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An Experiment in the Numerical Classification of Some Kansas Soils¹

ABSTRACT

Thirty soil characteristics were used to calculate numerical indices of similarity for 29 Kansas soils. The indices varied from 90 for Ladysmith and Irwin soils (100 = perfect similarity) to 34 for Bates and Colby. In general, the numerical classification substantiated the present classification and the concepts of these soils and their interrelationships.

This experiment suggests that the numerical classification of soils, like that of plants, animals, and insects, is possible. The necessary information for this kind of analysis is available for many of our soils. The major obstacle appears to be the selection and weighting, if any, of the characteristics to be considered. Once the characteristics are selected, the determination of numerical relationships is objective and repetitive.

¹ Contribution No. 828, Department of Agronomy, Kansas Agr. Exp. Sta., Kansas State University, Manhattan, and from the Soil Survey Division, Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and the Soils Department, College of Agriculture, University of Wisconsin, Madison. Published with the permission of the Wis. Agr. Exp. Station Presented before Div. S-5, Soil Sci. Soc. Am., Denver, Colorado, Nov. 18, 1963.

² Agronomist, Kansas Agr. Exp. Sta., and Professor of Soils, in charge of the Soil Survey Division, Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, respectively.

Received for publication May 16, 1963. Accepted for publication September 23, 1963.