Toward Development of a Global Soil Classification Correlation Matrix (GSCCM).

Increased demand for effective communication of global soil resource inventories requires continued development of correlation matrices for cross-reference of international and national soil classification systems.  Although the World Reference Base for Soil Resources was originally conceived as “a basis, or framework for better correlation between national systems,” questions still arise when making comparisons of scientific research and agrotechnology transfer among countries with varying national soil classification systems.  The objectives of this project are development and testing of a prototype global soil classification system correlation matrix using published information for international and national systems.  Sets of GSCCM correlation tables were developed to cross-reference soil taxonomic classes from USDA Soil Taxonomy - 1998; World Reference Base for Soil Resources-2007; FAO-1990; FAO-1974; Canada; Mexico; Soil Map of Russia; Soil Map of China; Australia; France; Ghana; Vietnam; Brazil; and other countries’ national systems.  Soil genesis concepts and processes of soil formation were also linked to the various systems. The prototype searchable database is envisioned as an initial step to develop an Internet-based query tool that would provide the user with approximate soil classes, where applicable.