Soil Classification

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Soils of Ethiopia

Part of the book series: World Soils Book Series ((WSBS))

  • 383 Accesses

Abstract

Soil classification is a systematic categorization of soils into groups at varying levels of generalization according to their morphological, physical, mineralogical, and chemical properties. Soil morpho-physicochemical properties which are interaction results of soil-forming factors and processes serve as marks or evidence of definitions used for soil grou**s. The FAO/UNESCO Soil Map of the World and Soil Taxonomy of the United States are by far the most common classification systems used worldwide. Ethiopia has no national soil classification system developed and adapted in the country. Both soil taxonomy and the FAO-UNESCO classification systems are used in combination or in isolation in the country. However, nowadays the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) is widely adopted. Farmers in different localities and regions of Ethiopia have different names, as is the case elsewhere in the world, for the local soil types on the basis of color, particle size, thickness, and fertility.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
EUR 29.95
Price includes VAT (Spain)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
EUR 160.49
Price includes VAT (Spain)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
EUR 207.99
Price includes VAT (Spain)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
EUR 207.99
Price includes VAT (Spain)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ali A, Tamene L, Erkossa T (2020) Identifying, cataloguing, and map** soil and agronomic data in Ethiopia. CIAT Publication No. 506, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/110868

  • Amanuel A, Gebresamuel G, Girma A (2015) Characterization of agricultural soils in cascape intervention Woredas in Southern Tigray, Ethiopia, p 284

    Google Scholar 

  • Amare S (2017) Farmers’ knowledge on soil classification and fertility management and its relation with scientific methods the case of Burie and Jabi Tehnan Districts, North Western Ethiopia. Master Thesis Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia

    Google Scholar 

  • Berhanu D (1994) The soils of Ethiopia: annotated bibliography. Technical handbook no. 9. Regional Soil Conservation Unit (RSCU), Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bockheim JG (2014) Cryopedology. Progress in soil science. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady NC, Weil RR (2015) The nature and properties of soils, 15th edn. Pearson Education Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • BuolSW HFD, McCracken RJ, Southard RJ (1997) Soil genesis and classification, 4th edn. Iowa State University Press, Ames

    Google Scholar 

  • Corbeels M, Shiferaw A, Haile M (2000) Farmers’ knowledge of soil fertility and local management strategies in Tigray, Ethiopia. Managing Africa’s Soils No. 10

    Google Scholar 

  • David GR (2001) Lecture notes principles of soil classification. International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences (ITC), Enschede, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Debele B (1980) The physical criteria and their rating proposed for land evaluation in the highland region of Ethiopia. Land Use Planning and Regulatory Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Google Scholar 

  • D'Hoore JL (1964) Soil map of Africa. Sheet 3. Pub. No. 93, Joint Project No. 11, Commission for Technical Cooperation in Africa. Lagos, Nigeria, 1964

    Google Scholar 

  • DonahueR (1972) Ethiopia: taxonomy, cartography and ecology of soils. African Studies Center

    Google Scholar 

  • Elias E (2016a) Soils of the Ethiopian highlands: geomorphology and properties. CASCAPE Project, ALTERRA, Wageningen UR, The Netherlands. library.wur.nl/WebQuery/isric/2259099

    Google Scholar 

  • Elias E (2016b) Soils of the Ethiopian highlands: geomorphology and properties. ALTERA Wageningen University Research Centre, The Netherlands. ISBN:978-99944-952-6-9

    Google Scholar 

  • Esayas A (2005) Characteristics, genesis and classification of reddish soils from Sidamo Region of Ethiopia. PhD Thesis, Universiti Putra Malaysia

    Google Scholar 

  • EsuIE (2010) Soil characterization, classification and survey. Heinneman Educational Books Publishers, Nigeria, pp 232

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO–UNESCO (1974) FAO–UNESCO Soil map of the world, vol 1. Legend. UNESCO, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (1984a) Assistance to land use-planning, Ethiopia: geomorphology and soils. Field Document AG DP/ETH/78/003. The United Nations Development Programme and Food and Agriculture Organization. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (1984b) Assistance to land use-planning, Ethiopia: provisional soil association map of Ethiopia. Field document No 6. The United Nations Development Program and Food and Agriculture Organization. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (1988) FAO-UNESCO Soil map of the world: revised legend with corrections and updates. Food and Agriculture Organization and International Soil Resource Information Centre. Wageningen, The Netherlands, pp 146

    Google Scholar 

  • Fekadu D (2018) Farmers’ perceptions of soil fertility and management in Omo Nada, LimuSeka and Gera Districts of Jimma Zone, South Western Ethiopia. Msc thesis

    Google Scholar 

  • Fikre M (2003) Pedogenesis of major volcanic soils of the south central rift valley Region, Ethiopia. MSc Thesis. University of Saskatchewan. Saskatoon, Canada, pp 128

    Google Scholar 

  • ISSS-ISRIC-FAO (1998) World reference base for soil resources. ISSS, ISRIC, FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Landon JR (1991) Booker tropical soil manual. Longman Scientific and Technical Essex, UK, pp 474

    Google Scholar 

  • Leenaars JGB, Elias E, Wösten JHM, Ruiperez González M, Kempen B (2020a) Map** the major soillandscape resources of the Ethiopian highlands using random forest. Geoderma 361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.114067

  • Leenaars JGB, Ruiperez González M, Kempen B, Mantel S (2020b) Semi-detailed soil resource survey and map** of REALISE Woredas in Ethiopia. Project report to the BENEFIT-REALISE programme. Dec 2020b, ISRIC-World Soil Information, Wageningen

    Google Scholar 

  • Mesfin A (1998) Nature and management of Ethiopia soils. Alemaya University of Agriculture, Ethiopia

    Google Scholar 

  • Shantz HL, Marbut CF (1923) The vegetation and soils of Africa. National Research Council and 793 American Geographical Society, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva YJAB, do Nascimento CWA, Biondi CM, van Straaten P, de Souza Júnior VS, da Silva YJAB, dos Santos CA, do Carmo Trezena de Araújo J (2017) Influence of metaluminous granite mineralogy on the rare earth element geochemistry of rocks and soils along a climosequence in Brazil. Geoderma 306:28–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Soil Survey Staff (1999) Soil taxonomy. A basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys, 2nd edn. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation

    Google Scholar 

  • Taye G (2008) Effects of agricultural technologies on farm productivity and income in the highlands of Tigray, Ethiopia: dryland eco-farm approach. Master Thesis Norwegian University of Life Science (UMB), pp 81

    Google Scholar 

  • Taye G, Poesen J, Van Wesemael B, Vanmaercke M, Teka D, Deckers J, Goosse T, Maetens W, Nyssen J, Hallet V, Haregeweyn N (2013) Effects of land use, slope gradient, and soil and water conservation structures on runoff and soilloss in semi-arid northern Ethiopia. Phys Geogr 34:236–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van de Wauw J, Baert G, Moeyersons J, Nyssen J, De Geyndt K, Taha N, Zenebe A, Poesen J, Deckers J (2008) Soil–landscape relationships in the basalt-dominated Highlands of Tigray, Ethiopia Ethiopia, Catena, vol 75, pp 117–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Weil R, Brady N (2017) The nature and properties of soils, 5th edn. Pearson Education

    Google Scholar 

  • Westphal E (1975) Agricultural systems in Ethiopia. Agriculture Research Report (Versl. landbouwk. Onderz.) 826, (x) + 278, p 16, figs, 103 photographs, 10 maps in separate cover, 9 tables, ZZZ refs, 2 appendices. ISBN 90 220 0556 9

    Google Scholar 

  • Zewdie E (2013) Properties of major agricultural soils of Ethiopia. Lambert Academic Publishing

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alemayehu Regassa .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Regassa, A., Ali, A., Taye, G. (2023). Soil Classification. In: Beyene, S., Regassa, A., Mishra, B.B., Haile, M. (eds) The Soils of Ethiopia. World Soils Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17012-6_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Navigation