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I heard that vāstu śāstra is tightly linked to the varṇa (caste) system. E.g., a brāhmaṇa should construct a house on white land, the soil should smell like a lotus, taste very sweet, facing north, etc. Whereas kṣatriya should look for land that has red soil, should smell and taste like blood, etc. A śūdra should find land facing west, the soil should taste bitter, look very dark in color, so on.
Are there references to various varṇas in vāstu śāstra?
What you heard definitely has a scriptural basis. This Matsya Purana chapter mentions the various types of soils suitable for various Varna people to build their houses on:
As regards the DAYS, all the days of a week are good, except Sundays and Tuesdays. In regard to YOGAS, construction should not start on the following yogas viz. Vyaaghat, Shula, Vyatipaat, Atiganda, Vishkambha, Ganda, Parigha and Vajra. Following MUHURTAS are stated to be ideal for contstruction viz. Sweta, Maitra, Maahendra, Gaandhawa, Abhijit, Rouhini, Vairaja, and Savitri. To decide on the SHUBHA LAGNA, the activity of construction should be commenced when the Chandra bala as also Suryabala would be equally positve. The most important activities apart, Stambharohana or the hoisting of the Pillar should be taken up first; similarly the procedures should be the same as in respect of the costruction of Praasaads, wells and such mini water bodies. SOIL TEST would be the foremost activity before the actual construction is taken up. Sweta (White), Lal (Red), Peeta (yellowish) and kaala (black) may be the ideal soils for the Four Varnas of Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Shudra respectively. Taste-wise, the soil may be sweetish for Brahmanas, sour for Kshatriyas, tiktha or bitter for Vaishyas and Kasaili/ Kashaya / Pungent for Shudras. As a part of the soil quality test, saplings are to be planted and the best soil quality would yield the growth over three nights; medium growth over five nights and minimal growth over a week. The best soil obviously would give out the quickest yield
Update:
The Tantra SAra book (on pp 535) quotes some Gautamiya Tantram's verses that are related to the topic. Here are the verses:
Gautamiye--- tatrApi prathamam bhuminirnayah|
Bhumeh parigraham kuryAdyAvatAyatanam bhaveth |
ShuklamritasnA tu yA bhumirbrAhmi sA parikirtitA |
Kshatriya raktamridu bhumirharidvaishyA prakirtitA |
KrishnA bhumirbhavet shudrA chaturdha bhuh prakirtita |
BrAhmi sarvArthasiddhi syAt kshatriyA rAjyadA matA |
DhanadhAnyakAri vaishyA shudrA tu ninditA bhaveh |The ground which has white colored soil is called BrAhmi Bhumi, the one with red colored soil is called KshatriyA, the one with yellow colored soil is Vaishya and the one with black colored soil is called the Shudra Bhumi. The BrAhmi Bhumi fulfills all wishes, the KsatriyA is the giver of kingdom, the Vaishya Bhumi is the bestower of wealth but the Shudra Bhumi is censured.
