The Soil Classification Scheme used in FieldNotes was originally developed for the National Soil Survey of England and Wales at Rothamstead Experimental Station ("Soil Classification for England and Wales [Higher Categories]." B.W. Avery. 1980.). The classification scheme was later extended by National Soil Resources Institute (Cranfield University) to include more urban and man-made soil types, and provides the standardised system for classifying and naming soil types of England and Wales. (In Scotland an alternative classification system is often used, due to the marked differences in soil types in this region.)
The NSRI Soil Classification Scheme comprises eleven major (top-level) groups and a variable number of second and lower-level categorisations. The classification scheme shown here incorporates the higher level categories only. The classification allows unambiguous and informative formal names to be assigned and helps to place materials in a wider environmental context, facilitating (among other things) storage in environmental information systems and production of soil maps.
A full description of the NSRI Soil Classification Scheme, the classification scheme itself and a wealth of soil-related information is available on the National Soil Resources Institute website, or by contacting the National Soil Resources Institute at Cranfield University.
"Soil Classification for England and Wales [Higher Categories]." B.W. Avery. 1980. Soil Survey - Technical Monograph No. 14. Harpendon.
National Soil Resources Institute (http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/nsri/) - research centre for Soil Science at Cranfield University.
Soil-Net (http://www.soil-net.com/) - An extensive Internet resource providing information about Soils, developed by National Soil Resources Institute.