APPLICATION OF FUZZY-SETS IN SOIL SCIENCE - FUZZY-LOGIC, FUZZY MEASUREMENTS AND FUZZY DECISIONS

Fuzzy systems, including fuzzy set theory and fuzzy logic, provide a r ich and meaningful improvement, or extension of conventional logic. Th e mathematics generated by this theory is consistent, and fuzzy set th eory may be seen as a generalisation of classic set theory. Applicatio ns in soil science, which may be generated from, or adapted to fuzzy s et theory and fuzzy logic, are wide-ranging: numerical classification of soil and mapping, land evaluation, modelling and simulation of soil physical processes, fuzzy soil geostatistics, soil quality indices an d fuzzy measures of imprecisely defined soil phenomena. Many other soi l concepts or systems may be modelled simulated, and even replicated w ith the help of fuzzy systems, not the least of which is human reasoni ng itself.