UPDATING THE

HARMONIZED WORLD
SOIL DATABASE (HWSD)
Correlation of Philippine Soils
into FAOs World Reference
Base for Soil Resources (WRB)

DANTE MARGATE
BSWM ANNIVERSARY SYMPOSIUM
04 JUNE 2013
BSWM
Outline
Purpose
Background
HWSD Products
BSWMs commitments
WRB
Sample WRB classification
Conclusion

BSWM
Purpose
A consistent (harmonized) global
coverage of important soil properties
and general classes

Mainly used for global or continental-

scale modelling

Replaces seriously outdated Zobler

database (1986) which used pioneering
but outdated FAO Soil Map of the World
(1974) 1:5M scale
BSWM
 Background
An initiative of FAO and
IIASA to consolidate and
provide soil information
mainly for modelling
purposes.

Other partners: ISRIC-

World Soil Information;
European Soil Bureau
Network; Institute of Soil
Science, Chinese Academy
of Sciences
BSWM
Background
Sources: 1:5M FAO-UNESCO Soil Map
of the World; 1:1M Soil Map of China;
1:1M Soil Map of Europe; 1:250k-1:1M
SOTER; 1:5M north Eurasia

Immediate use: soil carbon

measurements in the context of Climate
Change Convention and the Kyoto
Protocol; Global Agro-ecological
Assessment by FAO/IIASA

BSWM
Products
Raster database
single-band, each pixel with map unit ID
BIL format (single-band), easily read into
any raster GIS
Attributes database
MS-Access (proprietary) format
linked to raster database by map unit ID
HWSD Viewer
MS-Windows applications to display
property maps
Procedures manual
BSWM
 Products

The HWSD is a 30 arc-second raster database with

over 16,000 soil mapping units linked to soil property
data (e.g., organic Carbon, pH, CEC, etc.).
BSWM
Database structure
Raster: one-band image
image value is an integer code (e.g., 4413)

Attributes database
field MU_GLOBAL is the integer code
referring to the raster image (e.g., 4413)
each raster cell is uniquely linked to one
record in the SMU database
other fields are attributes of the SMU (e.g.,
organic Carbon, pH, water storage capacity,
soil depth, CEC, total exchangeable
nutrients, salinity, textural class, etc.)
BSWM
Attributes database

BSWM
What it is not
Complete profile description
Accurate description of all map unit
components
Geo-referenced pedons
Polygons and their boundaries with best
location
So, not a replacement for national
soil maps or pedon databases
Not delivering most detailed soil
information, just sufficient for regional/
global coarse-scale modelling
BSWM
Our commitment (BSWM)
As the national soil institution, we signed up to
support the programs of Asia Soil Partnership
(ASP), which in turn commits to the advocacies of
the FAOs Global Soil Partnership (GSP).

Deliverable: 1:1M Soil Map of the Philippines

adopting the WRB classification and conforming to
the HWSD specifications (soil map units and
attributes database).

Deadline: 31 March 2013

extended to 30 June 2013.
BSWM
Our solution (BSWM)
Correlate or convert our existing digital
Soil Series Map into the FAOs WRB
classification.

The Soil Series concepts which describe

the physiography, morphology, physical,
and chemical characteristics of each Soil
Series will constitute the attributes
database that will be compiled according
to the HWSD specifications.
BSWM
Existing HWSD Map (Philippines)
FAO Soil Units (1974)
Orthic Acrisols
Ochric Andosols
Albic Arenosols
Gleyic Cambisols
Eutric Fluvisols
Eutric Gleysols
Orthic Luvisols
Dystric Nitosols
Eutric Nitosols
Chromic Vertisols
Pellic Vertisols
No data
Water Body

BSWM
Existing Philippine Soil Series Map
SOIL SERIES
Abatan Bigaa Dolores Ligao Nangalisan Sapian
Aborlan Binangonan Donsol Lipa Natonin Sara
Adtuyon Binidayan Dune Land Lonos Natubleng Sariaya
Adtuyon-La Castella* Bituin Espaa Lourdes Nayon Sevilla
Alaminos Boac Faraon Lugo Novaliches Siain
Alimodian Bog,deep Faraon-Bolinao Luisiana Nupol Siari
Alimodian-Barotac Bolinao Filled-up soils Luisita Obando Siaton
Ambassador Bolog Gasan Lutayan Odiongan Sibul
Ana-aon Brooke's Glan Maapag Paete Sigcay
Angeles Buayan Gravel Deposits Maasin Palapag Silay
Annam Buenavista Guadalupe Mabini Palitod Sinapangan
Antipolo Bugko Guimaras Macabare Palompon Sinolon
Antipolo-Alimodian- Buldun Guimbalaon Macolod Panganiran Sison
Antipolo-Alimodian-* Bulusan Guimbalaon-Annam Macolod-Pili Pangasinan Soils undifferentia*
Arayat Burgos Guinaoang Madunga Panupdupan Songsong
Aroman Butuan Guinobatan Magallanes Paoay Sorsogon
Atok Buyagan Halsema Magcalon Parang Sta. Fe
Babuyan Cabahuan Hernani Magsaysay Pasonanca Sta. Filomena
Bad-as Cabangan Himayangan Makar Patnongon Sta. Maria
Bago Cadiz Hydrosols Makato Patungan Sta. Rita
Baguio Calape Ibaan Malabang Pawing Surigao
Bakakeng Calatagan Ilagan Malalag Pilar Taal
Balacbac Calauaig Inabanga Malalag-Faraon Pili Tacdian
Balanacan Calumpang Indan Malandag Polillo Tacloban
Baler Camansa Irosin Maligaya Prensa Tadao
Baliangao Camiguin Isabela Malimono Pulupandan Tagaytay
Balili Candaba Jamoyaon Malinao Punguis Tagburos
Balongay Candijay Jasaan Malitbog Quilada Tagkawayan
Baluarte Carmona Jasaan-Bolinao Mambajao Quingua Tagum
Balut Caromatan Kabacan Mambutay Ramain Tamontaka
Bancal Casiguran Kabatohan Manapla Riverwash Tapul
Banga Castilla Kapatagan Manapla-Bago Rizal Tarlac
Banhigan Castilla-Bolinao Kidapawan Mandawe Rock Lands Tarug
Bani Cataingan Kitcharao Mantalongan Romblon Tarug-Faraon
Bantay Catanauan Kudarangan Maranlig Rough broken land Tigaon
Banto Catbalogan La Castellana Marikina Rough mt'n land Timbo
Banto-Malalag Catubig La Trinidad Matho Rough stony land Tingib
Bantog Cauayan Lagawe Matina Rubble land Titay
Barcelona Cervantez Lala Matuya-tuya Rugao Toran
Barotac Coron Langa Mauraro Rugnan Tugbok
Bascaran Culis Langkong Maydolong Sabangan Tuguis
Batuan Daclan Lapaz Mayon Sagada Tupi
Batuan-Faraon Dadiangas Lava Flows Mayoyao Salaman Ubay
Bauang Dagami Laylay Medellin San Fernando Umingan
Bauyan Dalican Legaspi Mirador San Juan Victorias
Bay Dauin Legua Miral San Manuel Villar
Miral
Bayho Dinagat Libertad San Manuel -Taal Virac
Beach Sand Dohinob Libi Mogpog San Rafael Zamboanguita
Beneng Dolongan Libon Mtn soils, undiff
Nambaran
Sapa Zaragosa BSWM
Glimpse of WRB

BSWM
Glimpse of WRB
A framework for international classification,
correlation and communication

In 1998 the International Union of Soil

Sciences endorsed the WRB as the official soil
correlation system for all soil scientists.

The European Commission selected the WRB

as correlation scheme for harmonized soil
maps and databases for Europe.
BSWM
Glimpse of WRB
Designed as an easy means of communication
among scientists to identify, characterize and
name major types of soils.

It is not meant to replace any national soil

classification systems, but be a tool for better
correlation between national systems.

It aims to help in improving national systems.

BSWM
Differences with ST
Number of categorical levels:
ST has 6 levels (4 defined by key)
WRB has 2 levels (1 defined by key)

On the highest level:

ST has 12 orders
WRB has 32 reference soil groups (RSG)

Soil moisture and temperature regimes:

WRB has no direct info on those

BSWM
The Rationalized WRB Key (1)
1. Soils with thick organic layers: Histosols

2. Soils with strong human influence Soils with

long and intensive agricultural use: Anthrosols Soils containing
many artefacts: Technosols

3. Soils with limited rooting due to shallow permafrost or stoniness Ice-

affected soils: Cryosols Shallow or
extremely gravelly soils: Leptosols

4. Soils influenced by water Alternate wet-

dry conditions, rich in swelling clays: Vertisols Floodplains, tidal
marshes: Fluvisols Alkaline soils: Solonetz
Salt enrichment upon evaporation:
Solonchaks Groundwater affected soils: Gleysols

BSWM
The Rationalized WRB Key (2)
5. Soils set by Fe/Al chemistry
Allophanes or Al-humus complexes: Andosols Cheluviation
and chilluviation: Podzols Accumulation of Fe
under hydromorphic conditions: Plinthosols
Low-activity clay, P fixation, strongly structured: Nitisols
Dominance of kaolinite and sesquioxides: Ferralsols

6. Soils with stagnating water Abrupt

textural discontinuity: Planosols Structural or
moderate textural discontinuity: Stagnosols

7. Accumulation of organic matter, high base status

Typically mollic: Chernozems
Transition to drier climate: Kastanozems
Transition to more humid climate: Phaeozems
BSWM
The Rationalized WRB Key (3)
8. Accumulation of less soluble salts or non-saline substances
Gypsum: Gypsisols
Silica: Durisols Calcium
carbonate: Calcisols

9. Soils with clay-enriched subsoil Albeluvic

tonguing: Albeluvisols Low base status,
high-activity clay: Alisols Low base status, low-activity
clay: Acrisols High base status, high-activity clay:
Luvisols High base status, low-activity clay: Lixisols

10. Relatively young soils or soils with little profile development

With an acidic dark topsoil: Umbrisols
Sandy soils: Arenosols
Moderately developed soils: Cambisols Soils with
no significant profile development: Regosols

BSWM
Sample WRB classification
Step 1
Diagnostics
Mollic horizon
dark color
(Munsell chroma < 3;5 value < 3;5)
organic matter > 1 %
base saturation > 50 %
thickness> 25 cm

Calcic horizon
Secondary carbonates
CaCO3 > 15 %
thickness > 15 cm
BSWM
Sample WRB classification
Step 2
Soils having. The Key

1. a mollic horizon; and
Mollic horizon 2. a Munsell chroma, moist, of 2 or less from the
soil surface to a depth of 20 cm or more or having
this chroma directly below any plough layer that is
20 cm or more deep; and
3. a calcic horizon, or concentrations of
secondary carbonates starting within 50 cm
below the lower limit of the mollic horizon and, if
Calcic horizon present, above a cemented or indurated layer; and
4. a base saturation (by 1 M NH4OAc) of 50
percent or more from the soil surface to the calcic
horizon or the concentrations of secondary
carbonates throughout.
CHERNOZEMS
BSWM
 Step 3
Sample WRB classification The Qualifiers
Prefix qualifiers Chernozems Suffix qualifiers
Voronic Anthric
Vermic (having 50 percent Glossic
Technic or more of worm Tephric
Leptic holes, casts, in the
upper 100 cm)
Sodic
Vertic Oxyaquic
Endofluvic Greyic
Endosalic Skeletic
Gleyic Arenic
Vitric Siltic (having silty texture)
Andic Clayic
Stagnic Chromic
Petrogypsic Novic
Gypsic
Petroduric
Petrocalcic
Calcic(having a calcic horizon)
Luvic
Haplic

Calcic Vermic Chernozem (Siltic) BSWM

Conclusion
Contributes sound scientific knowledge for
planning sustainable expansion of agricultural
production to achieve food security.

Provides information for national and

international policymakers in addressing
emerging problems of land competition for
food production, bio-energy demand and
threats to biodiversity.

BSWM
References
FAO/IIASA/ISRIC/ISSCAS/JRC, 2012. Harmonized
World Soil Database (version 1.2). FAO, Rome, Italy and
IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria.
IUSS Working Group WRB, 2006. World Reference Base
for Soil Resources 2006. 2nd ed. World Soil Resources
Reports No. 103. FAO, Rome.
Micheli, E, 2012. Slides: International soil classification
(ST vs WRB). ISSCAS, Nanjing, China.
Rossiter, DG, 2012. Slides: Introduction to the
Harmonized World Soil Database. ISSCAS, Nanjing,
China.
BSWM
End

BSWM