Fundamental Changes in Taxonomy: Consideration of End-Users.

Soil Taxonomy provides a great framework for teaching students and non-soil scientists about how soil formation, properties, and land use interpretations can be elucidated in a taxonomic name.  This makes Soil Taxonomy a powerful tool provided the taxonomy is explicit, logical and understandable.  There are 2 major stumbling blocks that exist with my students.  First, the terminology is akin to learning a new language.  As with any field of science a certain amount of jargon is expected and in the end needs to be accepted.  The second stumbling block is more problematic particularly for those not planning to spend their career learning and relearning the system.  It is this issue that shall be explored.  The hierarchical nature of Soil Taxonomy is easily understood, with just a few exceptions, up to the Great Group and Subgroup level.  Here the order in which properties are recognized or excluded often appears arbitrary to students.  Often the dichotomous nature leads to the exclusion of properties that may be critical to disparate land use.  Examples of how this can affect interpretations shall be discussed and solutions shall be proposed.