Soil Taxonomy

The second edition of Soil Taxonomy, A Basic System of Soil Classification for Making and Interpreting Soil Surveys is now available here in PDF format for printing or viewing. A printed copy is also available.

The PDF file incorporates errata dated 5/00 and 8/02.

The following documents require Acrobat Reader.

Soil Taxonomy Text (PDF; 9.9 MB)
Soil Taxonomy Maps (PDF; 15.1 MB)
Errata Sheet for Soil Taxonomy (PDF; 7 KB)

Recommended citation: Soil Survey Staff. 1999. Soil taxonomy: A basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys. 2nd edition. Natural Resources Conservation Service. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 436.

A printed or CD copy of the second edition of "Soil Taxonomy" is available from the following source:

NRCS Distribution Center
Enter keywords: soil taxonomy 2nd edition
Phone toll free: 1-888-526-3227
E-mail: NRCSDistributionCenter@ia.usda.gov

Proposals to Amend Soil Taxonomy

The DOC files require Microsoft Word.

The proposals shown below have not been adopted into NCSS standards. Their posting on this webpage does not constitute formal approval. Comments on these proposals may be returned to the national leader for soil survey standards, Mr. Cameron Loerch, at Cameron.Loerch@lin.usda.gov.
 

Posted after the 2012 NCSS Regional Conferences

• A proposal to revise the criteria for Aquic Hapludults (DOCX; 36 KB)

Posted before the 2012 NCSS Regional Conferences

• International Committee for Anthropogenic Soils (ICOMANTH)
  • Final proposals (DOC; 89 KB)
  • Summary report (DOC; 22 KB)
  • Anthropogenic features (DOC; 728 KB)
  • Galbraith attachments (ZIP; 87 KB)
     
• A proposal to clarify the mineral soil surface. (DOC; 41 KB)
   
• A set of proposals to improve the classification of Udolls in Argentina. (DOC; 633 KB)
   
• Proposed amendment to soil depth classes of Soil Taxonomy and root restricting depth of Soil Survey Manual. (DOC; 19 KB)
   
• A proposal to add a new subgroup of Petrocalcic Calciudolls to Soil Taxonomy and includes references to literature documenting the new soils. (DOC; 29 KB)
   
• A set of proposals to expand the definition of the abrupt textural change and add mention of its presence as a standalone criterion in certain taxa of the Aridisol, Mollisol, and Alfisol orders of Soil Taxonomy. (DOC; 63 KB)
   
• Changes to Chapter 3: Horizons and Characteristics Diagnostic for the Higher Categories – Melanic Epipedon. (DOC; 18 KB)
   
• Proposal for adding anhydrite soils to USDA soil taxonomy (DOC; 73 KB)

Keys to Soil Taxonomy, 11th Edition

Includes links to both Spanish and English versions of the Keys, along with historical editions.