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[[File:General information page image.png|left|100px|alt=image]]
Soils are typically classified based on a specific property, such as infiltration characteristics or texture. This page provides a summary of the more commonly used classification systems.
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[[File:Soil texture triangle.jpg|300px|thumb|alt=image of soil texture triangle]|<font size>Soil texture triangle showing the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Agriculture USDA] classification system based on grain size. Click on image to enlarge.</font size>]]
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[[File:HSG USDA overlap.png|300px|thumb|alt=soil texture image|<font size=3>Image showing relationship between hydrologic soil groups and soil texture. Image from [https://hess.copernicus.org/preprints/hess-2017-13/hess-2017-13.pdf Sayl et al., 2017]. CC-BY 3.0 License. Click on image to enlarge.</font size>]]
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[[File:AASHTO classification image.png|300px|thumb|alt=AASHTO classification system|<font size=3>AASHTO soil classification system (From [https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/doing-bus/eng-consultants/cnslt-rsrces/geotechmanual/gt-03-03.pdf Wisconsin Department of Transportation]. Click on image to enlarge.</font size>]]
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Soils are typically classified based on a specific property, such as infiltration or <span title="Soil texture (such as loam, sandy loam or clay) refers to the proportion of sand, silt and clay sized particles that make up the mineral fraction of the soil."> '''texture'''</span>. This page provides a summary of the more commonly used classification systems.
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==USDA classification based on soil textures==
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The United States Department of Agriculture defines twelve major soil texture classifications (<span title="Particles with a diameter of between 0.075 and 4.75 millimeters (ASTM basis)."> '''sand'''</span>, loamy sand, sandy loam, <span title="A soil with roughly equal proportions of clay, silt, and sand"> '''loam'''</span>, <span title="Fine-grained soil particles with a diameter between 0.002 mm and 0.075 mm (ASTM basis)."> '''silt'''</span> loam, silt, sandy <span title="Fine-grained soil particles with a particle  diameter less than 0.002 mm"> '''clay'''</span> 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.
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Texture affects many soil properties, such as infiltration, <span title="Soil structure describes the arrangement of the solid parts of the soil and of the pore space located between them. It is determined by how individual soil granules clump, bind together, and aggregate, resulting in the arrangement of soil pores between them."> '''structure'''</span>, <span title="Porosity or void fraction is a measure of the void (i.e. empty) spaces in a material, and is a fraction of the volume of voids over the total volume, between 0 and 1, or as a percentage between 0% and 100%."> '''porosity'''</span>, <span title="The ability of a certain soil texture to physically hold water against the force of gravity"> '''water holding capacity'''</span>, and chemistry. For more information on the role and importance of soil texture, [https://www.senecahs.org/pages/uploaded_files/Soil%20Texture%20and%20Structure%20E%20Unit.pdf link here].
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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 <span title="A soil classification system (Natural Resource Conservation System) based on runoff potential. Groups include A soils (coarse textured with very low runoff potential), B soils (medium coarse textured with low runoff potential), C soils (fine to moderate textured with moderate runoff potential), and D soils (fine textured with high runoff potential)."> '''[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Design_infiltration_rates hydrologic soil group]'''</span>, which is used in stormwater applications, is illustrated in this image.
  
 
==Natural Resource Conservation Service Hydrologic Soil Groups==
 
==Natural Resource Conservation Service Hydrologic Soil Groups==
Reference: [https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1044171.pdf Urban Hydrology for Small Watersheds - TR-55 (USDA)]
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Reference: [https://nationalstormwater.com/urban-hydrology-for-small-watersheds-tr-55/#:~:text=Technical%20Release%2055%20(TR%2D55,volumes%20required%20for%20floodwater%20reservoirs. 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.
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Soils are classified by the [https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home/ Natural Resource Conservation Service] into four Hydrologic Soil Groups (HSG) based on the soil's <span title="The draining away of water (or substances carried in it) from the surface of an area of land, a building or structure, etc."> '''runoff'''</span> 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 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.
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*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 <span title="Soils consisting primarily of sand-sized particles"> '''coarse textures'''</span>.
 
*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 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.
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*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 [https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Shallow_groundwater high water table], soils with a <span title="A dense, compact, slowly permeable layer in the subsoil having a much higher clay content than the overlying material"> '''claypan'''</span> 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. 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).
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This classification system is the most widely used system in the Minnesota Stormwater Manual and in most stormwater applications in the U.S. <span title="One of many different structural or non–structural methods used to treat runoff"> '''Best management practice'''</span> (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 [https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Stormwater_infiltration site restrictions] (e.g. [https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Stormwater_infiltration_and_contaminated_soils_and_groundwater contamination], presence of [https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Karst active karst]).
  
 
[[Design infiltration rates|Link to infiltration rates based on hydrologic soil group]]
 
[[Design infiltration rates|Link to infiltration rates based on hydrologic soil group]]
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==Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)==
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The Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) (see [https://www.astm.org/ 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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Soil_Classification_System found here]. This classification is used for engineering applications, where factors such as soil strength and uniformity are important for structural applications.
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The adjacent image shows the relationship between the USCS, AASHTO and USDA classifications.
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==American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Soil Classification System==
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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.
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The adjacent image shows the relationship between the USCS, AASHTO and USDA classifications.
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==USDA Soil Taxonomy==
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[[File:MN soil suborders.jpg|200px|thumb|alt=image MN soil suborders|<font size=3>Minnesota soil suborders. Image [https://extension.umn.edu/soil-management-and-health/soil-orders-and-suborders-minnesota University of Minnesota.]</font size>]]
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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. The following soil orders occur in Minnesota.
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*Mollisols: Soils with a dark, humus-rich surface layer containing high concentrations of calcium and magnesium, typical of prairies.
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*Alfisols: Leached basic or slightly acid soils with a clay-enriched B horizon (subsoil), typical of deciduous forests.
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*Entisols: Mineral soils that have not yet differentiated into distinct horizons, such as soils found on glacial sand plains.
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*Histosols: Peaty soils, with a deep surface layer of purely organic material, such as soils found in north central Minnesota.
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*Inceptisols: Freely draining soils in which the formation of distinct horizons is not far advanced, such as some soils found in northeastern Minnesota.
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*Vertisols: Clayey soils with little organic matter which occurs in regions having distinct wet and dry seasons, such as some soils found in the Red River Valley Basin.
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*Spodosols: Acid soils characterized by a subsurface accumulation of humus that is complexed with aluminum and iron, such as some soils found in northeatern Minnesota.
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For more information, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USDA_soil_taxonomy link here].
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==Other classification systems==
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*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Soil_Classification Australia classification system]
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*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_system_of_soil_classification Canadian classification system]
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*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAO_soil_classification Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations]
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==Related links==
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*[https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/doing-bus/eng-consultants/cnslt-rsrces/geotechmanual/gt-03-03.pdf Soil Classification Systems] - Wisconsin Department of Transportation
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*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Reference_Base_for_Soil_Resources World Reference Base for Soil Resources]
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*[https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/soil-taxonomy Soil Taxonomy] - USDA
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[[Category:Level 2 - Technical and specific topic information/soils and media]]

Latest revision as of 17:48, 30 January 2023

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

image MN soil suborders
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. The following soil orders occur in Minnesota.

  • Mollisols: Soils with a dark, humus-rich surface layer containing high concentrations of calcium and magnesium, typical of prairies.
  • Alfisols: Leached basic or slightly acid soils with a clay-enriched B horizon (subsoil), typical of deciduous forests.
  • Entisols: Mineral soils that have not yet differentiated into distinct horizons, such as soils found on glacial sand plains.
  • Histosols: Peaty soils, with a deep surface layer of purely organic material, such as soils found in north central Minnesota.
  • Inceptisols: Freely draining soils in which the formation of distinct horizons is not far advanced, such as some soils found in northeastern Minnesota.
  • Vertisols: Clayey soils with little organic matter which occurs in regions having distinct wet and dry seasons, such as some soils found in the Red River Valley Basin.
  • Spodosols: Acid soils characterized by a subsurface accumulation of humus that is complexed with aluminum and iron, such as some soils found in northeatern Minnesota.

For more information, link here.

Other classification systems

Related links

This page was last edited on 30 January 2023, at 17:48.