Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 5.1
Soil Classification and Scientific Research in Soil Science
D1
Soil in Space and Time
C1.1
Soil Morphology
C1.2
Soil Geography
C1.3
Soil Genesis
C1.4
Soil Classification
D2
Soil Properties and Processes
C2.1
Soil Physics
C2.2
Soil Chemistry
C2.3
Soil Biology
C2.4
Soil Mineralogy
D3
Soil Use and Management
C3.1
Soil Evaluation and Land Use Planning
C3.2
Soil and Water Conservation
C3.3
Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
C3.4
Soil Engineering and Technology
C3.5
Soil Degradation Control, Remediation, and Reclamation
D4
The Role of Soils in Sustaining Society and the Environment
C4.1
Soils and the Environment
C4.2
Soils, Food Security and Human Health
C4.3
Soils and Land Use Change
C4.4
Soil Education and Public Awareness
C4.5
History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Soil Science
The basic research in soil morphology can of course be done without reÞecting on soil classi-
Ýcation issues; the same is true for soil genetic approaches and soil geography, which may aim
only at the distribution of speciÝc soil types. But it will run into problems if soil classiÝcation is
not respected as a basis of soil geographical distribution.
D2: Division 2 - Soil Properties and Processes
The commissions under this division are the following:
Commission 2.1: Soil Physics
Commission 2.2: Soil Chemistry
Commission 2.3: Soil Biology
Commission 2.4: Soil Mineralogy
The different Commissions dealing with soil physics, soil chemistry, soil biology, and soil
mineralogy are less interested in soil classiÝcation, as long as they are focusing on basic research
in their respective Ýelds. Generally, the smaller the size of the research topic, especially at micro-
and sub-micro-scale, the less important are soil classiÝcation issues.
This is, for example, true in research on speciÝc soil physical parameters, such as pressure
resistance, shearing resistance, solute movement in soil pores and others, as well as in soil chemistry,
looking at element distribution in different soil particles, or exchange and precipitation processes
at inner soil surfaces and others. Also, research in basic soil biology, looking, for example, at
different distribution patterns of soil microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, their relation to
mineral surfaces, or their reactions in relation to pH, organic matter distribution, and others, must
not be linked to soil classiÝcation. This is also true for basic soil mineralogical research, as far as
it is focused on speciÝc soil minerals and their characterization.
In general, it can be said that the classical, disciplinary Ýelds in soil sciences, such as physics,
chemistry, biology, and mineralogy, are not very much focused on soil classiÝcation issues. Fre-
quently scientists working in these Ýelds have very little or no soil classiÝcation information,
because of a lack of scientiÝc interest. Only in cases in which these soil disciplines are asking
 
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