Tutorial:USDA

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USDA Soil Classification
The USDA soil classification scheme uses a heirarchical system of taxonomy based on:
 * 1) Soil Orders
 * 2) Soil Suborders
 * 3) Soil Great Groups
 * 4) Soil Subgroups
 * 5) Soil Families: Family names are descriptive and relating to the property used to differentiate between families in the same sub-group.
 * 6) Soil Series: This divides families according to properties that may affect the use of the soil.

The first 4 levels relate to the dominant soil properties and the presence of diagnostic horizons.

The properties of the 12 soil orders are outlined in the table below.

The USDA provide free, on-line access to all the literarture and keys necessary to identify soil types. Use the external links below to access these resources.