Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
available. Minor adjustments can also be made as required. The main challenge will be to solve
the deadlock regarding series deÝnition as soon as possible so that useful series can be deÝned
again, especially for the higher potential soils, as was the case in the old 1977 classiÝcation.
This is absolutely essential to ensure efÝcient land suitability evaluation and sustainable use of
the countryÔs limited soil resources.
It is hoped that the proposal to include the whole SADC region in the further development
of the classiÝcation system will as soon as possible become a reality. This would greatly enhance
efÝcient cross-border technology transfer among the different countries. Optimum, sustainable
land use would be promoted by this. It is foreseen that there will be closer liaison between the
South African soil classiÝcation working group and the WRB working group, and that greater
efforts will be made to Ýt in with the WRB system. During the January 2001 workshop of the
South African working group, it was striking how much reference was made to relevant aspects
in the WRB system by various members of the working group. The 1996 WRB workshop in
South Africa brought about a big turnaround regarding the attitude of the South African pedol-
ogists. For the Ýrst time, they are really looking at interfacing with an international system while
improving their own system. Much of this is due to the open-minded approach of the WRB
working group members during the 1996 South African workshop. They acknowledged that there
are important soils that have been continuously ignored in international systems, and started
making provision for them in the WRB system. These include the following,
inter alia
:
¤
Acknowledging that Ñsoft plinthite,Ò i.e., Ñnon-hardening plinthite,Ò actually exists and making
provision for it as ÑparaplinthiteÒ (WRB Working Group, 1998)
¤
Making provision for the Ñyellow E horizonsÒ
¤
Making provision for the ÑbleachedÒ A horizons.
¤
Creating the ÑDurisolÒ reference group, for the soils of extreme aridic regions with duripans,
acknowledging that these duripans are associated with extreme aridity and not with volcanic activity
Unfortunately, reaching the above ideals is hamstrung by lack of funding of systematic soil
classiÝcation programs and the pedological research required to support them. Funding problems
increased when the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) was formed some years ago, and all
the specialist research institutes of the Department of Agriculture were transferred to it. These
included the Institute for Soil Climate and Water, the countryÔs national soil research institute,
which earlier formed the backbone for the development of the 1977 and 1991 classiÝcation
systems. Now the institute is simply struggling for survival.
The situation regarding soil classiÝcation in the country is well illustrated by the fact that
Jan Lambrechts, present Chairman of the Soil ClassiÝcation Working Group, gave me the
following three points in response to my request for a list of the things that he would like me
to highlight in this paper:
¤ Such a working group can be active and productive only if it has ofÝcial/statutory status, e.g., a
project registered and funded by the ARC. (Note by MCL: Unfortunately, the ARC is not a funding
body and is battling to Ýnd funds from outside, especially for something such as a national soil
classiÝcation system.)
¤A ÑlooseÒ group of volunteers, as is the case now, has no obligation to complete/Ýnalize any task.
¤
The arid regions are neglected because there is no ÑlooseÒ funding available to conduct intensive
pedological work in such areas.
REFERENCES
Beater, B.E. 1944. The soils of the Sugar Belt. A classiÝcation and a review.
Proc. S. Afr. Sugar Technol.
Assoc.
18:25Ï37.
