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Soil Survey
One of the main tools available to help land users determine the
potentials and limitations of soils is a soil survey.
Investigations involve digging holes on representative portions of
landforms to determine the texture, color, structure, rock fragment
kind and amount, reaction of the soil and the relationship and
thickness of the different soil horizons.
Soils are sampled and tested at soil survey laboratories for certain soil
property determinations, such as cation-exchange capacity and bulk
density.
Like any tool, a soil survey is helpful only if you know what it can and
can't do, and if you use it accordingly. The survey does not replace
careful onsite investigation or analysis by a soil scientist
SSURGO products
Terms
STATSGO
State Soil Geographic database
spatial and tabular, generalized soil data
within-state, coarse scale (1:250,000), often generalized SSURGO
SSURGO
Soil Survey Geographic database
spatial and tabular
typically most detailed (1:24,000), publicly available data
Map unit
Represents an area dominated by one or more major
kinds of soil, termed components, or miscellaneous
areas
Components are defined by taxonomic classification
and further by series criteria
-major components are generally >15%
-minor components are generally <15% and not
populated unless significant interpretation, i.e. wetland
Mapunits are named for the dominant soil series(s)
which occupy the mapunit
Terms contd
Soil properties: Soil properties are measured or inferred from direct observations
in the field or laboratory. Examples of soil properties are particle-size distribution,
cation-exchange capacity, and salinity.
Soil Qualities: Soil qualities are behavior and performance attributes that are
not directly measured. They are inferred from observations of dynamic
conditions and from soil properties. Examples of soil qualities are corrosivity,
natural drainage, frost action, and wind erodibility.
Soil Interpretations: Soil survey interpretations predict soil behavior for specified
soil uses and under specified soil management practices. Soil interpretations use
soil properties or qualities that directly influence a specified use or management of the soil.
Map Scale
Minimum Delineation
Size (acres)
Map Unit
Components
(soils)
2nd Order
(Intensive; general
agriculture, urban
planning)
1:12,000 1:31,680
1.4 10.0
Mostly soil
consociations
3rd Order
(Extensive; range,
community planning)
1:20,000 1:63,360
4.0 40.0
1:63,360 1:250,000
40.0 623.0
SSURGO
SSURGO Products
Access soil database used in conjunction with soil spatial data of the same vintage
SSURGO Products
Access soils database
The access soil database produces soil reports
SSURGO Products
eFOTG
Section II
http://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov//efotg_locator.aspx
-The link feature will create a shortcut that can be re-visited in your list of favorites
-I could only get it to work with 6 vertices to go to favorites
-To get more then 6 vertices, copy the link URL to word and paste
back into browser when the AOI is needed
Zoom in
Measure
Zoom out
Identify
Pan
Zoom Forward
Zoom to full extent
Zoom Back
Zoom to AOI
Legend tab
-Open the legend by clicking on the legend tab label and close by clicking the X
Map scale
-click on
-A dialog box will come up with instructions
-A devise capable of measuring inches is needed
Simply adjust the black line segment to an inch long on the screen
Full Width map layout-places the controls and forms to the bottom and
has full screen map viewing
or
-The only way to define an AOI of greater than 10k acres is to set the AOI to the soil survey area
At this point you can create a printable version of the soil map
You can also click on map unit names
-A printable version can also be generated
Soil information can be filtered by land category to limit the amount of reports to a specific use
AGGREGATION
Soil data viewer and Web Soil Survey use aggregation methods.
Aggregation reduces all populated component attributes to a single representative
value of the map unit.
AGGREGATION METHODS:
DOMINANT CONDITION Groups Components with
Similar Conditions and Returns Value for the Highest
% Composition
DOMINANT COMPONENT Returns Value for the
Highest % Composition Component
WEIGHTED AVERAGE % Component Used as
Weighting Factor to Average All Populated
Components
ALL COMPONENTS Returns Min or Max Value
Depending on Tie-Break Rule (could be the smallest
component)
Scenario 1
Tree recommendation
A landowner wants to purchase trees for a windbreak.
The landowner gives you the PLSS code: sec. 32 T35N
R80W.
Task: Query to the AOI by PLSS and generate a report for potential
trees for windbreak.
Scenario 2
Tree recommendation
A small acreage landowner stops by and heard about the soil survey
and was wondering about the soils on their property. They are also
considering buying some trees for their property. The land is in
western Wyoming where the soil survey is in initial status and some
of the soil information is incomplete. The report for Windbreaks
and Environmental plantings is emptyoh man, what do I do?
Scenario 2 contd
Tree recommendation
Soil criteria to make decision:
Soil depth
Available water capacity (AWC)
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
pH
Electrical conductivity (EC)
depth to water table
hydraulic conductivity (Ksat)
Scenario 3
Seed recommendation
A small acreage landowner just completed construction of their home
and are looking to establish their yard. They are diggin the xeriscape idea
for their yard.
Task: find potential native vegetation for the landowners xeriscape project
Scenario 4
Ecological site description
A producer is interested in improving range health on their property.
The ecological site description is the best tool to help the producer
better understand the soil and vegetative communities on their property.
Task: create an ecological site map and provide the producer with
ecological site descriptions for their property.
Scenario 4 contd
Ecological site description
Scenario 5
Subdivision review
XY developers is in the process of applying for a subdivision. The developer
fills out the application and pays the fee for the subdivision review.
Task: generate soil interpretations and reports that are pertinent to the
subdivision review process.
Scenario 5 contd
Subdivision review
Reports/ratings that should be generated:
Flooding frequency
depth to water table
hydric soil rating
septic tank absorption fields
Potential Erosion Hazard (Roads, Trails)
Local Roads and Streets
Dwellings with Basements
Corrosion of Concrete
Corrosion of Steel
Consult FEMA map about susceptibility to and frequency of flooding
Scenario 5 contd
Subdivision review
Flooding Frequency
Scenario 5 contd
Subdivision review
Depth to water table
Scenario 5 contd
Subdivision review
Hydric soils
Scenario 5 contd
Subdivision review
septic tank absorption fields
Scenario 5 contd
Subdivision review
Erosion Hazard (Road, Trail)
Scenario 5 contd
Subdivision review
Local Roads and Streets
Scenario 5 contd
Subdivision review
Dwellings With Basements
Scenario 5 contd
Subdivision review
Corrosion of Concrete
Scenario 5 contd
Subdivision review
Corrosion of Steel
Any