The purpose of classifying soils in Soil Taxonomy is to enable soil scientists to predict the behavior of one soil, for which technical data are lacking, by examining its relationship to similar soils that have been studied. We have looked at the morphologic characteristics of aridic soils and seen how they classify in Soil Taxonomy . We'll finish the program with a brief consideration of what can be accomplished when these soils are irrigated and properly managed. Availability of water is the key to the use of Aridisols for agriculture.
History is rich with references to the practice of irrigation from wells, tanks and canals.
Even today, irrigation devices are being used which are identical to those built hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of years ago. The potato harvest of this proud Pakistani farmer would not have been possible without irrigation and sound soil management. The most widely used method of conveying water to agricultural fields is surface diversion. One method of surface diversion that has been practiced for thousands of years is called water harvesting. In this system, runoff is collected in a catchment area and channeled to agricultural fields at the base of a slope.