Rice Technology Bulletin Series

No.
1 Released Rice Varieties (1968-1994) 34 Use of Evaporation Suppressant Table of Contents
2 Pagpaparami at Pagpupuro ng Binhi 35 Pagpaparami ng Purong Binhi ng Palay
sa Sariling Bukid 36 Management of Sulfur- Deficient Lowland Rice Soils
3 Paggawa ng Maligaya Rice Hull Stove 37 Management of Planthoppers and Leafhoppers
Foreword………..………………………….1
4 PhilRice Micromill 38 Management Options for Ricefield Weeds The Simplified Key to Soil Series............ 2
5 PhilRice Flourmill
39 Use of Indigo as Green Manure
6 PhilRice Drumseeder Guide to Soil Series Identification.......... 3
40 Management of Salt-affected Soils for Rice Production
7 PhilRice Rototiller
41 Wet-Seeded Rice Production
8 Rice Food Products Color Groups......................................... 6
42 Matatag Lines
9 PhilRice-UAF Batch Dryer
10 Integrated Management of the Malayan Black Bug 43 Hybrid Rice Seed Production Dark Gray/Yellowish Gray......... 7
11 SG800 Rice Stripper-Harvester 44 Metarhizium anisopliae: Microbial Control Agent
12 Dry-Seeded Rice-Based Cropping Technologies for Rice Black Bug Grayish Brown/Dark Brown...... 8
13 Maligaya Rice Hull Stove 45 Integrated Nutrient Management for Rice Production
Dark Yellowish Brown/
14 10 Steps in Compost Production 46 Management of Armyworms/Cutworms
15 Rice Tungro Virus Disease 47 Carbonized Rice Hull Strong Brown............................ 11
16 The Philippine Rice Seed Industry 48 Rice-based Microbial Inoculant
and The National Rice Seed Production Network 49 Integrated Farm and Household Waste Management
Soil Profile Pictures................................ 12
17 10 Hakbang sa Paggawa ng Kompost
50 Rice Postproduction Practices
18 10 nga Addang ti Panagaramid iti Kompost Soil Properties that affect crop growth.... 17
51 Ecological Rice Farming
19 Characteristics of Popular Philippine
52 Modified Dry Direct Seeding Technology Soil Productivity...................................... 20
Rice Varieties
53 Palayamanan: Making the Most out of Rice Farms
20 Rice Stem Borers in the Philippines Crop Suitability Analysis……................. 22
21 Rice Food Products (revised edition) 54 Practical Guidelines in Predicting Soil
22 Leaf Color Chart (English) Fertility Status of Lowland Rice Soils Soil Management Recommendations.... 27
23 Leaf Color Chart (Ilocano) 55 Bakanae: The Foolish Disease of Rice
24 Leaf Color Chart (Filipino) 56 Management of Rice Blast Disease Soil Taxonomic Classification………… 36
25 Equipment for Rice Production and Processing 57 Root-knot Management in Rice-Onion
26 Use of 40kg Certified Seeds per Hectare
Appendices…………………………….. 43
Cropping System
27 Rice Wine 58 Management of Yellow and White Stemborers Steps to Identify Soil Series...... 44
28 Management of Field Rats 59 The PhilRice Dapog Technology
29 Controlled Irrigation: Saving water Soil Sampling........................... 44
60 Rice Straw-Based Nutrient Management in
while having good yield
Irrigated Lowland Rice
30 Minus-one Element Technique: Color Determination....................45
61 Biofertilizer Production:
Soil Nutrition Deficiency Test Made Easy
31 Management of the Rice Black Bug
Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM) Texture Determination.............. 46
62 Trichoderma: Biofungicide for vegetables
32 Management of Zinc-deficient Soils pH Determination..................... 47
63 Barayti ng Palay handog ng PhilRice
33 Management Options for Golden Apple Snail
64 Management of Zinc-deficient soils (revised edition)
The PalayCheck® System…….. 48
References…………………………….... 50

Pampanga iii
 Foreword
This guidebook on “Simplified Key to Soil Series Identification” was
developed to make the field identification of soils easier.

Soil identification is an important component in rice farming. When the soil

is properly analyzed and identified, the risks of incompatible management
recommendations will be lessened and selection of knowledge and
technologies to apply will be efficient. And that is why we have this
Simplified Keys to Soil Series for Pampanga.

This is a good guide for effective nutrient management, which is one of the
components of the PalayCheck System, a dynamic rice crop management
system that presents easy-to-follow practices to achieve respective Key
Checks and improve crop yield and input-use efficiency.

It features the different color, texture, pH, coarse fragments, and mottles
of the most common soils of Pampanga and contains four simple
steps in identifying the soil series right in the field. It also includes
the soil productivity index, soil properties that affect crop growth, soil
taxonomic classification, crop suitability analysis, and soil management
recommendations.

The concept of simplified keys to soil series was first used in Thailand. In
the Philippines, the project “Simplification of the Philippine Soil Series for
Rice and Corn” started in 2005 under the Nutrient Management Support
System (NuMASS) to provide management recommendations for soils
identified in the field.

We thank the farmers, agricultural technologists, and municipal and

provincial agricultural officers for helping us validate the soil series. We
also acknowledge the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) for
providing the secondary data of the soils used in this guidebook.

This project was funded by the Knowledge We hope that this publication can help you identify suitable crops in
Management and Promotion Program (KMP) of your area, learn the limitations of your soils for crop production, and
PhilRice®. subsequently identify the corresponding management recommendations.

Philippine Rice Research Institute

Copyright © 2010
RONILO A. BERONIO
Executive Director

iv Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 1

The Simplified Key Guide to Soil Series
to Soil Series Identification
The “Simplified Key to Soil Series” is a tool to identify soil
series in the field following simple steps for the use of farmers,
extension workers, agricultural technicians, researchers and 1. Choose a vacant
other stakeholders. Using this guidebook, identification of area in your field and
soil will be more accurate reducing the risk of incompatible dig up to 50 cm depth
management and technology recommendations. Selection of from the surface (see
knowledge and technologies could also be easy and efficient page 44).
with the identification of soil series. For instance, because some
soil series behave similarly, the management practices and
technology suitable for known soil name are expected to be
adaptable for the same soil series of different region.
2. Get bulk soil
sample (500
This guidebook is simple to use, using only five basic soil g) between 30
properties (color, texture, pH, coarse fragments and mottles) cm and 50 cm
at 30-50cm soil depth and following the simple steps provided depth.
in the guidebook, the soil series in the field could be identified.
Once the soil is known, a compilation of thematic information
related to the use of soils especially in crop production such
as selection of suitable crops, crop productivity ratings,
soil properties that limit production, and soil management 3. Compare the soil
recommendations can be determined. sample with the
color chart in the
guidebook (see
Ten soil series found in the province of Pampanga were included page 45).
in this guidebook. These are Angeles, Arayat, Bantog, Bigaa,
Buenavista, Candaba, La Paz, Quingua, Prensa, and San
Fernando series.

2 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 3

4. Take half a handful
of the same soil and
check its texture by
moistening the soil
sample (neither too
wet, nor too dry) (see 7. Take note of other
page 46). observable soil
properties such as
polished surface
(cutans/slickensides),
5. Take a spoonful of softness, hardness,
the same soil sample stickiness, etc.
and put it in a test
tube. Add 7 drops of
reagent; shake gently,
and compare with the
pH chart (see page slickensides /
47). polished soil surfaces

6. Take note of the presence, or absence of coarse

fragments such as limestone, rock fragments, lateritic
nodules, manganese/Mn (black) and iron/Fe (red)
concretions, sand materials, and other observable
properties of the soil taken from the surface up to 50 cm
depth. 8. Use the Simplified
Keys to Soil Series
book and compare
all soil properties
starting from the color
until the soil name is
identified.

Lateritic nodules Manganese Quartz

concretions

4 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 5

Soil
Color Groups
Dark Gray/Yellowish Gray

Texture: Sandy clay loam

Arayat (Ayt)

Coarse
Gravel
Dark Gray/Yellowish Gray Fragments

pH 6.5-7.0

Fe (brown)
Others
and Mn (black)
Grayish Brown/Dark Brown
go to page 13

Texture: Clay loam

Prensa (Pr)
Dark Yellowish Brown/
Strong Brown Coarse none

pH 6.5-7.2
Fe (yellowish
Others brown) and Mn
(black) mottles
go to page 13

6 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 7

 Grayish Brown/ Dark Brown Grayish Brown/ Dark Brown

Texture: Sand Texture: Clay

Angeles (Ang) Bantog (Btg)

Coarse Coarse
None None
Fragments Fragments
pH 6.0-6.5 pH 6.5-7.6
Structureless
Others Fe (brownish
Others
gray) and Mn
go to page 13 go to page 14

Texture: Loam sand Texture: Clay

La Paz (Lp) Bigaa (Bga)

Coarse none Coarse none
pH 6.5-7.0 pH 5.7-6.1

nodules; structureless
Others Others
structureless

go to page 14 go to page 14

8 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 9

 Dark Yellowish Brown/Strong Brown Dark Yellowish Brown/Strong Brown

Texture: Loamy sand/ Silt loam Texture: Clay loam

Quingua (Qga) San Fernando (Sfo)

Coarse Coarse
None None
Fragments Fragments

pH 6.8-7.6 pH 7.0-7.5

Fe (yellowish Fe (yellowish
Others Others
brown) and Mn brown) mottles

go to page 15 go to page 16

Texture: Sandy clay loam Texture: Clay

Buenavista (Bta) Candaba (Cd)

Coarse none Coarse none
pH 6.9-7.2 pH 6.5-7.0

Mn (black) Fe (yellowish
Others Others
mottles brown) mottles

go to page 15 go to page 16

10 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 11

Soil
00 cm 00 cm 00 cm

Profile Pictures 22

26 16

28

52

43

50

95

64

90+ 105 104

Arayat (Ayt) Prensa (Pr) Angeles (Ang)

page 19 page 19 page 18

12 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 13

 00 cm 00 cm 00 cm 00 cm 00 cm

13 13
16 8 18

24 39 30
24
32

42

41

84
107 39

87

69

126+ 52+ 117 112+ 102+

La Paz (Lp) Bigaa (Bga) Bantog (Btg) Quingua (Qga) Buenavista (Bta)
page 18 page 18 page 18 page 19 page 19

14 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 15

 00 cm 00 cm
Properties
of Different
Soil Series
15

15
that affect
40 the growth
of crops
27

43

90

73

105 120+

San Fernando (Sto) Candaba (Cd)

page 19 page 18

16 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 17

 Table 1. Properties of Different Soil Series that
Affect the Growth of Crops.

Soil Lowland Soils Soil Lowland Soils Upland Soils

Qualities Angeles Bantog Bigaa Candaba LaPaz Quingua San Arayat Buena- Prensa
Qualities
Fernando vista
in Relation in Relation
to Crop Pro- to Crop Pro-
duction duction
Soil pH 6.0-6.5 6.5-7.6 5.7-6.1 6.5-7.0 6.5-7.0 Soil pH 6.8-7.6 7.0-7.5 6.5-7.0 6.9-7.2 6.5-7.2
N Level low medium low-me- medium low N Level low low medium low low
dium
P Level low high low medium low P Level medium low high low medium
K Level low low low medium low K Level medium medium medium medium low
Soil Texture sand clay, clay fine tex- fine clay loamy Soil Texture loamy clay loam to sandy silty clay clay loam
loam tured sand sand, silt clay clay loam loam
clay loam
Drainage well moderately poor very poor poor Drainage well poor poor poor modera-
drained well to well drained tely well
drained
Permeabi-lity rapid very slow slow to slow to very rapid Permeabi-lity modera-tely slow slow slow slow to
very slow slow slow very slow
Coarse Frag- gravels none none none none Coarse Frag- none none rock frag- none none
ments ments ments
Effective Soil shallow deep deep very deep modera- Effective Soil deep deep deep deep deep
Depth to very tely deep Depth
deep
Flooding seasonal seasonal none none none
Flooding seasonal seasonal occa- seasonal seasonal Hazard
Hazard sional
overflow Topography level to level sloping rolling to sloping
nearly level to rolling steep
Topography level level to level to level level to moun-
nearly level nearly tainous
level
Inherent Fer- moderate moderate high moderate mode-rate
Inherent Fer- low high moderate high low tility
tility

18 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 19

Soil
Productivity
Table 2. The soil productivity index for rice.
Soil productivity is that quality of soil that
summarizes its potential in producing plants or sequences Soil Series Inherent Potential
of plants under defined sets of management practices;
it is also a synthesis of condition of soil fertility, water Angeles 0.11 0.36
control, plant species, soil tilth, pest control and physical Arayat 0.47 0.65
environment (Bainroth, 1978: Badayos, 1990). In economic
terms, it is a measure of amount of inputs of production Bantog 0.81 0.91
factors required to correct soil limitation(s) in order to attain Bigaa 0.56 0.71
a certain level of production. It is expressed as average
crop yield under defined sets of management classes Buenavista 0.57 0.72
(Badayos, 1990). Candaba 0.66 0.76
La Paz 0.20 0.40
For making comparisons among soils, a productivity Prensa 0.60 0.78
index is used. The inherent productivity index is defined Quingua 0.68 0.78
as the natural capacity of the soil to produce a given yield
while potential productivity index refers to the capability of San Fernando 0.73 0.83
the soil to produce yield after correctible soil constraints
had been remedied. The predicted inherent yield can be
calculated by multiplying the inherent index to the maximum
potential yield of rice. The predicted maximum possible
yield will be computed by multiplying the potential index
to the maximum potential yield of rice. For instance, the
maximum potential yield in the dry season is 8 tons/hectare.
The predicted inherent yield and predicted potential yield of
rice in Candaba soils are 5.3 and 6.1 tons/ha, respectively.

20 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 21

 Crop Suitability Analysis
Soil suitability classification refers to the use of a piece

Crop
of land on a sustainable basis, based on physical and chemical
properties and environmental factors. It is the ultimate aim
of soil survey and this may come up through good judgment

Suitability Analysis and thorough evaluation of soil properties and qualities like soil
depth, soil texture, slope, soil drainage, erosion, flooding and
fertility. Based from these properties, the suitability of a certain
tract of land for crop production can be determined.

Suitability ratings denote qualitative analysis of the

potential of the soil to different crops. It implies what crop(s)
would give the highest benefit in terms of productivity and
profitability from a given soil type, indicated by S1 as the most
suitable down to S3 as marginally suitable. The symbol N
implies that the crop is either currently not suitable (N1) where
the effect of limitation is so severe as greatly to reduce the
yield or to require costly inputs or permanently not suitable
(N2) where the limitations cannot be corrected permanently.
Crop suitability analysis also provides information on soil
properties that limits the production of specified crop(s).

When using a parametric system, the soil index can

be equated into percentage shown below. It means that you
can attain 75% of the potential yield of the crop when the soil
index is highly suitable while less than 25% of the potential
yield when the soil index is not suitable.

S1: soil index >75 S3: soil index 25-50

S2: soil index 50-75 U: soil index <25

22 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 23

24 Simplified to Key Soil Series
c – climate
Limitations due to:

f – soil fertility
Suitability Ratings:
Guide to abbreviations

S1 – Highly suitable

t – topographic; slope
w – drainage; flooding
S3 – Marginally suitable
S2 – Moderately suitable

N1 – Currently not suitable

N2 – Permanently not suitable

s – texture; coarse fragments; soil depth

Table 3. The crop suitability analysis of the soils of Pampanga for different crops.

Rice Rice Rice

Soil Series Slope Irrigated Rainfed Rainfed Maize Sorghum Onion
Lowland Upland Lowland
Angeles 0-2% S3f S3f S3f S3f S3f S3f
Arayat 2-5% S3ws S3w S3w S3w S3w S3w
Bantog 0-2% S1 S2cw S2c S1 S1 S1
Bigaa 0-2% S3wf S3wf S3wf S3wf S3w S3wf
Buenavista 8-16% S3wsf S3wf S3wf S3wf S3w S3wf
Candaba 0-2% S3w S3w S3w S3w S3w S3w
La Paz 0-2% S3wsf S3wf S3wsf S3wf S3wf S3wf
Prensa 2-5% S2sf S2cf S2csf S2f S1 S3f
Quingua 0-2% S2f S2cf S2cf S2f S1 S2f
San Fernando 0-2% S3w S3w S3w S3w S3w S3w
Pampanga 25
 Sweet Water
Soil Series Slope Tobacco Sugarcane Peanut Mango
Potato Melon

26 Simplified to Key Soil Series

Angeles 0-2% S3f S3f S3f S3f S3f S3f
Arayat 2-5% S3w S3w S3w S3w S3w S3w
Bantog 0-2% S3ws S1 S1 S1 S2ws S1
Bigaa 0-2% S3wsf S3wf S3wf S3wf S3wsf S3wf
Buenavista 8-16% S3wf S3wf S3wf S3wf S3wf S3wf
Candaba 0-2% S3ws S3w S3w S3ws S3ws S3w
La Paz 0-2% S3wf S3wf S3wf S3wf S3wf S3wf
Prensa 2-5% S2f S3f S3f S2f S2f S2f
Quingua 0-2% S2f S2f S2f S2f S2f S2f
San Fernando 0-2% S3ws S3wf S3wf S3w S3wf S3w
SoilManagement
Recommendations

Pampanga 27
 tree species; suitable
Plant locally adapted
Plantation crops
Tree/Forest/
Soil Management

and corresponding management recommendations for different crops.

Table 4. The soil series of Pampanga with their limitations for crop production
Recommendations

for citrus

Cropping Pattern: rice- sugarcane/root crops/vegetables

Soil Management Recommendation
The goal of soil management is to the protect

Root crops
and enhance its performance to increase farm

due to sandy
Suitable for
profitably and preserve environmental quality. It is

root crops
the combination of soil factors to maximize crop

texture
production at the lowest possible cost while leaving

fruit trees like citrus

the soil in a productive state. It involves: maintaining
soil in good physical condition, maintaining the soil
fertility status, and influencing the biological aspect of

organic matter;
Diversified

practice timing

deep plowing;
Application of
the soil so that maximum benefits result (Harpstead,

rice-fallow
crops

phosphorus
of planting;
et al., 1997).

application
Soil management recommendations
suitable for each soil identified were enumerated
in the succeeding pages (table 4). In making soil
management recommendations, soil properties such

fertility problem;
rice during wet
as texture, mineralogy, moisture and temperature

needs ample

address the

phosphorus
fertilizers to
Suitable for

season but
regimes, and climate were considered since these

application
Rice

amount of
factors affect the crop growth. However, these
properties cannot be changed but control tillage, crop
rotations, soil amendments, and other management
choices can be done. Through these choices, the

flooding; gravels
structure, biological activity, chemical content of soil

fertility; subject

throughout the
production
Limitation

Structureless,
can be altered and later on influence erosion rates,

for crop

capacity, low

to seasonal

are present
poor water
pest population, and nutrient availability and crop
production.

holding

profile
Series

Angeles
Soil

28 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 29

 Limitation Soil Management Recommendation
Soil
for crop Tree/Forest/
Series Rice Diversified crops Root crops
production Plantation crops

30 Simplified to Key Soil Series

Plowing should
be done when Suitable for forest,
moisture condition Not suitable fruit trees to
Suitable for is just right; use for rootcrops prevent erosion
rice; apply of broadbeds,
Hard when due to texture at the area; plant
fertilizer ridges or furrows
dry and sticky constraints locally adapted tree
Arayat when wet and mulching; species
application of
organic matter and
farm manure
Cropping Pattern: rice-diversified crops/vegetables
rice-rice
diversified crops/vegetables-diversified crops/vegetables

Construction
Unsuitable under
of adequate
present condition
Poor drainage; Practice shallow drainage irrigation Establishment but becomes
high shrink and cultivation when and flood control of adequate suitable if proper
swell capacity system due to
soil moisture is drainage management
upon wetting seasonal flooding
optimum; suited and irrigation practices like
and drying hazard in low
for irrigated and system; establishment of
producing wide rainfed paddy areas; use of
Bantog application of adequate drainage
cracks in the broadbeds,
rice; maintain organic matter and flood control
soil, hard when properly the ridges or furrows
and farm systems; use
dry; seasonal and mulching;
paddy dikes manure of suitable tree
flooding in low application of
species and proper
areas; slow organic matter
fertilization
permeability and farm manure
Cropping Pattern: rice-rice
rice-diversified crops/vegetables/root crops
Pampanga 31
 Limitation Soil Management Recommendation
Soil Series for crop Diversified Tree/Forest/
production Rice Root crops
crops Plantation crops
Surface Suitable for rice
hardening production due to
Establishment
and cracking its clayey texture;
of adequate
during dry apply fertilizer Use of
Not suitable drainage and
season making to maintain the broadbeds,
for rootcrops flood control
tillage difficult; fertility of the ridges or furrows
due to systems; use
soil; construction and mulching;

32 Simplified to Key Soil Series

Bigaa seasonal texture of suitable
flooding in of adequate timing of
constraints tree species
low areas; drainage planting
and proper
seasonal high irrigation and
fertilization
water table; flood control
very firm system
consistency Cropping Pattern: rice-rice
Proper land
cultivation; Establishment
Suited for rice application of adequate
Impervious clay but need to of organic Deep drainage
subsoil with apply fertilizer, matter and plowing; and irrigation
concretions, practice contour animal manure application of system; proper
Buenavista low fertility; cultivation to improve fertilizer fertilization; use
poor drainage structure; of adequate
construction of crops
drainage
Cropping Pattern: rice-rice
rice-diversified crops

Deep annual Not suitable

seasonal Not suitable due to excess
Suitable for
flooding, Suitable for lowland rice; for rootcrops seasonal
diversified crops
shrinking timing of planting due to texture flooding
during dry season
swelling constraints and high
Candaba clay, low watertable
physiography;
lack of drainage Cropping Pattern: rice-fallow
outlets in wet rice-rice
season diversified crops/vegetables-fallow
diversified crops/vegetables- diversified crops/vegetables

High water Application of

Suitable for rice during
table and local organic matter; Plant locally
wet season but needs Suitable for
flooding in practice timing adapted tree
ample amount of root crops
wet seasons of planting; species;
fertilizers to address due to sandy
precludes deep plowing; suitable for
the fertility problem; texture
dry land phosphorus citrus
phosphorus application
crops, rapid application
La Paz
permeability
precludes
gravity irrigation Cropping Pattern: rice- sugarcane/root crops/vegetables
except when rice-fallow
water table fruit trees like citrus
is seasonally
high, low fertility
Pampanga 33
 Soil Management Recommendation
Limitation
Soil Series for crop Tree/Forest/
production Rice Diversified crops Root crops Plantation
crops
Dissected Establishment Establishment
Application of
physiography of adequate of adequate
fertilizers and

34 Simplified to Key Soil Series

limits paddy field drainage drainage and
organic matter;
size and excess and irrigation irrigation system;
requires contour Practice proper
elevations system; regular addition
cultivation; use timing of
increase cost of proper of organic
green manures cultivation and
extensive gravity leveling, matter and
and mulches; planting due to
irrigation inputs; construction animal manure;
proper timing of clayey texture
Prensa excess 2:1 clay and proper timing of
cultivation and
causes physical maintenance cultivation and
planting
limitations for of paddy dikes planting
diversified
crops; sloping
topography
requires contour Cropping Pattern: rice-rice
cultivation
rice-diversified crops/vegetables/root crops

Suited for
Suited for
root crops;
Suited for diversified crops; Suited for
construction
paddy rice; construction tree crops;
of adequate
application of adequate construction
drainage
of inorganic drainage irrigation of adequate
Climate, irrigation and
fertilizers to and flood drainage
Quingua seasonal flood control
maintain the control system; irrigation and
flooding system; proper
fertility of the proper timing of flood control
timing of
soil cultivation and system
cultivation and
planting
planting
Cropping Pattern: rice-rice
rice-diversified crops/vegetables/root crops
Plow when Construction
moisture of adequate
Low conditions are Not suitable drainage
physiography ideal; apply green for rootcrops irrigation and
subjected Suited for manure; timing because of flood control
San to seasonal paddy rice of planting; some waterlogging system; slightly
Fernando flooding; slightly elevated during rainy elevated areas
waterlogged areas are suitable season are suitable for
during rainy for sugarcane and fruit trees
season corn
Cropping Pattern: rice/corn/sugarcane-fallow
Pampanga 35
 Soil Taxonomic Classification

Soil Taxonomic Soil Taxonomy is a system of naming,

describing, and categorizing soils. It helps us

Classification understand the types of soils we have, how they

were formed, how they may be changing, and
the effect of soil on crops and natural resource
management. It employs a specific nomenclature
that both classifies the soil and gives a distinctive
name to the individual soil. Names are constructed
from the formative elements (generally originating
from Greek and Latin) which are used in specific
combinations to provide a highly descriptive name
to a specific soil type.
Scientist have developed different system of
soil classification to group soil of similar properties
in one class, allowing them to exchange information
on soil found in different areas. In the classification
scheme, soil characteristics and information about
the soil become more specific as one continuous
from order to series level. For this purpose, the
USDA Soil Taxonomic Classification system
was applied for technical uses. Soil Taxonomic
Classification that implies the general features of
a given soil indicating its texture, climate, moisture
regime, soil temperature, diagnostic horizons, and
soil order were presented in the next page with
interpretation.

36 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 37

 Table 5. Soil taxonomic classification of each soil
series in Pampanga with interpretation. Soil Taxonomic Interpretation
Series Classification
Soil Series Taxonomic Interpretation
Classification Bantog Very fine, mixed, This is a very fine-textured
isohyperthermic, soil with high clay content of
Angeles Coarse loamy, Coarse loamy-textured AERIC >60% and has isohyperthermic
isohyperthermic, soil with isohyperthermic CALCIAQUERT temperature regime (>22°C).
TYPIC temperature regime (>22°C). It is a Vertisol(-ert), dominated
UNTIPSAMMENT It is an Entisol (-ent), meaning by shrink-swell clays that
it is a young soil with only cause deep wide cracks,
slight development which the slickensides, and is very sticky
properties are determined and compact when dry. It is
largely by the parent saturated with water repeatedly
material. It is a typical (typic) (aqu-) but not as wet as the
representative of the great typical, i.e. it is better aerated,
group Ustipsamments. This usually because either
entisol has sandy texture groundwater is deep or the
(psamm-) occurring in areas period of saturation is shorter
with pronounced wet and dry (aeric). This soil also has high
seasons (usti-). calcium saturation (calci-) in its
Arayat Fine loamy, Fine loamy-textured soil with subsoil horizons.
smectitic (ca.), moderate amount of clay (35- Bigaa Very fine, This is a fine loamy-
isohyperthermic, 60%) with isohyperthermic smectitic (ca.), textured soil with high clay
VERTIC temperature regime (>22°C). isohyperthermic, content of 35-60% and has
EQUIAQUENT It is an Inceptisol (-ept), TYPIC isohyperthermic temperature
i.e. it is in the incipient CALCIAQUERT regime (>22°C). It is a Vertisol
development towards mature (-ert). It is dominated by shrink-
soils but have not yet fully swell clays that cause deep
developed their diagnostic wide cracks and slickensides
horizons. It is saturated with when dry and is very sticky
water for repeated periods and compact when dry. It is a
of time (aqu-) manifested typical (typic) representative of
by its grayish color with or the great group Calciaquerts.
without mottles. This is a It is saturated with water for
representative of the great repeated periods of time (aqu-)
group Epiaquepts vertic manifested by its grayish color
properties, i.e. it is dominated with or without mottles. This
by clays that shrink and swell soil also has high calcium
producing wide cracks and (calci-) saturation in its subsoil
slickensides due to repeated horizons.
wetting and drying

38 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 39

 Soil Series Taxonomic Interpretation Soil Taxonomic Interpretation
Classification Series Classification
Buenavista Fine loamy, This is a fine loamy-textured La Paz Sandy, mixed (ca.), This is a sandy-textured
smectitic (ca.), soil with large amount of clay isohyperthermic, soil (psamm-) with
isohyperthermic, (18-35%) and isohyperthermic TYPIC isohyperthermic temperature
KANHAPLIC temperature regime (>22°C). PSAMMAQUENT regime (>22°C). It is an
HAPLUSTALFS It is an Alfisol (alf), i.e. there is Entisol (-ent), meaning it is
illuvial accumulation on clay in a young soil with only slight
the subsoil horizons from the development which the
underlying horizons. This soil properties are determined
has minimum complexity in its largely by the parent
soil horizonation (hapl-) found material. It is a typical (typic)
in areas with pronounced wet representative of the great
and dry seasons (-ust). This is group Psammaquent. This
a member of the great group soil is saturated with water
Haplustalfs which is dominated for repeated periods of time
by low activity clays making (aqu-) manifested by its
this soil low in CEC. grayish color with or without
mottles.
Prensa Fine, mixed, This is a fine-textured soil
Candaba Very fine, This is a fine loamy- isohyperthermic, containing large amount
smectitic (ca.), textured soil with high clay VERTIC EPIAQUALF of clay (35-60%) and has
isohyperthermic, content of 35-60% and has isohyperthermic temperature
TYPIC isohyperthermic temperature regime (>22°C). It is an
CALCIAQUERT regime (>22°C). It is a Vertisol Alfisol (-alf), i.e. there is
(-ert). It is dominated by shrink- illuvial accumulation on clay
swell clays that cause deep in the subsoil horizons from
wide cracks and slickensides the underlying horizons. It
when dry and very sticky and is saturated with water for
compact when dry. It is a repeated periods of time
typical (typic) representative of (aqu-) manifested by its
the great group Calciaquerts. grayish color with or without
It is saturated with water for mottles. It is a representative
repeated periods of time (aqu-) of the great group Epiaqualfs
manifested by its grayish color that has vertic properties, i.e.
with or without mottles. This it is dominated by clays that
soil also has high calcium shrink and swell producing
(calci-) saturation in its subsoil wide cracks and slickensides
horizons. due to repeated wetting and
drying.

40 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 41

Soil Series Taxonomic Interpretation
Classification
Quingua Fine silty, Fine loamy-textured soil
isohyperthermic, with moderate amount

Appendices
FLUVAQUENTIC of clay (18-35%) and
EPIAQUOLL isohyperthermic temperature
regime (>22°C). It is Mollisol
(-oll) or dark-colored,
fertile soils with high base
saturation and natural
to medium acid pH. It is
saturated with water for
repeated periods of time
(aqu-) due to river flooding
(fluvaquentic) manifested
by its grayish color with or
without mottles.
San Fine, smectitic (ca.), It is a fine-textured soil (35-
Fernando isohyperthermic, 60% clay content) and has
TYPIC EPIAQUEPT isohyperthermic temperature
regime (>22°C). It is an
Inceptisol (-ept), i.e. it is in
the incipient development
towards mature soils but
have not yet fully developed
their diagnostic horizons.
It is a typical (typic)
representative of the great
group Epiaquepts. It is
saturated with water for
repeated periods of time
(aqu-) manifested by its
grayish color with or without
mottles.

42 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 43

 APPENDIX 1. STEPS TO IDENTIFY SOIL SERIES

2 Soil color determination

1
Soil sampling
Soil color is an indirect
Choose a vacant measure of other charac-
area in your field. teristics such as drainage,
Using a spade/ aeration, and organic mat-
auger, dig up to ter content. Black-colored
50cm from the soil soils may indicate high
surface. fertility and productivity.

Gray indicates a fairly con-

stant water-saturated condi-
tion. Bright brown and red
Depth of soil is colors are indicative of good
important. The sur- aeration and drainage.
face/top soil is not a
good basis since it Get an ample amount of soil
is always cultivated. from the sample. The soil
should be moist (neither too
wet, nor too dry).
Get bulk soil sam-
ple (½ kilo) from
30-50cm depth; Compare the color of
place it in a con- the soil sample with
tainer (plastic/pail). the color chart in the
This sample will be guidebook. Take note
used for soil series of the classification of
identification. the soil color.

44 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 45

 3 Texture determination
4 pH Determination (UPLB procedure)

Get soil sample from a 30-50cm

depth. Fill the test tube with soil
sample up to the scratch mark.

Add 7 drops of CPR (chlorphenol

red). Mix by gently swirling the
test tube.

If soil pH is 6 or greater, repeat

the steps using BTB (brom thymol
blue).

If the soil pH is 5 or less, repeat

the steps using BCG (brom cresol
green).

Match the color of the solution

on top of the soil with the
corresponding color chart of the
pH indicator dye used.

46 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 47

 APPENDIX 2. THE PALAYCHECK SYSTEM
4) Sufficient number of healthy
seedlings.
The Palaycheck System is a rice
integrated crop management that
combines the technologies and
learning processes to identify
strengths and weaknesses
of current crop management
practices, make improvements 5) Sufficient nutrients at tillering
in the next season to increase to early panicle initiation, and
grain yield, input use efficiency, flowering.
and profit with environmental
concerns.
The PalayCheck System describes the crop management
practices (input) to achieve the following Key Checks (output):

6) Avoided excessive water or

drought stress that could affect the
growth and the yield of the crop.
1) Used certified seeds of a
recommended variety.

7) No significant yield
2) No high and low soil spots after final loss due to pests.
leveling.

3) Practiced synchronous planting after 8) Cut and threshed the crop at the
a fallow period. right time.

48 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 49

 Acknowledgment

References We thank the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) for
the secondary data of the soils used in this guidebook.

Badayos, R. B. 1990. Lowland rice soils in the Philippines, Subject Matter Specialists
their characteristics and classification in relation to PhilRice
productivity. Inaugural Professiorial Lecture. SEARCA, Wilfredo B. Collado
UPLB. Mary Rose O. Obico
Rona T. Dollentas
Beinroth, F. H. 1978. Some fundamentals of soil Jeny V. Ravis
classification. In: Soil-resource data for agricultural Jesiree Elena Ann P. Dela Torre
Jovino L. De Dios
development. Ed. Leslie D. Swindale. Hawaii Ag. Expt. Leo C. Javier
Sra., College of Trop. Agric., University of Hawaii. Eduardo Jimmy P. Quilang, Jr., PhD
p. 12-19.
UP Los Baños
MI Hampstead, TJ Sauer, and WF Bennet. 1997. Soil Rodrigo B. Badayos, PhD
Armando E. Soliman
Science Simplified. 3rd Edition. Iowa State University
Press, Ames Iowa 500014. Managing Editor/Layout Artist
Marc Elvin T. Lozano
“Simplified Keys to Soil Series (29 Soil Series for Maize Judith P. dela Torre
Production), Lop Buri Province” The International
Training Workshop on “Applying Information
Technology for Site-Specific Agriculture in Small Farms Editorial Advisers
of Tropics.” August 4-10, 2003. Bangkok, Thailand. Atty. Ronilo A. Beronio
Andrei B. Lanuza
Soil Survey of Pampanga Province. Department of
For more information,
Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bureau of Soils, text the Farmers’ Text Center (0920) 911-1398);
Manila, Philippines. Bureau of Printing Manila. write, visit, or call:
Agronomy, Soils, and Plant Physiology Division
Soil Survey Manual. US Department of Agricultural Philippine Rice Research Institute
Handbook No. 18. August 1951. Soil Survey Staff, Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija 3119
Bureau of Plant and Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Tel. No. (044) 456-0285; -0113; -0651 local 217, 215, or 212
Engineering. Agricultural Research Administration,
US Department of Agriculture. Readers are encouraged to reproduce the content of this bulletin
with acknowledgment. Suggested citation:

PhilRice. “Soil Series:

Improving Agricultural Productivity in Pampanga.”
Rice Technology Bulletin No. 65: 56p., February, 2010.

50 Simplified to Key Soil Series Pampanga 51