ABSTRACT
The soil classification of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) was made as a tool for soil inventory and survey at different scales. From the establishment of the Soil Survey of England and Wales in 1939, a system of soil series was used for mapping. Taxonomic soil classification was developed mainly for arranging and systematizing the existing soil series. The present soil classification was not intended for use in the overseas territories of the British Empire. It has only national coverage (Table 8.1), especially for England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland used somewhat different systems of soil classification that had never been published. A similar version was used by the Soil Survey of the Republic of Ireland. Mainly soils used for agriculture were included in the classification. Bare rock and underwater soils are not considered as soils; however, soils completely transformed by human agricultural activity and transported substrates are regarded as man-made soils at the level of major groups or groups (Table 8.1). The scope of soil classification of the UK
|
Superficial bodies |
Representation in the system |
|---|---|
|
Natural soils |
National coverage |
|
Urban soils |
Partly included in the major group of Man-made soils and the group of Man-made raw soils |
|
Man-transported materials |
Partly included in the major group of Man-made soils |
|
Bare rock |
Not considered as soils |
|
Subaquatic soils |
Not considered as soils |
|
Soils deeply transformed by agricultural activities |
Partly included in the groups of Man-made humus soils and Earthy peat soils |
