Time for a Universal Soil Classification System

Jon Hempel forMicheal L Golden

DirectorSoil Survey Division

Natural Resources Conservation ServiceUnited States Department of Agriculture

November 2, 2010

Soil Science Society of America2010 International Annual Meeting

Long Beach, California

Time for a Universal Soil Classification System

Co-Authors• Dr. Erika Micheli, Szent Istvan University, Gödöllő, Hungary• Dr. Alex McBratney, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia• Dr. Luca Montanarella, European Commission, JRC, Ispra, Italy• Dr. Ganlin Zang, State Key Laboratory of Soil & Sustainable Agriculture, ISSCAS, Nanjing, China• Dr. Peter Schad, Techniche Universitat Munchen, Freising, Germany• Dr. Philip Owens, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA• Mr. Jonathan Hempel, Director, NSSC, NRCS-USDA, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA• Dr. Craig Ditzler, NRCS-USDA (Retired)• Dr. Hari Eswaran, NRCS-USDA (Retired)

Time for a Universal Soil Classification System

Topics

• Background• Soil Systems • Possible Approach• Recommendations • Summary

For thogh we slepe or wake, or rome, or ryde, Ay fleeth the tyme; it nil no man abyde. (1390 Chaucer Clerk’s Tale 1. 118)

“Time and tide wait for no man”

Soil Science, unlike many other disciplines, does not have a Universally accepted Classification System.(About 50 different soil classification systems globally)

Efforts Made by• FAO-World Soil

Classification• WRB • Soil Taxonomy• Many Others

• This Goal Has NOT

been achieved

Time for a Universal Soil Classification System

• Most Natural Sciences have– Common Classification System

• Botany• Anthropology• Astronomy

• Natural Classification Systems are– Accepted & used Globally– “Soil Classification” is viewed as a National

System yet to have international acceptance

is to provide a Common Understanding & Language for Communication

Common Reasons Given For a Universal System

Time for a Universal Soil Classification System

• International Politics “That Hampered Collaboration”– Over last Century - Personalities have

“Mellowed”– Movement has been for more

“Harmony”– Time is Ripe for Acceptance of

• Standard Soil Terminology• Standard Classification

“Bridging the Centuries” Conference in Gödöllő, Hungary-September 2009

Declaration to “IUSS”

Bridging the Centuries“Declaration”

• Soil Science Lacks Commonly Accepted & Used Terminology– Field Descriptions & Laboratory

Standards– Soil Characterization– Soil Correlation & Classification

• Making Communication & Data Exchange Difficult

Bridging the Centuries “Declaration”

There is a Need to Develop a “Universal Soil Classification”

System For the EffectiveTransfer of Soil Information

Time for a Universal Soil Classification System

• International Multi-Categorical Soil Systems

– FAO - Legend for“Soil Map of the World”

• Three levels (Very Apt for Scale > 1:5,000,000)

• There are Many Difficulties for National Mapping

– WRB - Maintained by IUSS Working Group • Flexible System with Flat Hierarchy• Serves as “Tool for Correlation”

Time for a Universal Soil Classification System

- SOIL TAXONOMY – hierarchical system built on the 1938 soil classification system

• Linkage to: “National Cooperative Soil Survey Program”

• Important Tool for Many to Buy into the System

• Maintained “Soil Series” concept

Time for a Universal Soil Classification System

• Building a new USC Consider Adopting:– The Best of the Most

Modern Systems – Use Conceptual

Diagnostic Approach– Established

Terminology– Account for

Continuous Classes (DSM)

Time for a Universal Soil Classification System

• We Need a Starting Place1. Use the Most Documented Existing

Systems2. Use System with the Highest Amount &

Most Accurate Data to support the Science

3. Need to Share Existing Documentation4. Need an Accepted Approach – One that

is Fair & Based on Best Science of Today

5. Need an Accepted Group of Experts & Leaders Internationally to Bind Decisions

Time for a Universal Soil Classification System

• We Should be Aware of New Developments– Numerical Classification Concepts

developed over last 30 years should be Investigated

– If appropriate Incorporated into the System• Pedo-taxonomic Distance• Numerical Polythetic Allocation• Continuous Classes (digital soil mapping)

Time for a Universal Soil Classification System“Success of any Universal

System”1.Must be Dynamic, Flexible &

Innovative2.Continuously Used3.Continuously Tested 4.Classification should not be just a

Nameto Make the System More Powerful

Time for a Universal Soil Classification System“Success of any Universal

System”5. Decide on Number of Categories6. Use a Key that enables Selection of

Taxa7. Standards for Terminology &

Definitions– Common Data Dictionary– Common Lab Methods– Common Methods for Soil Descriptions– Correlation Tool

Time for a Universal Soil Classification System

“Success of any Universal System”

8. Long-Term Support

- Human- Financial

- Maintenance

Time for a Universal Soil Classification System

• Recommendations 1. Request to IUSS Secretary General for

USC Working Group – (approved WCSS, 2010)

2. Consider a Universal Soil Classification & Other Soil Survey Standards

3. Decide on Categories and Classes4. Standards shared with all Nations 5. Focus on “Use & Management”

Time for a Universal Soil Classification System

• Recommendations6. Establish Core Group of Scientists

• Responsible for Binding Decisions into the Universal Soil Classification System

• Chair –Jon Hempel, Vice Chair-Ericka Micheli7. Buy In - To “Established Systems”8. Borrow the “Best of each National

System”9. Nations to Continue “Existing Systems”

During USC Development

Time for A Universal Soil Classification System

1. Need to Build the Roadmap/Framework

of System

2. Work with Countries Around the World

3. Invite Working Group to USA for

Meeting in 2011

Time for a Universal Soil Classification System

Summary

– A Universal Soil Classification System is Feasible

– Will have International Acceptance– Today the Opportunity Arises for

The Current Generation to Collaborate and “Realize this Dream”

Thank YOU for Your “Attention”