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4. Soil Classification - Copy

The document outlines the principles of soil classification, emphasizing the grouping of soils based on shared characteristics for better management and use. It details the properties considered in classification, such as slope, erosion, and soil texture, and provides a methodology for establishing soil series through a systematic approach. Additionally, it includes examples of soil profiles and their classification based on various criteria.

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wahid balabatti
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2 views

4. Soil Classification - Copy

The document outlines the principles of soil classification, emphasizing the grouping of soils based on shared characteristics for better management and use. It details the properties considered in classification, such as slope, erosion, and soil texture, and provides a methodology for establishing soil series through a systematic approach. Additionally, it includes examples of soil profiles and their classification based on various criteria.

Uploaded by

wahid balabatti
Copyright
© © 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
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Soil Classification and Series

Establishment
Soil Classification
• Soil classification is the separation
of soil into classes or groups each
having similar characteristics and
potentially similar behavior.

• Scientists have developed different


systems of soil classification to
group soils of similar properties in
one class, allowing them to
exchange information
on soils found in different areas.
• Soil classification also helps in
determining the best possible use
and management of soils.
Soil Classification
• Properties to be considered Erosion Class Mapping Unit
are Slight e1
• Slope of the area Moderate e2
• Erosion of the area Severe e3
• Soil depth Very Severe e4

Class Depth range Class Generalize Taxonomy


(cm) description d
d1 <10 Extremely Shallow
shallow
d2 10-25 Very shallow Shallow
d3 25-50 Shallow
d4 50-75 Moderately Deep
shallow Medium
d5 75-100 Moderately
deep
d6 100-150 Deep
d7 >150 Very deep Deep
Soil classification
• Soil colour Basic soil textural class Mapping Unit
• Soil Texture names
• Gravelliness Sand, loamy sand s, ls
• Calcareousness(Effervesce Sandy loam, silt loam, sandy sl, sil, scl, sicl.
nce) clay loam, silty clay loam

Color Colour Value in Sandy clay, silty clay, clay si, sic, c
Combination Munsel Colour
Chart
Dark Red 2.5YR 2/3
% of Rock Gravelliness Class Mapping
Red 5 YR 2/3
fragments unit
Brownish Red 7.5 YR 4/3
< 15 Non gravelly -
Black 10YR2/3
15- 35 Gravelly g1
Effervescence Mapping unit 35 - 60 Very Gravelly g2
Slight 1 60-80 Extremely gravelly g3
Strong 2
Violent 3
Soil Classification
• For example, slope is 3 – 5 % --------(C)
• Soil texture is sandy clay ------------ (sc),
• Coarse fragments (gravelliness) is 15 -35% -- (g1),
• land erosion is moderate (Class 2) ------
• Then the soil is classified as -------- scC2g1

• slope is 1 - 3 % --------?
• Soil texture is sandy clay loam ------------ ?,
• Coarse fragments (gravelliness) is >1 5% -----?
• land erosion is slight ------
• Then the soil is classified as --------
Steps involved in soil series preparation

• Preparation of physiography map


• Selection and study of soil profiles
• Collection of soil samples horizon wise
• Correlation of different profiles studied
• Laboratory analysis
• Naming of soil series
Methodology for Identification of Soil Series
• The procedure to be followed for grouping soil profiles to
identify soils series in brief is given below.
• Group soil profiles separately as per the kind of parent material.
This is to be done by browsing through all the profile sheets
studied upto that time in the survey area and segregating them
into different kinds of parent material (rock types) identified,
• Pick all the profile sheets grouped under one parent material at a
time for further segregation,
• Group soil profiles of a given parent material as per
physiography /landform,
• Group soil profiles of a given physiography as per the kinds of
soil horizon, sequence and thickness of soil horizons.
• Group soil profiles of a given kind of soil horizon as per soil depth class.
• Group soil profiles of given soil depth class as per particle-size (soil texture)
classes in the series control section
• Group soil profiles of a given soil texture class as per the content of coarse
fragments (gravelliness) in the series control section
• Group soil profiles of a given coarse fragments content class as per soil colour
• Group soil profiles of a given soil colour class as per calcareousness
• Group soil profiles of a given calcareousness class as per the presence of
mottling/gleying,

Group soil profiles as per any other soil characteristic that is relevant for setting
up of a soil series.

Repeat the above process for all the soil profiles studied and grouped
under different parent materials to arrive at the series for each of the parent
material identified in the survey area.
SOIL PROFILES - n NUMBERS

Parent Granite-gnesis Sandstone


Basalt Alluvial Plains
material

Hills, Uplands Lowlands Terrraces Levees Back Flood


Physio-
hill ranges swamps plains
graphy

Horizon Bt Bw Bss Bh Bg Bk Ac Any other

Soil depth
0-10 10-25 25-50 50-75 75-100 100-150 >150
(cm)

Texture Sandy Loamy Clayey


(C.S.)

Coarse
Non-gravelly Gravelly Skeletal Fragmental
fragments
<15% (15-35%) >35% >90%
(C.S.)

Soil colour
(C.S.) 2.5Y, 5Y 10YR, 7.5YR 7.5YR, 5YR 5YR, 2.5YR 2.5YR, 10R

Calcareousness
(C.S.) Calcareous Non-calcareous

Mottles Mottled Non-mottled


(C.S.)
Any other Any other soil Any other soil
(C.S.) characteristic characteristic

Flow chart showing the methodology for identification of soil series


Soil Series Establishment
Depth( Colour Texture Coarse Efferv Profile Pits Established Series
cm) Fragments(%) escenc
e
>25 2.5 YR Sandy 40 0 n No. of pits Give any name
3/4, 3/3 clay Eg: Gadag ------ GAD
>25 10 YR 2/2 Sandy 10 2 n No. of pits Give any name
clay Eg: Lakkundi ---- LAK
>25 7.5 YR 3/2 Sandy 10 1 n No. of pits Give any name
clay Eg: Harti -------- HAR
25- 50 2.5 YR clay 30 2 n No. of pits Give any name
3/4, 3/3
50-75 10 YR 2/3 Sandy 10 2 n No. of pits Give any name
Clay
Loam
75-100 7.5 YR4/3 Sandy 30 1 n No. of pits Give any name
clay
100- 10YR 2/2 Clay <10 2-3 n No. of pits Give any name
150
>150 10YR 2/3 Clay <10 2 -3 n No. of pits Give any name

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