Correlation of Benchmark Soils from Southern Indiana, USA, in the Soil Taxonomy and World Reference Base for Soil Resources.

A benchmark soil is one of large extent, one that holds a key position in the soil classification system, one for which there is a large amount of data, or one that has special significance to farming, engineering, forestry, ranching, recreational development, urban development, wetland restoration, or other uses (NSSH Part 630). Benchmark sites allow to study and monitor important soil properties and processes with lower costs, and extrapolate results to related soils and landscapes, and for complex interpretive needs.
During the summer of 2006 a benchmark catena was investigated at Southern Indiana-Purdue Agricultural Center (SIPAC) in Indiana State, Dubois County, USA.
The paper will present the description and classification of soils from this benchmark catena in ST (Soil Taxonomy) and correlation possibilities with WRB (World Reference Base for Soil Resources) will be discussed.