Time for a Universal Soil Classification System Jon Hempel for Micheal L Golden Director Soil Survey...
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Transcript of Time for a Universal Soil Classification System Jon Hempel for Micheal L Golden Director Soil Survey...
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 & Innovative
2.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 Micheli
7. 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”