Soil Survey--An Important Management Tool

by Patrick L. Abel, Soil Scientist
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Manhattan, Kansas

Selecting a plan for your future retirement, one that shows the greatest return and allows for the best security for you and your family, is something everyone feels is important as you look down the road. This is also true with our soil resources. Today, more than ever, we all have an obligation to conserve our soils in order to ensure that in later years they will remain productive and return the greatest benefit and security to those who depend on them.

In order to achieve this, all land users should make soil conservation a priority, and the first step is for them to know the soils on their land and realize the proper use and potential of those soils. The success of any practice applied to the land will depend on determining a land use pattern that is within the capability of the soil and which will provide the greatest return. Selecting the proper land use for each field is, therefore, a matter of deciding whether a particular plan is best for the soil type. Although many soils may be suited for crop production, others may be more suitable for hay and pasture, or even left in its native state for timber and wildlife management. To help in this decision, it is very important for land users to understand their soils’ capabilities and characteristics. An important management tool to use in this understanding is the soil survey provided by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The soil survey contains maps so users can locate the various soils found on their land and also find a wealth of information about their soils. Land users will find the soil survey helpful in determining crop suitability and productivity along with information on the use and management for rangeland, pastureland, timber production, and tree species selection for windbreaks. Information is also provided to aid users in farm pond selection, septic system suitability, and engineering and construction capabilities along with many other useful interpretations. A detailed description of the soils’ physical and chemical properties can also be found.

This is just a broad overview of information that may be found using the soil survey for your area. By using this information, landowners will become more aware of what their soils’ capabilities are and be able to use this knowledge to pattern their land use to fit these capabilities.

If you would like to learn more about the soil survey in your area and obtain soil maps and the related information, go to your local U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Service Center and talk to the NRCS or conservation district staff. The soil survey maps and information can also be obtained on-line by accessing the Web Soil Survey at www.soils.usda.gov/survey.

For more information about NRCS programs, visit the Kansas NRCS Web site at www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov.

This article is also available in Microsoft Word format.

Soil Survey--An Important Management Tool (DOC; 39 KB)

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Last Modified: 08/20/2008