Soil Mapping

Preface    Introduction    Geology    Soil Descriptions    Mapping    Interpretive Maps    References

Map of Agronomy Farm    Soils Layer with Attributes    Soil Identification Legend    Descriptive Legend

    Soil Mapping is a process that has been refined with time and improvements in technology.  Tools are utilized in attaining data and field samples.  Augers, sharp shooters, and clinometers help in determining the series and slope of the landscape.  By using the feel method of texturing soils, one can determine the textural class of the surface horizon.  There is an aerial photograph of the Agronomy Farm located in the Interpretive Map section.  This is the standard base for soil mapping.  It allows the user to accurately identify certain landscape features and the corresponding soils with them.  There is also a Soil Identification Legend and a Descriptive Legend.  The Identification Legend shows the mapping units used on the soils layer.  These are the soil series abbreviations and the other abbreviations used for the mapping (Soil Survey Manual, 1993).  Each phase has it’s own special designation.  Each of these these is then further described in the Descriptive Legend.   The soil scientist (or in our case potential soil scientist) has a general idea of the soils found in the area before he or she goes mapping.  A soil catena is followed many times.  This diagram shows the different soils found according to landscape position.  A field mapper working for the Natural Resource Conservation Service is expected to map 400 acres a day.  The mapper uses vegetation, slopes, and land uses to delineate the different series.  The process involves taking core samples and looking for specific features of the sample.  The mapper draws basic models on the aerial photograph of the area.  Each soil phase usually contains series name, slope class, erosion, and stoniness.  Each mapping unit represents a separate phase mapped.  They are further described in the soil identification legend, the descriptive legends.