soil surveys

land uses are based off of

soil differences

first way to classify soils is through a

soil survey

soil survey

examines soils, describes, and maps soils providing information on classification

what’s in a soil survey

soil maps, map legend, description of soils, use and management reports for each soil

what can a soil survey tell us

taxonomy, location, description, properties of each horizon

what is the first step in a soil survey

describe soil according to physical or chemical characteristics

what is the second step in soil survey

taxonimic classification

what is the third step in a soil survey

map soils according to findings

soil mapping starts with

a previous soil survey OR aerial mapping

why do soil scientists walk the land when mapping

take cores, mark slopes, mark boundaries between series

soil mapping today uses

tech such as GPS and remote sensing

can you rely solely on technology when mapping

no, not a replacement for ground verification

mapping units are

how we set boundaries in a soil map

a map unit is based on

scale like county map and phase of soil series

what is a map unit symbol

abbreviation of map unit that appears on the map

soil association

2 of the soil series are too mixed up to be separated

large scale =

more area less detail

small scale =

less area much more detailed

1st order soil survey

intensive land use such as development, irrigation, drainage systems

2nd order soil survey

county survey, specific soil limitations and potential uses

what order do we typically see used in surveys

2nd order

3rd order soil surveys

forest or public land

what are 4th and 5th order surveys used for

generalized, focuses more on land use for region or nation

county soil surveys are commonly

out of date

land capability classes

USDA system that rates land according to suitability for ag an other uses

LCCS are based off of

data from soil surveys

LCCs describe the best

long term use of land to protect it from erosion and other problems

how many land capability classes are there

8

the higher the number

the more limitations to use

which capability class would have the most limitations

8

class 1

few limitations, well drained, overall ideal perfect ag soil

class 2

suitable for all uses, mild limitations that need conservation

class 3

utilize same crops as class 1 or 2 but serious problems requiring conservation

class 4

marginal for cultivated crops, pasture and hay crops are best

classes 1-4 are considered

arable land (anything we can grow row crops on)

as LCC goes up it is associated with a

steeper slope

class 5

unsuitable for cultivation, used for recreations, pasture, woodlands, not much erosion risk but are poorly drained

class 6

steep slopes, good for pastures, severe erosion

class 7

woodland, recreation, wildlife

class 8

no commercial production, recreation like hiking and taking pictures

Land capability subclasses

every class except for 1 has limitations, lowercase letter added to number, describes limitation

what does E stand for in a subclass

runoff and erosion

what does C stand for in a subclass

climatic hazard, rain or temp extremes

what does S stand for in a subclass

root zone, shallow, stony, droughty

what does W stand for in a subclass

wetlands

when using capability classes, choose

the Lowest letter possible for cultivated soils