Shallow Red Brown Terrace Soils and
Grey Terrace Soils

2. Vertisol: Vertisols are uniform, thick (at least 50 cm) tropical black or dark coloured soils that develop
at least 1 cm wide and 50 cm deep cracks associated with gilgai microrelief and intersecting slickensides.
They contain at least 30 percent clay and most of it is of the montmorillonitic type, so the soil is able to
swell and shrink.

Suborders Approximate equivalents of

Aquerts, Cryerts, Xererts, Torrerts, Usterts, Bangladesh Soils
Uderts Nil

3. Inceptisol : Inceptisols are soils in an early stage of development. Their most common diagnostic
horizons are ochric, plaggen or umbric epipedons, cambic horizons, fragipans and duripans. In Bangladesh
Inceptisols are very common.

Suborders Approximate equivalents of Bangladesh Soils

Aquepts Ripened Acid Sulphate Soils
Anthrepts Grey Floodplain Soils Grey Piedmont Soils
Cryepts Most Acid Basin Clays
Xererts Most Noncalcareous Dark Grey Floodplain Soils
Ustepts Calcareous Dark Grey Floodplain Soils
Udepts Noncalcareous Brown Floodplain Soils
Calcareous Brown Floodplain Soils
Black Terai Soils
Most Brown Hill Soils
4. Aridisol : These are mineral soils of dry places (arid and semiarid) and of areas having high water
table. The soils remain dry for most part of the year and salts accumulate at the surface or in the solum,
resulting in the development of o salic, gypsic or calcic horizon.
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 Suborders Approximate equivalents of
Cryids, Salids, Durids, Gypsids, Argids, Calcids, Bangladesh Soils
Cambids Nil

5. Mollisol : These are soils of grassland vegetation under sub humid to humid environment. They have a
dark coloured, well developed, base- rich (base saturation more than 50%), well structured (granular or
crumb) surface horizon that is rich in organic matter (Mollic epipedon). The subsurface horizons are rich
in illuviated clay (argillic), or calcareous (calcic) or gypsiferous (gypsic).

Suborders Approximate equivalents of Bangladesh Soils

Albolls, Aquolls, Rendolls, Silty Basin Soils in Old Meghna Estuarine Alluvium.
Cryolls, Xerolls, Ustolls, Some poorly drained Basin Soils ranging from Sandy
[Link]
Alfisols : Loam to Clay textures on other Floodplains.

6. Alfisols : Alfisols are base-rich mineral soils of sub humid and humid regions. These are characterized
by a light coloured surface horizon (ochric epipedon) over a clay riched argillic subsuface horizon that is
rich in exchangeable cations with base saturation of more than 35 percent.
Suborders : Aqualfs, Cryalfs, Xeralfs, Ustalfs, Udalfs.
Approximate equivalents of Bangladesh Soils: Deep Red Brown and Deep Mottled Terrace Soil, Deeply
weathered Terrace Soils.

7. Spodosols :
These are mineral soils with accumulation of sesquioxides and humus in the subsurface horizons. The
diagnostic feature of these soils is an illuvial horizon, enrich with free sesquioxides and humus and a
bleached, wood ash coloured eluvial surface horizon.
Suborders : Aquods, Cryods, Humods, Orthods.
Approximate equivalents of Bangladesh Soils: Nil.

8. Ultisols : The ultisols are comparable with Alfisols, except for having low base saturation due to their
advanced stage of weathering. These are base poor mineral soils of humid regions developed under high

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rainfall and forest vegetation. They are characterized by a clay enriched subsurface argillic or kandic
horizon.
Suborders : Aquults, Xerults, Humults, Ustults, Udults.
Approximate equivalents of Bangladesh Soils: Deep Red Brown Terrace Soils of Kashimpur Series.
Shallow Red Brown Terrace Soils under forest.
9. Oxisols : These are strongly weathered mineral soils of humid tropics that are poor in fertility. They
are characterized by a uniform profile dominated by the kaolinitic and sesquioxidic deep subsurface (oxic
) horizon. In some cases, mottled horizon (plinthite) are also present. Most oxisols have brick red colour,
but some are also yellow or gray in colour.
Suborders : Aquox, Terrox, Perox, Ustox, Udox.
Approximate equivalents of Bangladesh Soils: Grey Terrace Soils.
10. Histosols : These are dominantly organic soils and commonly known as bogs, peat and mucks.
Histosols are saturated or nearly saturated with water most of the year unless they have been drained.
These are organic rich soil with thick (80 cm) peaty horizon (histic epipedon).
Suborders : Hemists, Fibrists, Saprists and Folists.
Approximate equivalents of Bangladesh Soils: Peat Soils.
11. Andisols : These are dark coloured, low bulk density soil that have developed on volcanic ash parent
material. They have andic properties ( loose or friable , coloured , mollic or umbric surface horizon
overlying a brown cambic B horizon and one or both of the following : low bulk density (< 0.09 g/cc) or
> 60% volcanic ash within 60 cm of the mineral soil).
Suborders : Aquands, Cryands, Xerands, orrands, Vitrands, Ustands, Udands.
Approximate equivalents of Bangladesh Soils: Nil.
12. Gelisols :Gelisols are the soils with gelic material (mineral or organic soil materials that show evidence
of cryoturbation i.e. frost churning or mixing) underlain by permafrost. Permafrost influences their
pedogenesis by acting as a barrier to the downward movement of the soil solution.
Suborders : Histels, Turbels, Orthels
Approximate equivalents of Bangladesh Soils: Nil.
Land Evaluation

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Land is defined as the physical environment consisting of relief, soil, hydrology, climate and vegetation
as far as they determine the land use.
Land evaluation is a process to determine the potentiality of a land for a particular use or
management system.
Objectives of land evaluation :
1. To determine the uses of land which are physically possible.
2. To determine the uses of land which are economically and socially relevant.
3. To determine the changes of land use which are desirable and feasible.
4. To determine the advantages and disadvantages of the present and potential land uses.
5. To make a comparison between alternative land uses and to established a set of priorities of land
use.
Criteria of land evaluation :
1. Land type:
(a) High land : The land is free of flooding in rainy season (29% of total land ).
(b) Medium high land : Usual depth of flooding in rainy season is up to 90 cm (35% of total land).
(c) Medium low land : Usual depth of flooding in rainy season is 90-180 cm (12% of total land)
(d) Low land : Usual depth of flooding in rainy season is 180 – 270 cm (8% of total land).
(e) Very low land : Usual depth of flooding in rainy season is > 270 cm (1% of total land).
2. Land slope : 45o of land slopeness is considered 100% slope.
(a) Flat or almost flat : Slope is 0-3%. Soil erosion is nonsignificant / slight.
(b) Gently slopping : Slope is 3-8%. Soil erosion is slight to moderate.
(c) Slopping : Slope is 8-16%. Soil erosion is moderate to high.
(d) Moderately steep : Slope is 16-30%. Soil erosion is high to very high.
(e) Steep : Slope is 30-45%. Soil erosion is very high.
(f) Very steep : Slope is >45%. Soil erosion is very very high.
3. Soil texture : Relative proportion of sand, silt and clay is called soil texture . Soil Resources
Development Institute (SRDI) textural groups are sandy, sandy loam, loam, clay loam and clay.

15
4. Effective depth of soil profile (EDSP) : It is the depth up to which plant roots reaches.
(a) Deep : EDSP is > 90 cm.
(b) Moderately deep : EDSP is 51- 90 cm.
(c) Shallow : EDSP is 25-50 cm.
(d) Very shallow : EDSP is < 25 cm.
5. Available soil moisture in dry season (Rabi season)
(a) Very high : Moisture is available up to march, for > 3 months.
(b) High : Moisture is available up to February, for 2- 3 months.
(c) Medium : Moisture is available up to January, for 1-2 months.
(d) Low : Moisture is available up to December, for <1 month.
(e) Very low : Moisture is available up to November, for few days.
6. Organic matter content in soil
(a) High : Organic matter content is > 3.44 %.
(b) Medium : Organic matter content is 1.72 - 3.44 %.
(c) Low : Organic matter content is < 1.72 %.
7. Soil pH pH
Very highly acidic <4.5 8. Soil drainage
Highly acidic 4.5-5.5 (a) Well drained

Moderately acidic 5.5-6.5 (b) Moderately well drained

Neutral 6.6-7.3 (c) Imperfectly drained

(d) Poorly drained
Moderately alkaline 7.4-8.4
(e) Very poorly drained
Highly alkaline 8.5-9.0
Very highly alkaline >9.0
9. Soil salinity. It is the measurement of soluble salts expressed in Electrical Conductivity (EC).
Salinity class EC (dSm-1) Crops
Non saline <2 Most field crops can be grown
Slightly saline 2-4 Seedling in Kharif season and pulses are affected
Moderately saline 4-8 Salt tolerant crops e.g. wheat, potato, tomato
Strongly saline 8-15 High salt tolerant- barley, cotton, sugarbeet

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 Very strongly saline >15 not possible to grow crops

10. Climate
(a) Pre rainy season : April – May
(b) Rainy season : June – September
(c) Post rainy season : October- November
(d) Dry season : December – March
Methods for land evaluation
A. For rainfed agriculture
1. Climatic evaluation according to Papadakis
2. USDA land capability classification
3. Parametric system for general evaluation.
4. land capability classification for the humid tropics.
5. Crop specific FAO- land suitability classification
B. For irrigated agriculture
1. Evaluation for irrigation developed by FAO in Iran.
2. Parametric evaluation system for irrigation purposes.
3. USBR evaluation method for irrigation correlated with the FAO land classification.
4. Specific evaluation methods for irrigation. (i) surface irrigation (ii) sprinkler irrigation.
Parametric system for general evaluation
In this method capability of land is expressed in terms of productivity, instead of limitations. The system
suggests the calculation of a productivity index considering nine factors as determining soil productivity,
viz. moisture (H), drainage (D), effective depth (P), texture/structure (T), base saturation/ salt conc. (N),
organic matter content (O), meneral exchange capacity / nature of clay (A) and mineral reserve (M). The
parameters have ratings 0-100, increasing suitability.
D P T N O A M
Productivity Index (PI) = H X ------- X ------- X ------- X ------- X ------- X ------- X ------

100 100 100 100 100 100 100

PI also varies from 0-100

Class PI rating
Excellent 65-100
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Good 35-64
Average 20-34
Poor 8-19
Extremely poor 0-7
Land Capability Classification (LCC)
Land capability classification is a method of grouping the soils of an area to show their relative
suitability for sustained production of common agricultural crops. The principle of the classification are
the limitations imposed on the sustained use of land by the basic characteristics of soils in combination
with climate, landscape features, erodibility and other natural hazards.
U S D A (United States Department of Agriculture) developed LCC as follows :
A. Land suitable for cultivation
1. Class – I – Very good land (with no limitations)
2. Class –II – Good land (with minor limitations)
3. Class – III – Moderately good land (with major limitations)
4. Class – IV – Fairly good land (with major limitations, occasional cultivation)
B. Land not suitable for cultivation, but suitable for pasture and grazing
5. Class- V – with no limitations
6. Class –VI –with minor limitations
7. Class – VII –with major limitations
C. Land not suitable for pasture and grazing, but suitable for wild life and watershed
8. Class-VIII.
However this classification is not suitable for monsoon and deltaic environment of Bangladesh.
Soil Survey Department of Bangladesh developed LCC with three levels of generalizations.
i. Land capability classes
ii. Land capability sub classes
iii. Land capability units

A. Land capability classes : There are five classes -

Class I- Very good agricultural land (with least limitations)

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Class-II,III,IV,V – Lands with increasingly severe limitations for crop production
B. Land capability subclasses:
Major subclasses (on the basis of flooding for part or all of the year)
1. D- soils lying above normal flood level.
2. W- soils subject to flooding for part or all the year.
Ordinary subclasses
d - soils restricted in use due to droughtines in dry season
e - soils restricted in use due to erosion hazards
r – soils having irregular relief hindering irrigation, drainage and tillage
s – soils having excess soluble salts
t – soils having toxic or potentially toxic chemicals to plants
w – soils restricted in use due to excess water (in dry season in W soils, in monsoon in D soils)
x – fresh alluvium or very young alluvial soils
z – hazards of crop loss due to rapid rise or flow of flood water.
Characteristics of LCC and land capability classes of Bangladesh
Class-I. Very good agricultural land Subclass
• no to slight limitations for crop production
I- D
• has a widest range of agricultural use
I- W.
• level and very gently undulating
• easy to cultivate (no ordinary
subclasses)
• remains ready for cultivation for most or all of the dry season
Class-II. Good agricultural land
• no to slight limitations for most of the year Subclass
II Dd,
• moderate limitations for rest of the year
II Dw
• level and gently undulating
• easy to cultivate II W.

Class-III. Moderate agricultural land

• moderate limitations throughout the year
• severe limitations during one season of the year
• slight to moderate limitations during remainder of the year
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 Subclass
• Limitations are –
III Dd,
(a) low water holding capacity
III Dr,
(b) seasonal deep flooding
III Dw,
(c) irregular or sloping relief difficult to irrigate or till
(d) moderate erosion hazards III Dx,

(e) moderate salinity hazards III Wd,

(f) moderate crops only one season per year III Wr,
• improvement of land is difficult
III Ws,
Class-IV. Poor agricultural land
Subclass
III Ww,
• severe limitations for crop production throughout the year IV Dd,
III Wx
• limitations are- IV De,
III Wz.
(a) seasonal deep flooding combined with poor soil structure
IV Dw,
(b) severe erosion hazards
IV Dx,
(c) severe salinity or toxicity hazards
IV Wd,
(d) very low water and nutrient holding capacity
(e) severe risk of crop loss due to rapid rise of flood water IV Wr,

• little potential for improvement IV Ws,

Class-V. Very poor and non-agricultural land IV Ww,

Subclass
• very severe limitations which makes crop production impossible or IV Wx
very hazardous or cause very low yield V De
IV Wz.
• limitations are – V Ws

(a) very steep slopes V Wt

(b) very shallow depth of soil V Ww
(c) permanent flooding
V Wx
(d) too much salinity or toxicity for economical reclamation
(e) raw or infertile state of new alluvial deposits combined with annual hazard of new deposition
or river erosion.
• may be of productive use for forestry, watershed protection, wild life reserve or recreation.

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