Proposed Revision to Soil Taxonomy - Spodosols.

Soil Taxonomy is a hierarchical dichotomous system that first places soils in an Order based upon a narrowly defined property or properties.  In the case of Spodosols it is the presence of a Spodic horizon.  Combined with the Spodic horizon there are several other properties that could be elevated to the suborder level.  This shift would necessitate moving the temperature regime formative element to family level.  The resultant change would create more suborders but would allow for critical properties to be identified at a higher level. The advantages and disadvantages to this proposal will be discussed.