Soil resource surveys: Interpretations and applications

Abstract

Soil resource surveys provide basic factual information on the kinds of soil which cover the surface of the land. They show the spacial distribution of different kinds of soil on maps; their field characteristics; their physical and chemical properties and correlations and interpretations of the soils with many land uses. The modern soil survey therefore, is a fundamental basis for land use planning because it contains both quantitative and qualitative data which enables predictions of many kinds to be made. It not only is an inventory of soil properties but also of many 'land' features (i.e. soil site properties) because soils are the product of the five soil forming factors: climate, parent material, organisms, topography and time. The soil map is therefore inherently a physiographic map, and a geomorphic map, etc., as well as a soil map. These soil site features are not usually shown on separate maps but they can when necessary be made as separate maps from the soil map and data in the soil survey report, as can maps of many individual properties of the soils themselves. Soil surveys do not show all features of the landscape of course. Ephemeral features such as actual land use, and man's modifications such as induced soil fertility, drainage systems etc. are not shown - although information on the relationship of such features to soils should be discussed in the soil survey report.