Classification of Ferrallitc Soils in Chinese Soil Taxonomy

The development of the classification of ferrallitic soils in China is reviewed and the classification of Ferralisols and Ferrisols in Chinese Soil Taxonomy is introduced in order to discuss the correlation between the ferrallitic soil classification in the Chinese Soil Taxonomy and those of the other soil classification systems.In the former soil classification systems of China,the ferrallitic soils were classified into the soil groups of Latosols,Latosoilc red soils,Red soils,Yellow soils and Dry red soils,according to the combination of soilforming conditions,soil-forming processes,Soil features and soil properties.In the Chinese Soil Taxonomy,most of ferrallitic soils are classified into the soil orders of Ferralisols and Ferrisols based on the diagnostic horizons and /or diagnostic characteristics with quantitatively defined properties.Ferralisols are the soils that have ferralic horizon,and they are merely subdivided into one suborder and two soil groups.Ferrisols are the soils that have LAC-ferric horizon but do not have ferralic horizon.and they are subdivided into three suborders and eleven soil groups.Ferralisols may correspond to part of Latosols and Latosolic red soils.Ferrisols may either correspond to part of Red soils,Yellow soils and Dry red soils,or correspond to part of Latosols and Latosolic red soils.