Why do you classify soils?

Answer 1

1.1 Why classify?

"The purpose of any classification is so to organize our knowledge that the properties of

objects may be remembered and their relationships may be understood most easily

for a specific objective.

"The process involves formation of classes by grouping the objects on the basis of their

common properties.

"In any system of classification, groups about which the greatest number, most precise,

and most important statements can be made for the objective serve the purpose best."

[9]

Classification helps us deal with complexity. There are too many objects to consider individually. If

we can find some common properties or behaviour between them, we can make meaningful classes

to help us organise our knowledge and simplify our decision-making.

We classify individual objects, for example soil profiles, by grouping them into classes, for example

soil series. These classes then form other objects, that can in turn be classified into still more general

classes, for example, reference soil groups. This is a hierarchical classification, and is common in soil.

Answer 2

Soils are classified to understand their properties, composition, and suitability for different purposes such as agriculture, engineering, and environmental management. Classification helps in determining the soil's behavior, fertility, drainage, and susceptibility to erosion, ultimately aiding in making informed decisions on land use and management.