Introduction

There are two main types of soil classifications:

• A taxonomic system of soil classification, which involves the classing of soils into soil forms and families (Soil Classification Working Group, 1991); and
• A crop ecotope classification system, where soil properties and soil forms are used as methods of identification.

Click here to view the short guide to the soil in South Africa.

Taxonomic Soil Classification System

The classification of soil entails categorising soil into soil forms from diagnostic soil horizons. These horizons, or layers of soil, should be identified in the soil profile. The naming of the soil forms will depend on the sequential position of the soil horizon (for example, anorthic A horizon overlying a red a pedal B horizon, is called a Hutton soil form). For the sake of simplicity, the soil family classification has been omitted here. When examining a freshly-exposed soil profile, it is usually easy to recognise different soil horizons, some of which are illustrated.

Click here to view a video that explains the Layers of  Soil.