Time for a Universal Soil Classification System

1. Time for a Universal Soil Classification System Jon Hempel for Micheal L Golden Director Soil Survey Division Natural Resources Conservation Service United States Department of Agriculture November 2, 2010 Soil Science Society of America 2010 International Annual Meeting Long Beach, California

2. 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)

3. Time for a Universal Soil Classification System • Topics • Background • Soil Systems • Possible Approach • Recommendations • Summary

4. 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”

5. 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

6. 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

7. Common Reasons Given For a Universal System is to provide a Common Understanding & Language for Communication

8. 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

9. “Bridging the Centuries” Conference in Gödöllő, Hungary-September 2009Declaration to “IUSS”

10. 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

11. Bridging the Centuries “Declaration” There is a Need to Develop a “Universal Soil Classification” System For the Effective Transfer of Soil Information

12. 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”

13. 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

14. 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)

15. Time for a Universal Soil Classification System • We Need a Starting Place • Use the Most Documented Existing Systems • Use System with the Highest Amount & Most Accurate Data to support the Science • Need to Share Existing Documentation • Need an Accepted Approach – One that is Fair & Based on Best Science of Today • Need an Accepted Group of Experts & Leaders Internationally to Bind Decisions

16. 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)

17. Time for a Universal Soil Classification System “Success of any Universal System” • Must be Dynamic, Flexible & Innovative • Continuously Used • Continuously Tested • Classification should not be just a Name to Make the System More Powerful

18. Time for a Universal Soil Classification System “Success of any Universal System” 5. Decide on Number of Categories 6. Use a Key that enables Selection of Taxa 7. Standards for Terminology & Definitions • Common Data Dictionary • Common Lab Methods • Common Methods for Soil Descriptions • Correlation Tool

19. Time for a Universal Soil Classification System “Success of any Universal System” 8. Long-Term Support - Human - Financial -Maintenance

20. Time for a Universal Soil Classification System • Recommendations • Request to IUSS Secretary General for USC Working Group – (approved WCSS, 2010) • Consider a Universal Soil Classification & Other Soil Survey Standards • Decide on Categories and Classes • Standards shared with all Nations • Focus on “Use & Management”

21. Time for a Universal Soil Classification System • Recommendations • Establish Core Group of Scientists • Responsible for Binding Decisions into the Universal Soil Classification System • Chair –Jon Hempel, Vice Chair-Ericka Micheli • Buy In - To “Established Systems” • Borrow the “Best of each National System” • Nations to Continue “Existing Systems” During USC Development

22. 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

23. 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”

24. Thank YOU for Your “Attention”