Soil classification

Soil texture triangle showing the USDA classification system based on grain size. Click on image to enlarge.

Image showing relationship between hydrologic soil groups and soil texture. Image from Sayl et al., 2017. CC-BY 3.0 License. Click on image to enlarge.

AASHTO soil classification system (From Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Click on image to enlarge.

Soils are typically classified based on a specific property, such as infiltration or texture. This page provides a summary of the more commonly used classification systems.

USDA classification based on soil textures

The United States Department of Agriculture defines twelve major soil texture classifications ( sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, loam, silt loam, silt, sandy clay loam, clay loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay, and clay). Soil textures are classified by the fractions of sand, silt, and clay in a soil. Classifications are typically named for the primary constituent particle size or a combination of the most abundant particles sizes (e.g. sandy clay, silty clay). Loams are soils having roughly equal proportions of sand, silt, and/or clay in a soil sample.

Texture affects many soil properties, such as infiltration, structure, porosity, water holding capacity, and chemistry. For more information on the role and importance of soil texture, link here.

The soil texture triangle is based on grain size, that is the distribution of sand, silt, and clay in a soil. The texture triangle is shown in the adjacent image. The relationship to hydrologic soil group, which is used in stormwater applications, is illustrated in this image.

Natural Resource Conservation Service Hydrologic Soil Groups

Reference: Urban Hydrology for Small Watersheds - TR-55 (USDA)

Soils are classified by the Natural Resource Conservation Service into four Hydrologic Soil Groups (HSG) based on the soil's runoff potential. The four Hydrologic Soils Groups are A, B, C and D. Where A's generally have the smallest runoff potential and Ds the greatest.

• Group A: sand, loamy sand or sandy loam types of soils. It has low runoff potential and high infiltration rates even when thoroughly wetted. They consist chiefly of deep, well to excessively drained sands or gravels and have a high rate of water transmission.
• Group B: silt loam or loam. It has a moderate infiltration rate when thoroughly wetted and consists chiefly or moderately deep to deep, moderately well to well drained soils with moderately fine to moderately coarse textures.
• Group C: sandy clay loam. They have low infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted and consist chiefly of soils with a layer that impedes downward movement of water and soils with moderately fine to fine structure.
• Group D: clay loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay or clay. This HSG has the highest runoff potential. They have very low infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted and consist chiefly of clay soils with a high swelling potential, soils with a permanent high water table, soils with a claypan or clay layer at or near the surface and shallow soils over nearly impervious material.

This classification system is the most widely used system in the Minnesota Stormwater Manual and in most stormwater applications in the U.S. Best management practice (BMP) selection and design are typically based on soils at a site. For example, infiltration bmps are preferred on HSG A and B soils when there are no other site restrictions (e.g. contamination, presence of active karst).

Link to infiltration rates based on hydrologic soil group

Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

The Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) (see ASTM D-2487) is used in engineering and geology to describe the texture and grain size of a soil. Unconsolidated materials are represented by a two-letter symbol based on type of material (gravel (G), sand (S), silt (M), clay (C), organic (O)) and grading or plasticity (well-graded (W), poorly-graded (P), high plasticity (H), low plasticity (L)). For example, CH materials consist of clay with high plasticity, and SP materials consist of poorly-graded sands. Specific properties of these soils can be found here. This classification is used for engineering applications, where factors such as soil strength and uniformity are important for structural applications.

The adjacent image shows the relationship between the USCS, AASHTO and USDA classifications.

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Soil Classification System

The AASHTO Soil Classification System was developed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and is used as a guide for the classification of soils and soil-aggregate mixtures for highway construction purposes. It roughly divides soils into two groups, granular and silt-clay materials, based on sieve analysis. Granular materials are considered good as a subgrade, while silt-clay materials are less satisfactory.

The adjacent image shows the relationship between the USCS, AASHTO and USDA classifications.

USDA Soil Taxonomy

Minnesota soil suborders. Image University of Minnesota.

USDA soil taxonomy provides a classification of soil types according to several parameters (most commonly their properties) and in several levels: Order, Suborder, Great Group, Subgroup, Family, and Series. There are currently twelve soil orders. Suborders are based on a specific property, such as temperature or moisture (e.g. aquic for wet) regime.

For more information, link here.

Other classification systems

• Australia classification system
• Canadian classification system
• Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations

Related links

• Soil Classification Systems - Wisconsin Department of Transportation
• World Reference Base for Soil Resources