SOIL CLASSIFICATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

A taxonomic system for SA

SA soil classification system is hierarchical, it has 2 categories of classes. The upper class is called the
soil form and the lower class is called the soil family. Soils in SA are divided into 73 soil forms and 440
soil families. Soil is classified according to a number of diagnostic horizons since each soil form is
defined on the basis of certain unique vertical sequence of these horizons. A toposequence of soils at
Ukulinga farm KwaZulu Natal were classified. In terms of topography, this farm has long lower slopes
and a steep rise (upper platter). The platter is not flat, its in a form of a saucer which has a high rim that
is not complete, there is a point in the rim where water escapes.
PIT ONE- MISPAH: On this pit there is an Orthic A horizon followed by a hard rock. This profile has
extremely thin top soil about 5-10cm and it sits with a veryshort boundary directly on to the Ecco shale
parent material underneath. The Ecca shale has sediments which are horizontally embedded and it gives
solid base. The Ecca shale contains Montmorillonite clay which changes water content. The soil here is
shallow and non-airable, it is not good for forestry, this soil is very prone to erosion.
PIT TWO- OAKLEAF- On this pit, thesoil has Orthic A and Neocutanic B horizon. Oakland is much
deeper than Mispah. There is change in colour as you move from topsoil to subsoil. The topsoil has a
brownish colour followed by a reddish horizon and an Ecco shale. The reddish horizon has a rounded
gravel known as Buckshot gravel and also has iron concentration. There is a large boulder along the
reddish horizon, the boulder is dolerite. It weathered to the reddish soil. There is a shale at the bottom
which is a layer of dolerite-enriched material. There is a stone line which is composed of dolerite and
shale material from upslope. The is a lump which is made up of pieces of shale cemented, Heamatite .
The top soil shows strong subangular clay structure which is caused by insect activity. The roots are
concentrated on the top soil, oakleaf has a reddish colour signifying good drainage. There are molehills
on the profile below and earthworm casts.
PIT THREE- LONGLAND: This pit is 14km away rom the previous pit, it has a lower mid slope. Long
land is characterized by an Orthic A horizon, E horizon and Soft plinthic B horizon. Orthic A horizon is
5-8cm deep, beneath is a grey molted material and a soft plinthic which is hard fue to exposure. The
soft material beaneath is due to presence of water. The grey colour indicates that is is closer to surface
often times. Mateial on the E horizon is hard , there is colluvial movement weathering the dolerite. The
E horizon is a severe barrier to roots, it is leached off nutrients and it is waterlogging during wet
season. During dry season the particle size distribution sets very hard. Root growth is limited to the
Orthic A hoizon, agriculturally this soil is of low potential and has wetness contstraints.
PIT FOUR- KATSPRUIT: Soils here are much wet , lots of thick roots. There is Orthic A topsoil and a
G horizon which is grey in color, this is heavy clay. Grey clay indicates poor drainage. There are stacky
mountles thee is heavy dolerite which weathers the skin and produces clay, Longland is often used for
pasture.
PIT FIVE- RENSBURG: This is about 35 meters from Katspruit, this profile has a much deeper top
soil which is the Vertic A horizon followed by the G horizon. Top soil has high content of shrink swell
clays, Montmorillorite. The G horizon is grey in colour and wet for most of the year. It has thick roots
to withstand the condition. Roots step 40-45cm down as the soil gets wetter and heavier. As the
montmorillonite shinks and swells, they can shear roots and die. There are cracks due to shrickage
which causes cracks from top soil to the surface. This soil has self-mulching properties, the soils here
are strongly structured and fertile due to low-lying position. These soils are used to grow cotton.
PIT SIX- BONHEIM: This is bonheim soil forms similar to renburg but roots here are not restricted by
depth, no waterlogging problems. Top soil is called the Malenic A horizon and Pedocutanic B horizon.
There are cracks on the malenic A horizon, it has shrickdides and does not shrick roots. There is a
mixture of thick and small roots which are circular, There is a dolerite at the bottom of the pit which
produces fertile soil. This pit is deep and well drained, its has good soil which can be highly
productive. Here, sweet veld is produced for grazing. Commercial forestry cannot be productive.