Soil Survey Is An Important Management Tool

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

As one looks into the future, selecting a retirement plan that shows the greatest return and allows for the best security for those who will depend on them is important. So too, is this true with our soil resources.

Today, more than ever, everyone has 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.

To achieve this, land users should make soil conservation a priority, and the first step is to know the soils on the land and realize their proper use and potential.

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 that 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 a 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 a land user to understand the soil’s 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 where a user can locate the various soils found on the land and also find a wealth of information about those 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. Also, information is provided to aid the user 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 is also available.

This is just a broad overview of what may be found in the soil survey. By using this information, a landowner can become more aware of what the soil’s capabilities are and how to use this knowledge to pattern the land use to fit these capabilities.

To learn more about the soil survey in your area or to obtain soil maps and other related information, please contact the NRCS staff located at your local county U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Service Center. The soil survey maps and information can also be obtained on the Internet at the Web Soil Survey at http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/.

This article is also available in Microsoft Word format.

Soil Survey is an Important Management Tool  (DOC; 49 KB)

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Last Modified: 08/13/2008