Jericho Winter, USDA NRCS Resource Soil Scientist Jeremy Baker, Rural Conservationist, East Multnomah SWCD Kim Galland, Multnomah Co. District Conservationist United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
Understand the components of a soil survey and how it is made. Use Web Soil Survey as a tool to better understand your soils! Successfully navigate Web Soil Survey and create a custom soil resource report for your area of interest.
Provides maps and information about the soils in a particular survey area Includes soil descriptions and their locations Includes their suitabilities, limitations, and management considerations for specified uses Meant for many users: Farmers, foresters, planners, engineers, home buyers, and more
Soil scientists observe site characteristics Slope, aspect, elevation, vegetation, landscape position, landform, etc. They dig holes and describe the soil profile Color, texture, structure, rock content, consistence, root, pores, parent material, etc. The soil is then assigned to a taxonomic class using Soil Taxonomy Soil taxonomy is a system used for comparison. Each taxonomic class is based on a set of characteristics with defined limits The soil scientist then develops a concept of how the soils on certain landscapes formed After enough observations the soil scientist is able to predict the type of soil that will occur on a specific location on the landscape
Soil Horizon: A layer of soil parallel to the surface that differs from the adjacent genetically related layers either physically, chemically, or biologically. O horizon: Made up of organic matter (OM) A horizon: Mineral material w/ some OM accumulations E horizon: Mineral horizon formed by eluviation of clay, iron/aluminum B horizon: Mineral material that shows evidence of one or more of the following: Has accumulated clay, iron/aluminum Development of soil structure Color change from the parent material C horizon: Relatively unweathered, unconsolidated geologic material R horizon: Bedrock
Once a soil has been described, it is classified using Soil Taxonomy. Example: Fine, mixed, active, mesic Xeric Palehumults But wait! There are other Fine, mixed, active, mesic Xeric Palehumults in the world. So we will call this one: Jory
Soil Series Soils that have profiles that are almost alike Soils of a series have major horizons that are similar in composition, thickness, and arrangement Soil Map Unit Represents an area dominated by one or more major kinds of soil Delineations of repeatable soil patterns across the landscape Example: 45B Jory silty clay loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes
Delineations of repeatable soil patterns across the landscape Each delineation has an assigned map unit A map unit name always has: A symbol ex. 45B Named Components ex. Jory May also have: Surface texture ex. Silty clay loam Slope group ex. 2 to 8 percent slopes Other identifying information Xerochrepts and Haploxerolls, very steep
Major components in a map unit are the named components Dominant soils in the map unit Can be a single soil series Can be multiple soil series Complex, Association Can be a higher taxa soil Xerochrepts Haploxerolls A miscellaneous area Ex. 73 Riverwash Ex. W Water
Minor components are not named Belong to taxonomic classes other than those of the major soils Properties and behavioral characteristics divergent enough to affect use or to require different management Contrasting minor components are identified in the map unit descriptions along with some characteristics of each Generally are in small areas and could not be mapped separately because of the scale used
The objective of mapping is to separate the landscape into landforms that have similar use and management requirements. If intensive use of small areas is planned, however, onsite investigation is needed to define and locate the soils *At a scale of 1:20,000 the map unit line is equal to approximately 5 7 meters thick on the Earth s surface.
Web Soil Survey www.websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov The Four Basic Steps of Web Soil Survey
The Map Units in the Map Unit Legend are hyperlinked and will give a detailed Map Unit Description if clicked on.
GO NUTS! WSS can create tabular reports as well as thematic maps.
Soil Data Explorer > Soil Props. & Qualities > Soil Qualities & Features > Drainage Class
Soil Data Explorer > Suitabilities & Limitations for Use > Land Management > Erosion Hazard (Road, Trail)
Soil Data Explorer > Suitabilities & Limitations for Use > Land Management > Fire Damage Susceptibility
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http://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/drupal/node/886 Free for iphone or Android
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glf72lg1oca Healthy Soils are the foundation of healthy and productive forest ecosystems. Gary Schmitt, a soil scientist with the USDA Forest Service, presents an overview of forest soils. Topics include: the ingredients of healthy soils, the composition and formation of soils, soil as habitat for many species, and the effects forest management have on soil and forest health.
http://outontheland.com/season 4 episode 44 soils soil survey and web soil survey/
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