Classiology and Soil Classification

V. A. Rozhkov

Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, per. Pyzhevskii 7, Moscow, 119017 Russia

E-mail: rva39@mail.ru

Received November 22, 2010

Abstract—Classiology can be defined as a science studying the principles and rules of classification of objects
of any nature. The development of the theory of classification and the particular methods for classifying objects
are the main challenges of classiology; to a certain extent, they are close to the challenges of pattern recognition.
The methodology of classiology integrates a wide range of methods and approaches: from expert judgment to
formal logic, multivariate statistics, and informatics. Soil classification assumes generalization of available data
and practical experience, formalization of our notions about soils, and their representation in the form of an
information system. As an information system, soil classification is designed to predict the maximum number
of a soil’s properties from the position of this soil in the classification space. The existing soil classification sys-
tems do not completely satisfy the principles of classiology. The violation of logical basis, poor structuring, low
integrity, and inadequate level of formalization make these systems verbal schemes rather than classification
systems sensu stricto. The concept of classification as listing (enumeration) of objects makes it possible to
introduce the notion of the information base of classification. For soil objects, this is the database of soil indices
(properties) that might be applied for generating target-oriented soil classification system. Mathematical meth-
ods enlarge the prognostic capacity of classification systems; they can be applied to assess the quality of these
systems and to recognize new soil objects to be included in the existing systems. The application of particular
principles and rules of classiology for soil classification purposes is discussed in this paper.

DOI: 10.1134/S106422931203009X

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