This study examines three soil classification systems - Buganda, World Reference Base, and US Soil Taxonomy - in order to evaluate their relative strengths and feasibility for making linkages between them. Nine field sites and 16 pedons were considered across the soil landscapes of the Buganda catena. Each identified field pedon diagnostic horizons and characteristics were described and their soils analyzed using standard pedological techniques and measurements. To document the indigenous use of the Buganda classification system, interviews and discussions were held with farmer groups and local extension specialists. Using this local expertise, five local soil units were identified. We also identified two landscape toposequences with pedons that classified into six WRB Reference Soil Groups and five US Soil Taxonomic Suborders. While four local soil classes each mismatched with international systems' groups, Liddugavu (black) soil corresponded to Phaeozem (WRB) and Udolls (US Soil Taxonomy) and is consistently viewed as the most productive soil due to faster weed growth, diversity of crops it supports and its stable landscape location. Statistical comparisons indicated that the Buganda classes were more homogeneous and effective at separating variability of different soil properties than those of either the WRB Reference Soil Groups or US Soil Taxonomy Suborders. Integrating soil texture, pH and bases information in indigenous system methods could locally complement international classifications and linking the best of both systems would be ideal for the generation of a hybrid system. Our findings show that using the toposequence framework assists in comparing these systems in a way that is useful for scientists and local farmers.

这项研究研究了三种土壤分类系统-Buganda，世界参考库和美国土壤分类法-以便评估它们的相对优势以及在它们之间建立联系的可行性。在Buganda catena的土壤景观中考虑了9个野外站点和16个pedon。描述了每个确定的田间脚踏车的诊断视野和特征，并使用标准的土壤学技术和测量对土壤进行了分析。为了记录布干达分类系统在本地的使用，与农民团体和当地推广专家进行了访谈和讨论。利用当地的专业知识，确定了五个当地的土壤单位。我们还确定了两个带有脚踏板的景观地形，它们被分为六个WRB参考土壤组和五个美国土壤分类学子阶。Liddugavu（黑色）土壤对应于Phaeozem（WRB）和Udolls（美国土壤分类法），并且由于杂草生长更快，其所支持的农作物多样性以及其稳定的景观位置而一直被视为生产力最高的土壤。统计比较表明，与WRB参考土壤组或美国土壤分类学子分类相比，Buganda类在区分不同土壤属性的变异性方面更均一且有效。将土壤质地，pH和碱信息整合到本地系统方法中，可以在本地补充国际分类，并且将两种系统的最佳性能联系起来对于生成混合系统是理想的。我们的研究结果表明，使用toposequence框架有助于以对科学家和当地农民有用的方式比较这些系统。