John D. Preston USDA/NRCS Soil Scientist/Team Leader Narrator Kim Worth Soil Scientist CONSERVATION PLANNING MODULE 2-A 2013

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1 John D. Preston USDA/NRCS Soil Scientist/Team Leader Narrator Kim Worth Soil Scientist CONSERVATION PLANNING MODULE 2-A 2013

2 Helping People Understand Soils Ten Key Messages

surface are determined by the properties of the soil.

3 1. Soil is a Fundamental Part of the Ecosystem The living systems occurring above and below the ground surface are determined by the properties of the soil. We often ignore the soil because it is hard to observe.

4 2. The study of soils as natural bodies is a unique discipline, called Pedology Soil -- a natural body of solids, liquid, and gases, with either horizons, or layers or the ability to support rooted plants Unique physical, chemical, and biological properties color texture structure consistence roots pores other features

3. Soil Survey is a Scientifically-Based

There are about 3000 soil survey areas in

5 3. Soil Survey is a Scientifically-Based Inventory A soil survey includes maps, descriptions, properties, climate, and interpretations. There are about 3000 soil survey areas in the United States. These are excellent sources of information on this resource.

4. Soils perform vital functions in ecosystems

the surface Regulating and partitioning water and

immobilizing, and detoxifying Rain Soil Runoff

6 4. Soils perform vital functions in ecosystems Sustaining plant and animal life below and above the surface Regulating and partitioning water and solute flow Filtering, buffering, degrading, immobilizing, and detoxifying Rain Soil Runoff Infiltration Storing and cycling nutrients Providing support to structures

7 5. Soils are variable, but are in predictable locations

6. Soils have scientific names Like plants and animals, soils are classified The system is called Soil Taxonomy The highest level is the soil order (12) The lowest level is the soil series, often a

8 6. Soils have scientific names Like plants and animals, soils are classified The system is called Soil Taxonomy The highest level is the soil order (12) The lowest level is the soil series, often a place name Soil Order Alfisols Andisols Aridisols Entisols Gelisols Histosols Inceptisols Mollisols Oxisols Spodosols Ultisols Vertisols Formative terms Alf from combination of al (aluminum) and f (ferrous) iron Ando from Japanese term dark referring to dark volcanic ash Latin, aridies, dry arid Ent meaningless, root recent Latin gelare, to freeze Greek, histos, tissue Latin, incepum, beginning, inception Latin, mollis, soft, mollify French oxide Greek spodos, wood ash Latin ultimus, last, ultimate Latin verto, vertical cracking

9 7. Soil Science is inter-related with many other disciplines Science ecology, biology, chemistry Social Studies world trade, land use Mathematics soil loss over one hectare History settlement of the U.S., dust bowl Art soil crayons, acrylic paints

failure sinkholes soil borne disease sulfidic materials water tables asthma corrosivity erosion

10 8. Consider the Soil First to Minimize Risk Concerns for life and properties allergies contaminants crop loss flooding gypsum dissolution piping rapid runoff sand blowing septic failure sinkholes soil borne disease sulfidic materials water tables asthma corrosivity erosion frost action liquefaction radon salt build up sedimentation shrink-swell slope failures subsidence urban hydrology

11 9. Soils Are Alive Organism Types bacteria fungi protozoa nematodes arthropods earthworms Roles & Benefits decomposition release nutrients create pores stabilize soils

12 10. Soil Management Affects Soil Properties Soil Quality Soil Test Kit

13 HISTORY OF SOIL SURVEY the

14 Milton Whitney, the First Chief WHITNEY

15 FIRST SURVEYS - Maryland & Connecticut

16 FIRST SURVEYS New Mexico & Utah

17 Soil types and Series

18 Base Maps

19 Early field equipment

20 Interpretations for Cropland

21 Curtis Marbut

22 Factors of Soil Formation Why do soils vary? What causes this variability? Parent Material Climate Biota (vegetation, organisms) Topography Time

23 H.H. Bennett and the SCS

24 SCS vs the Soil Survey

25 Charles Kellogg takes command

26 Soil survey joins the SCS

27 Improvements

28 Guy Smith-Soil Taxonomist

29 Handling Data

30 Soil color as a standard

31 International Work

32 Applications

36 Soil Horizons A: topsoil OM accumulation E: subsurface leached zone B: subsoil clay accumulation, structure C: substratum unaltered; parent material R: bedrock Not all soils have all these horizons!

39 Soil Structure Aggregates of soil: peds Surface horizons are often granular Subsoil horizons are often subangular blocky and prismatic Granular (Subangular) Blocky (Angular) Platy Prismatic Columnar Wedge

45 SOIL CLASSIFICATION 6 Categories ORDER (12) SUBORDER (64) GREAT GROUP (300+) SUBGROUP (2,400+) FAMILY (infinite?) SERIES (19,000+ ~500 in MO)

46 SOIL ORDERS IN MISSOURI Alfisols (Forest) Entisols (Recent) Histosols (Organic) Inceptisols (Beginning) Mollisols (Prairie) Ultisols (Very weathered) Vertisols (Inverted)

48 Soils are variable, but are in predictable locations

49 The Difference between a Soil Series and a Soil Map Unit Soil Series: a concept A category in a classification system A profile (pedon) may fit within a Series Example: the Keswick series Soil Map Unit: a geographic body Most soils within the map unit fit into the series for which the map unit is named. Some soils do not: these are inclusions. Example: Keswick clay loam, 9-20% slopes, severely eroded.

50 Map Units Example: for Keswick clay loam, 9 to 20 percent slopes, severely eroded, you can assume that: most of the area will be comprised of soils that look a lot like Keswick. Most of the area will be a fairly steep backslope, about 9 to 20 percent. you cannot assume that: every little spot out there will be Keswick. every little spot will be on a steep backslope.

51 THE NEW SOIL SURVEY The vision is to develop and deliver an; accurate and consistent, always available, always up-to-date, seamless digital Soil Survey of the nation, and products that meet current and emerging user needs.

52 Survey Evaluations 1) Known Deficiencies 2) Laboratory Data 3) Map Unit Composition 4) GIS Evaluation of Line Placement 5) Field Verification 6) Regional Consistency 7) The Soil-Landscape Model Scoring: County Summary:

53 Soil Survey Evaluations Summary of Results 7 = lowest possible 28 = highest possible

54 The Soil Survey then moved into Phase I

55 Correct Line Placement Errors Example: Existing lines -Ridges falling off onto backslopes -Floodplain running up onto backslope (and vice versa) -Note: Lines in published survey are mostly located correctly, shifting is probably due to conversion to digital survey.

56 Digitally Corrected Line Placement Errors Example: Improved line placement

57 Improve County Joins Example: existing join Lincoln County Warren County

58 Improve County Joins Example: digitally improved join Lincoln County Warren County

59 Project Phase Proposals Re-correlation of thermic soils within mesic areas/establishment of definite thermic/mesic break Fragipan percentages/fragipan vs. no fragipans Composition of Jeff City small drainages Correlation of map units to specific landscapes. Correlation of map units to specific geologies Correlation of series to specific geologies Map units with broad slope ranges Re-write OSD s to reflect native vegetation Bedrock controlled soils in the Jefferson City/Cotter formations (Ordivician) - New prairie series vs. established series Fine-silty bottomland soils - Aspect/ESD Rapidly Developing Areas Urban Landscaping Interpretations Horticultural Interpretations Ksat Study Loess Transect Study Runoff/Nutrient Loading Study Precision Agriculture Background Available Lead/Arsenic/Selenium levels of Ozark Soils Evaluate low lying clayey terraces in western part of area Evaluate the TPs, MOs, and MUs for adequate lab documentation and complete pedon descriptions and re-describe and sample (or resample) as necessary.

60 NEW SOIL SURVEY PROJECTS The following slides will illustrate a few projects that have been completed since the inception of the New Soil Survey.

61 Pond Clays Project Evaluated Engineering recommendations from 100 sites (liquid limit, plasticity index, amendment recommendations). Correlated to Series by geology. Updated interpretations in the NASIS database. Refreshed data in Soil Data Mart.

62 Dynamic Soil Properties National Initiative New Mexico, Missouri, North Carolina. 5 sites 3 pedons forest vegetation 3 pedons grassland (pasture) 30 total pedons Comparison of Soil properties

63 Results Depth to Fragipan (overall) Forest Sites 26.9 inches. Pasture Sites 22.9 inches. % Clay in the upper 10 inches - Forest Sites 15.41%. Pasture Sites 17.71%. Weighted average of organic matter forest pasture OM profile OM upper OM - surface ph (water) forest pasture ph upper ph below fragipan

64 KARST PROJECT Using 3 different sinkhole GIS files: Delineated Karst map units, such as Tonti silt loam, karst, 3 to 8 percent slopes from the regular Tonti, 3 to 8 percent slope map unit. Add map units with series specifically for sinkholes. Field checked. Documentation written. Correlated. Refreshed in Soil Data Mart. Note: the recent Nixa, Missouri sink collapse (ate a house) and the 2 recent Springfield sink collapses, occurred in our new karst units.

65 INSTALLATION OF SCAN STATIONS

67 OTHER PROJECTS ELT s/esd s a continuing effort. Drainageways Rapid Carbon Assessment Soil Data Join Re-Correlation

68 New Soil Survey -- Advantages Soil Scientists can develop familiarity with Soils over an entire geographically similar area which will enhance consistency. Will eliminate stopping projects at county/state lines.

69 USING SOIL SURVEY INFORMATION

83 Outline Select State Select County Select Survey Area /Generate Reports Select Map Units All or Some Select Interpretation Pick a Map Unit - Pick a Report Hit Generate Report By Checking Include Minor Soils, One May Get Interpretations for All Map Unit Components By Checking Include Description, One May Get an Explanation for The Soil Report If You Choose Selected Survey Area Interpretation Descriptions and Hit Generate Report, You Get More Choices If You Choose Selected Soil Interpretations and Hit Generate Report You Get a Menu Where You Can Build a Custom Report with up to Three Columns.

84 USING SOIL SURVEY INFORMATION EFOTG

85 This is what you will get Click on Missouri.

86 CLICK ON YOUR COUNTY

87 CHANGE SECTION I TO SECTION II CLICK ON COUNTY SOIL INFORMATION

88 CLICK ON YOUR COUNTY

89 YOUR CHOICES

90 CLICK ON SOIL LEGENDS YOU GET

91 ACREAGE AND PROPORTIONAL EXTENT OF THE SOILS

92 SPECIAL SYMBOLS

93 Land Classification Interpretations

94 Prime and Other Important Farmlands

95 Non Technical Soil Descriptions

96 Soil Descriptions

97 Technical Soil Descriptions

98 Technical Soil Descriptions

99 Cropland Interpretations - None

100 Forestland Interpretations

101 Windbreak Interpretations

102 Engineering Interpretations

103 Waste Disposal Interpretations

104 Hydric Soil Interpretations

105 Hydric Soils

106 HEL Interpretations

107 HEL Interpretations

108 Statewide Soil and Site Information

109 Woodland

110 Forageland

111 Water Quality

112 Prime Farmland

113 HEL just an explanation

114 Soil Survey Program and Services Out of Date, but the first? will take you to CARES for a link to online Soil Surveys

115 Cropland

116 Productivity of Missouri Soils

117 Outline DIRECTIONS: EFOTG CLICK ON MISSOURI CLICK ON YOUR COUNTY CHANGE SECTION I TO SECTION II CLICK ON YOUR COUNTY SOIL INFORMATION CLICK ON YOUR COUNTY SOIL LEGENDS ACREAGE AND PROPORTIONAL EXTENT OF THE SOILS SPECIAL SYMBOLS Land Classification Interpretations Prime and Other Important Farmlands Non Technical Soil Descriptions Technical Soil Descriptions Cropland Interpretations - None Forestland Interpretations Windbreak Interpretations Engineering Interpretations Waste Disposal Interpretations Hydric Soil Interpretations HEL Interpretations Statewide Soil and Site Information Woodland Forageland Water Quality Prime Farmland HEL just an explanation Soil Survey Program and Services - Out of Date, but the first one will take you to CARES for a link to online Soil Surveys Cropland - Productivity of Missouri Soils

118

119 CARES

120 Other Outdated, but valuable sources of Soil Information Soil Survey Manuscripts Soil Surveys on CD s.

121 SoilWeb & SoilWeb Earth

122 Soil Survey Office Contacts

123 Nondiscrimination Statement Nondiscrimination Policy The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, whether all or part of an individual s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information. The Department prohibits discrimination in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) To File an Employment Complaint If you wish to file an employment complaint, you must contact your agency s EEO Counselor ( within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act, event, or personnel action. Additional information can be found online at To File a Program Complaint If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at gov/complaint_filing_cust.html or at any USDA office, or call (866) to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter by mail to U.S. Department of Agriculture; Director, Office of Adjudication; 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.; Washington, D.C ; by fax to (202) ; or by to program. intake@usda.gov. Persons with Disabilities If you are deaf, are hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program complaint, please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) or (800) (in Spanish). If you have other disabilities and wish to file a program complaint, please see the contact information above. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), please contact USDA s TARGET Center at (202) (voice and TDD). Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program For additional information dealing with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) issues, call either the USDA SNAP Hotline Number at (800) , which is also in Spanish, or the State Information/Hotline Numbers ( usda.gov/33085.wba). All Other Inquires For information not pertaining to civil rights, please refer to the listing of the USDA Agencies and Offices (

THE SCORE CARD. Observed Soil Properties. Interpretive Soil Properties

THE SCORE CARD. Observed Soil Properties. Interpretive Soil Properties Rev. 07/18/2008 Jim Doolittle Doug Malo Tom Schumacher Plant Science Department SDSU and Kent Cooley Lance Howe Bruce Kunze Jim Millar Walt Schaefer Dan Shurtliff Steve Winter USDA Natural Resources Conservation