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| Soil Taxonomy | |
|---|---|
| Name | Soil Taxonomy |
| Developer | United States Department of Agriculture |
| First published | 1975 |
| Purpose | Soil classification system |
Soil Taxonomy is a systematic scheme used to classify soils according to observable and measurable properties for use in agronomy, ecology, and land management. It provides a hierarchical framework linking field descriptions, laboratory analyses, and maps produced by agencies such as the United States Department of Agriculture, research institutions like the Agricultural Research Service, and international organizations including the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Union of Soil Sciences. The system underpins regulatory, conservation, and engineering decisions across regions from the Midwest (United States) to the Great Plains and beyond.
Soil Taxonomy was developed to organize soil information into categories that facilitate communication among practitioners in contexts such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the United States Geological Survey, and university programs at institutions like Iowa State University, Cornell University, and University of California, Berkeley. It links to mapping programs of agencies including the Bureau of Land Management and informs projects at the World Bank, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Users apply the classification in research collaborations with groups such as the Soil Science Society of America, the American Society of Agronomy, and the Royal Society.
The framework traces its origins to mid-20th-century efforts led by the Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) and scholars associated with universities like Rutgers University, University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Texas A&M University. Influential figures and committees from organizations such as the United Nations and the National Academy of Sciences contributed to refinement, paralleling international efforts by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Union of Soil Sciences. Subsequent editions incorporated findings from projects funded by agencies like the National Science Foundation and research overseas in regions including the Amazon Rainforest, the Sahel, and the Loess Plateau.
The scheme is hierarchical, moving from broad categories to specific units, and interfaces with mapping standards used by the United States Geological Survey and inventory systems used by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Its levels are used in tandem with soil surveys conducted by regional offices coordinated with universities such as Michigan State University and research centers such as the International Rice Research Institute and the CIMMYT. The classification logic complements global taxonomies and databases maintained by the Food and Agriculture Organization and interoperates with geospatial platforms developed by agencies like NASA and the European Space Agency.
Diagnostic criteria include measurable properties—colour, texture, structure, mineralogy, organic carbon content, and horizonation—evaluated by laboratory methods standardized in protocols from institutions such as the American Society for Testing and Materials and the International Organization for Standardization. Field guides produced by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and textbooks from publishers associated with Cambridge University Press and the Elsevier group document procedures used in studies at research universities like Pennsylvania State University and University of Florida. Criteria link to broader environmental indicators monitored by agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and international programs led by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The framework organizes soils into major orders used by scientists at institutions including University of Minnesota, Oregon State University, and University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, and by agencies such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service. These orders are referenced in regional studies of landscapes such as the Appalachian Mountains, the Great Lakes, the Andes, and the Himalayas, and are used in comparative research with international classifications promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization and textbooks from authors affiliated with Ohio State University and Auburn University.
Practitioners apply the taxonomy in agriculture projects funded by organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank, in conservation initiatives coordinated with the The Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund, and in engineering assessments for agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. It supports curricula at universities including Colorado State University and University of Nebraska–Lincoln, underpins environmental impact assessments for corporations that work with groups like the International Finance Corporation, and guides restoration projects run by NGOs collaborating with the United Nations Development Programme.
Critiques by academics from institutions such as University of Edinburgh, University of Queensland, and Macquarie University emphasize regional biases and the need for integration with pedological approaches endorsed by the International Union of Soil Sciences and the Food and Agriculture Organization. Revisions have been informed by research funded by entities like the National Science Foundation and collaborations with international research centers such as the World Agroforestry Centre and the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture. Ongoing updates involve inputs from professional societies including the Soil Science Society of America and policy bodies like the United States Department of Agriculture.
Category:Soils