Preface (Third Edition 1998)

This revised publication replaces The Canadian System of Soil Classification (second edition) published in 1987. The changes incorporated in this current publication are based on the work of the Soil Classification Working Group formerly of the Expert Committee on Soil Survey, and continued by the Land Resource Division of the former Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research, Ottawa, Ont. (1stEdition)-(2nd Edition)

Major revisions have been carried out to the Cryosolic order; a tenth order, Vertisolic, has been added; subgroups intergrading to the Vertisolic order have been added in the Chernozemic, Gleysolic,Luvisolic, and Solonetzic orders; and a complete Key to Soil Classification has been added in Chapter 3. The main reason for modifying the Cryosolic order stems from the work of Charles Tarnocai, Ottawa, and Scott Smith, Whitehorse, who assisted the International Gelisol Working Group in establishing the Gelisol order for Soil Taxonomy. The most significant changes include adding several new subgroups in both the Turbic Cryosol and Static Cryosol great groups and revising the description of all subgroups to make them as uniform as possible and to clearly identify those properties diagnostic of the particular subgroup.

The main initiative for establishing the Vertisolic order resulted from the decision by the United States Department of Agriculture to establish a new suborder Cryert in the Vertisol order of Soil Taxonomy that allows clay soils with Vertic properties that occur in cold climates to be classified as Vertisols. In light of this decision, a review of the classification of clay soils in Canada by the Soil Classification Working Group led to the recommendation to establish the Vertisolic order. In addition to the revisions described above, a number of errors and discrepancies in the 1987 edition of The Canadian System of Soil Classification have been corrected. As well, the wording has been changed in many instances to remove ambiguity, to standardize terminology, and to make the intent more easily understood.

Most of the work relating to these changes was carried out by members of the Soil Classification Working Group: H.A. Luttmerding, British Columbia; J.A. Brierley, Alberta; A.R. Mermut and H.B. Stonehouse, Saskatchewan; W. Michalyna, Manitoba; K.B. MacDonald, Guelph, Ont.; J.A. Shields and C. Tarnocai, Ottawa, Ont.; L. Lamontagne, Quebec; K.T. Webb, Nova Scotia; and by other pedologists across Canada: C.A. Smith, Yukon; R.G. Eilers and Hugo Veldhuis, Manitoba; H.W. Rees, New Brunswick; D.A. Holmstrom, Prince Edward Island; and E.F. Woodrow, Newfoundland.

The members of the Working Group wish to express their appreciation to all other persons, both active and retired, who cooperated in this work. They would also like to thank all those who worked behind the scenes to help arrange and conduct Soil Correlation Tours that aided in establishing the Vertisolic order and revising the Cryosolic order. Also, special thanks are extended to C. Wang, Ottawa, for his work on the Key to Soil Classification.

Questions and suggestions on classification are welcomed and should be sent to the Program Manager, Land Resource Evaluation, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Ottawa, Ont., K1A 0C6.

H.B. Stonehouse
Coordinator
Soil Classification Working Group

Source: The Canadian System of Soil Classification (Third Edition)