Soil genesis and classification

The formation and classification of soils have been a key area of research in the soil science discipline. Major breakthroughs have been brought about since the mid 1800s and it has evolved from conceptual frameworks, to descriptive studies to more quantitative approaches. Some 50 years ago the American soil scientists Stan Buol and Francis Hole hatched idea for the book Soil Genesis and Classification. Now six editions of the book have been published and it has become a standard text book in teaching soil science and pedology in the USA. Over 50,000 copies have been sold and this paper reviews how the book evolved over time, and relates the text to trends and developments in soil formation and soil classification.