Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
MULTIPLE SYSTEMS
ÑServe all masters and serve none well.Ò
Philosophies of classiÝcation may themselves be classiÝed into three categories:
Several indigenous proverbs can be paraphrased
:
¤ Natural or universal systems: Such systems provide stability through time so that scholars can
relate past experience with new experience, as the science of soil continues to develop. A natural
or universal classiÝcation system is analogous to a major library: A major library must accommo-
date ever-expanding needs, as new topics are cataloged and arranged in an orderly fashion without
destroying old topics. From time to time old topics may be moved to different locations within
the library as new topics are assimilated, but they are never destroyed. Continued professional
effort and sound Ýnancial backing are required to maintain universal systems of classiÝcation.
¤ Geographic subsets: Geographic subsets of a natural or universal soil classiÝcation system are
often required by the pragmatic requirements of acceptance and funding by political bodies. Soil
is a natural resource, and is viewed as such by political entities. Soil scientists dependent on
government and ultimately indigenous support are not likely to be viewed favorably if they must
engage in time-consuming dialogue before responding to requests for new categories of soil
properties within the political domain that funds their operations. While geographic subset clas-
siÝcations of soil are worrisome to the larger body of soil scientists who seek a universal format
upon which to communicate their research, they are a necessary reality. With time and understand-
ing, they can contribute to more universal classiÝcations.
¤Technical subsets: Like geographic subsets, technical subsets are vital to the well-being of soil
science and soil scientists. Technical subsets are deÝned by those who seek speciÝc information
about the interaction of soils and speciÝc technologies. Soil scientists are seldom in a position to
determine categories within technical classiÝcation systems. Technical systems must address the
needs of the technicians and scientists most knowledgeable about the needs of speciÝc technologies.
Soil scientists apply their expertise by identifying soil-based criteria for the categories outlined by
the technical experts. Technical systems are numerous and transient, but soil scientists must devote
considerable time and energy to technical classiÝcations to insure indigenous and political support
for soil science.
CONCLUSIONS
Smith (1986) credited John Stuart Mill (8th edition, 1891) for pointing out that objects had to
be classiÝed for a purpose, and that if there were different purposes, there could be several
classiÝcations of the same objects. After over 100 years of formal soil science and fathomless ages
of indigenous efforts the surviving philosophy of soil classiÝcation is based on the use of several
classiÝcation systems that, in concert, serve two distinct objectives: scientiÝc and technical (Cline,
1949). Among the systems used, at least one must provide wholeness for categorization of all
accumulated knowledge of soil properties, thereby providing a basis to study relationships with
other biological and physical entities of earth. This scientiÝc system must provide exact and
quantitative deÝnitions of what an individual kind of soil
.
A multitude of technical systems must be pragmatic in providing discrete categories that are
meaningful and useful to a host of practitioners whose technology interacts with what a soil
is
does
. Given the diversity of technologies that interact with soil, no single technical classiÝcation
is sufÝcient.
ÑOne cannot say that one taxonomic classiÝcation is better than another without reference to
the purposes for which both were made, and comparisons of the merits of taxonomies made for
different purposes can be uselessÒ (Soil Survey Staff, 1999, p. 15). ScientiÝc classiÝcation systems
that incorporate detailed identiÝcation of all soils may receive great acclaim from scientists, but
sustained Ýnancial support is difÝcult to assure. Technical classiÝcations that relate speciÝc inter-
actions of only a limited range of soil properties are transient, as political concerns and technologies
