"The primary objective of Soil Taxonomy is to establish hierarchies of classes that permit us to understand, as fully as possible, the relationships among soils and between soils and the factors responsible for their character." This opening statement from Chapter 2 of the 2nd edition of “Soil Taxonomy” establishes the logical framework upon which this soil classification system has grown and evolved.
The classification system has matured, and as we move forward in increasing the global application of Soil Taxonomy, it is time to turn our attention to the second objective: "to provide a means of communication for the discipline of soil science." Originally designed to facilitate mapping, correlation, and classification for the soil survey in the U.S., the system grew rapidly primarily through the addition of new taxa and classes as our knowledge and experience increased. As a result, the complexity of the system was increased and the clarity of underlying concepts was reduced.
Soil Taxonomy was designed to be modified as the knowledge of soils and the needs of users evolve. To remain static would be its undoing. The system’s fundamental structural hierarchy requires examination to determine whether it retains the flexibility to adapt to emerging needs and enable the most efficient use of diagnostic features in identifying and explaining the soil properties and qualities important to the use and management of the soil.
A task force has been organized under the Soil Science Society of America to examine the diagnostic features and criteria, as well as the structural hierarchy, of Soil Taxonomy. We will use the Soil Taxonomy Forum under the subject “Fundamental Changes to Soil Taxonomy” to facilitate dialog between the users of Soil Taxonomy and the SSSA Task Force. Your experience and ideas are important in assuring that Soil Taxonomy remains a strong and effective soil classification tool.
