Soil scientists use a naming system, or classification to describe and identify soils. Over time different countries have developed different kinds of systems. Check out the links below to learn more about soils classification systems around the world!

Soil Classifications by Country Return to the top

Overview: Soil Classification for Soil Survey URL: http://www.itc.nl/~rossiter/research/rsrch_ss_class.html Source: Department of Earth Systems Analysis: International Institute for Geo-information Science & Earth Observation (ITC): A Compendium of On-Line Soil Survey Information: by D. G. Rossiter Overview: Soil Classification Systems URL: http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/IALC/soils/classifsystems.html Source: University of Arizona: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Office of Arid Lands Studies: International Arid Lands Consortium: Soils of Arid Regions of U.S. and Israel: Aridic Soils of the United States and Israel Australia: The Australian Soil Classification URL: http://www.cbr.clw.csiro.au/aclep/asc/soilhome.htm Source: CSIRO: Australian Collaborative Land Evaluation Program (ACLEP) Brazil: Sistema Brasileiro de Classificacao de Solos URL: http://www.cnps.embrapa.br/search/novids/oqvai8/oqvai8.html Source: Embrapa: Solos Canada: Canadian System of Soil Classification (scroll down) URL: http://www.geog.ouc.bc.ca/physgeog/contents/11f.html Source: Okanagan University College, Department of Geography, Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Introduction to Geomorphology Canada: National Soil Taxonomy System: National Soil Database (NSDB) URL: http://sis.agr.gc.ca/cansis/nsdb/intro.html Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: Canadian Soil Information Service Canada: The Canadian Soil Classification System URL: http://www.environment.ualberta.ca/SoilsERM/class.html Source: University of Alberta: Environment Studies Program: Introduction to Soils and Soil Resources FAO:Soil Unit Classification Scheme URL: http://www.gsf.de/UFIS/ufis/thesaur/soil.html Source: GSF - National Research Center for Environment and Health FAO: Key to the FAO Soil Units in the FAO/UNESCO Soil Map of the World URL: http://www.fao.org/ag/agl/agll/key2soil.stm Source: FAO: Land and Water Development Division Great Britain: British Soil Classification System (jpg) URL: http://www.up.ac.za/academic/civil/divisions/geotechnical/pgcourses/sgm782/themes/theme2/images/bs5930.jpg Source: University of Pretoria: Department of Civil and Biosystems Engineering Ireland: Soil Map of Ireland URL: http://www.ucd.ie/~agmet/Publications/Atlas/Soils_colour.html Source: University College Dublin: Agroclimatic Atlas of Ireland New Zealand: New Zealand Soil Classification URL: http://www.publish.csiro.au/books/bookpage.cfm?PID=1580 Source: CSIRO Publishing Russia: Russian Soil Divisions (National Soil Classification) URL: http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Research/FOR/russia_cd/soil_maps.htm#rus Source: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis: Land Resources of Russia South Africa: Soil Classification A Taxonomic System for South Africa URL: http://www.arc.agric.za/v-arcroot/institutes/iscw/main/books/soiltax.htm Source: South African Agricultural Research Council: Institute for Soil, Climate, and Water Switzerland: Die Bodenklassifikation der Schweiz URL: http://www.geo.unizh.ch/bodenkunde/kapitel/kap5.html Source: University of Zurich: Department of Geography: Physical Geography Division United States: The Twelve Soil Orders URL: http://www.soils.agri.umn.edu/academics/classes/soil2125/doc/s4chap2.htm Source: University of Minnesota: Soil 2125: Classifying Soils Using Soil Taxonomy United States: The Twelve Soil Orders URL: http://soils.ag.uidaho.edu/soilorders/index.htm Source: University of Idaho Soil Science Division: Soil Taxonomy United States: Soil Development, Classification, & Geography URL: http://www.soils.agri.umn.edu/academics/classes/soil5515/ Source: University of Minnesota: Soil 5515 United States: "Keys to Soil Taxonomy" Eighth Edition, USDA-NRCS 1998 URL: http://www.pedosphere.com/resources/sg_usa/ Source: The Pedosphere and It's Dynamics United States: Soil Classification: United States Soil Classification System URL: http://www.geog.ouc.bc.ca/physgeog/contents/11f.html Source: Okanagan University College, Department of Geography, Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Introduction to Geomorphology United States: Unified Soil Classification System; from American Society for Testing and Materials, 1985 URL: http://www.hydro.unr.edu/homepages/benson/classes/hydro/uscs.html Source: University of Nevada, Reno: Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences World Soils Data URL: http://www.metla.fi/info/vlib/soils/old.htm#3 Source: WWW Virtual Library: Soils and Substrates World Soil Resources Map Index URL: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/worldsoils/mapindx/index.html Source: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: World Soil Resources Return to the top