The authors present an initial version of a soil classification system
based on selected soil properties believed to be useful in describing
water and chemical transport through soils. The system is based prima
rily on surface texture, clay mineralogy, and nature of soil structure
. We now have developed this system for the more extensive soil series
in South Carolina, and these soils have been grouped into eight diffe
rent classes. While variability of some soil properties within a given
class certainly exists, a class is distinct from each of the other se
ven classes in water and chemical transport characteristics. A classif
ication system such as this can help to identify those soil properties
that most affect transport processes and will help to provide the fra
mework for development of mathematical transport models that incorpora
te these same soil properties.