What is soil taxonomy?

Soil taxonomy is fundamentally a classification system for soils that organizes them based on various properties, such as their physical and chemical characteristics, and their formation processes. This classification framework helps soil scientists and agronomists to describe, compare, and understand the different types of soils present in various locations.

By categorizing soils into specific taxa—like orders, suborders, great groups, and subgroups—soil taxonomy allows for the systematic study of soil behavior and its interactions with vegetation, water, and the wider environment. This methodology also plays a crucial role in land use planning, agriculture, and environmental management by providing essential information about soil capabilities and limitations.

The other options pertain to different concepts that do not align with the definition of soil taxonomy. For instance, measuring soil moisture content is a specific procedure rather than a classification system. A concept like currency in environmental economics does not connect with soil classification. Likewise, while soil testing procedures are important in assessing soil characteristics, they are not the same thing as soil taxonomy, which focuses specifically on classification rather than testing or analysis.