Soil Classification In Agriculture

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Hello, you are welcome to this hall on Soil Classification in agriculture, Namely: Zonal soil, Intra-zonal soil, and azonal soil.

Soil is classified into three major groups. namely:

  1. Zonal soil
  2. Intra-zonal soil
  3. And azonal soil

Soil classification is based on climate, vegetation, topography, nature of soil profile, preference of salt and soil types.

A. Zonal soil: This is matured soil which has recognizable soil profile as a result of the influence of climate and vegetation. This soil is further subdivided into: Pedalfer and pedocals.

Types of Zonal soil

  1. Pedalfer: This is non-lime accumulating soil.
  2. Pedocals: This is lime accumulating soil. Examples of zonal soil include podsol soil, grey brown soil, chemozen soil, sierozem soil, latosol or red soil, such as laterite.

B. Intra-zonal soil: This soil is formed under special circumstances and conditions such as inadequate drainage which results in waterlogging or salt accumulation, leading to alkalinity. This may result in different types of soil.

Intra-zonal soil is of three types

  1. Hydromorphic soil: This is characterized by excess of soil moisture which result in waterlogging and may give rise to peat soil.
  2. Holomorphic soil: This type of soil has a high concentration of salt. It is found in drier area of low rainfall.
  3. Calcimorphic soil: This is also called calcisols. This type of soil has high lime content. e.g, limestone.

C. Azonal soil: This is soil formed by the nature of its parents material rather than by climate. It is young soil and does not exhibit any profile. There are three types of Azonal soils:

  1. Lithosols: These are types of soil formed around mountainous areas.
  2. Regosols: These are types of soil formed on deep, soft, unconsolidated area with deposit of mineral matter.
  3. Alluvial soil: These are types of soil formed through the deposition of materials by rivers.

Revision Questions

  1. State and explain three types of soil classification.
  2. List and explain the types of zonal soil.
  3. List and explain the types of Intra-zonal soil
  4. List and explain the types of Azonal soils.

I will be taking you to my next blog on types of soil, meaning and components of soil. [Click here to join the class]

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