USDA Soil Taxonomy is a classification system developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to categorize and describe soils in the United States and many other countries. It serves as a standardized framework for soil classification, providing a consistent language for scientists, land managers, and policy makers to communicate about soil properties and characteristics.
The USDA Soil Taxonomy classifies soils based on their distinguishing features, such as mineralogy, horizon development, drainage, texture, and organic content. These characteristics are used to group soils into categorical levels called taxonomic classes, which are further subdivided into more specific soil orders, suborders, great groups, subgroups, families, and series.
The classification system employs a hierarchical structure where each level represents a more detailed classification. USDA Soil Taxonomy also uses diagnostic horizons or layers, such as A, B, C, and O horizons, which help identify specific soil properties, formation processes, and environmental conditions.
The primary purpose of USDA Soil Taxonomy is to provide a consistent and comprehensive framework for understanding soil properties, formation, and distribution. It aids in the interpretation of soil survey data, land-use planning, soil conservation, and natural resource management. It is widely used in agricultural, environmental, and geological research, as well as in practical applications like soil mapping, land evaluation, and crop suitability assessments.
The understanding and application of the USDA Soil Taxonomy play a crucial role in a wide range of disciplines and industries, providing valuable information for sustainable land management, soil conservation practices, and the assessment of ecosystem services.
