Determine the hierarchical order of soil taxanomy
Order: At this highest level of generalisation, the soils are distinguished on the basis of the degree of horizon development and the kinds of horizons present. There are eleven orders whose names end in sol (Latin, solum, soil).
Suborder: The orders are subdivided into suborders on the basis of physical , chemical and morphological properties that reflect the presence or absence of waterlogging and vegetation. Each order has a number of suborders and as many as 47 suborders are recognised.
Greatgroup: This category contains soils that have same kinds of horizons in the same sequence having similar temperature, moisture regimes and also have similar base status. More than 230 greatgroups are recognised.
Subgroup: Three kinds of subgroups have been recognised; these are typic groups, intergrades and extragrades. The typic groups show the central properties of the greatgroup; the intergrade subgroup shows properties of more than one greatgroup while the extragrade subgroup has properties which do not belong to any greatgroup. More than 1200 subgroups are recognised.
Family: In this category the soils have been grouped together largely on the basis of physical and mineralogical properties that are important for plant growth. On the basis of properties like soil texture, temperature regime, mineralogy and thickness of the soil permeable to the roots, as many as 6600 families of soils have been recognised.
Series: The soil series is the most specific unit of classification which consists of soils that are similar in all major profile characteristics. Conc eptually it represents a contiguous polypedon, however in the field it may include aggregates of polypedons and the associated inclusions. In field soil surveys the soil series are sometimes further subdivided into soil phases on the basis of surface soil texture or other characteristics.