Rural Soils Career Development Event Effective August 1, 2014 Important Note: Please thoroughly read the Introduction and General Rules Section at the beginning of this handbook for complete rules and procedures that are relevant to all Ohio FFA Career Development Events. Purpose The rural soils judging CDE is an educational activity designed as a practical method of teaching students to evaluate land and soil to determine its greatest safe potential use. Event Rules 1. Each district may decide how many teams and how many individuals per team may participate in the district CDE. 2. The top five teams and any top five individual not a part of the top 5 teams from each district may compete in the state contest. Only one team from a school may participate in the state CDE. If one of the top five schools in the district cannot participate it is their responsibility to contact the next team in line so that they may participate in the state CDE. 3. A team, at the state CDE, shall consist of four (4) individuals with the top 3 scores making up the team score. 4. Three or four soil sites are selected in advance of the CDE day. These sites should be chosen to show soil conditions that affect rural uses, and should be located within easy walking distance of each other. By locating each pit near the center of a uniform area, the site can be judged as an area on which the slope and other soil properties can be determined. Care should be taken to select sites where clear-cut decisions can be made relative to the correct marking of all sections of the scorecard. Avoid borderline conditions if at all possible. 5. A pit is dug for each representative site. Each pit should be dug at least 60 inches deep. The pit should be of sufficient length to accommodate multiple contestants. One side of the pit should be perpendicular and located so it will receive the direct rays of the sun, insofar as possible. 6. A time limit of 15-20 minutes is sufficient for each group to use in judging one soil site. At the end of the prescribed time limit, a signal is given. The procedure is continued until each group of contestants has had a chance to judge each of the sites. 7. The area to be used in determining slope should be marked with stakes. 8. Students should bring their own clipboard, digging tool, water bottle, yardstick, slope board, Clinometer or Abney level, and two (2) #2 lead pencils. 347 P a g e
Event Format 1. Three or four soil pits and surrounding areas are evaluated on the following basis: A. slope B. erosion or depth of topsoil C. texture of surface soil D. depth of soil E. natural drainage class of the soil F. land class determination G. best land use determination H. recommended conservation practices 2. A 15-question written examination will be taken at the contest site. The questions for this test will be taken from Judging Land and Soil for Agricultural Use. District officials are to prepare the test for the district contest 3. A 10-question written exam covering information found in a condensed Soil Survey book document will be taken on site. District officials are to prepare the test for their district CDE questions from a condensed Soil Survey book. Scoring Individual 1. Part 1: 10 points per column, only one mark per column - 50 points 2. Part 2: 10 points for correct marking - 10 points 3. Part 3: 20 points for correct marking 20 points 4. Part 4: 4 points per practice x 12 possible practices - 48 points 128 points per site x 4 sites = 512 points 5. Written Test: 15 questions - 60 points (4 pts. per question) 6. Soil Survey: 10 questions 40 points (4 pts. per question) Total Possible Points = 612 points Team 612 points x 3 individuals = 1,836 Total Possible Points Tiebreakers 1. Tied individual scores will be broken based on the following criteria: A. Part 1 total points on all pits B. Part 2 & 3 total points of all pits C. Part 4 total points of all pits D. Soil Survey test E. Written test F. Consistency of scores on pits 2. Tied team scores will be broken based on the following criteria: A. Part 1 total points on all pits 348 P a g e
References B. Part 2 & 3 total points of all pits C. Part 4 total points of all pits D. Soil Survey test E. Written test F. Consistency between individual total scores The following reference is available at ohioffa.com under CDE: 1. Judging Land and Soil for Agricultural Use (August 1990) RURAL AND URBAN SOIL SCORECARDS ORDER NUMBERS Go to www.estore.osu-extension.org/ when this opens look on the left hand side for Curriculum Materials then you will be able to search for the following numbers 1. Ohio Land and Soil Conservation Scorecard- A0015C 2. Ohio Urban Land Judging Scorecard- A0025C 349 P a g e
Examples of Agricultural Related Soil Survey Report Questions for State FFA Agricultural Land Judging CDE (Using Franklin County, Ohio Soil Survey) Mark the correct answer. 1. How many acres of Kokomo silty clay loam are in Franklin County? a) 7,700 b) 36,442 c) 360 d) 1,803 2. What corn yield would you expect on Kokomo silty clay loam? a) 135 bu b) 100 bu c) 180 cu d) 220 bu 3. What is the depth to bedrock in Milton soils? a) Deep b) Moderately Deep c) Shallow d) Very Shallow 4. What is the available water capacity of Pewamo silty clay loam? a) Low b) Moderate c) High d) Very High 5. What is the land capability classification of Miamian clay loam, 6 to 12 percent slopes, severely eroded? a) IIIe b) VIe c) IIe d) IVe 6. What is the suitability of Miamian clay loam, 6 to 12 percent slopes, severely eroded for crops? a) Very Poorly b) Poorly c) Well Suited d) Unsuited 7. What is the depth of mottling in the typical Medway silt loam, occasionally flooded soil? a) 21 inches b) 16 inches c) 32 inches d) 40 inches 350 P a g e
8. What is the permeability of Miamian soils? a) Slow b) Moderate c) Moderately Slow d) Rapid 9. What soils were included in mapping the Eldean silt loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes map unit? a) Miamian, Crosby and Lewisburg b) Sloan, Ross and Genesee c) Ockley, Sleeth and Westland d) Kendallville and Crosby 10. What is the drainage class of Pewamo silty clay loam? a) Well drained b) Moderately well drained c) Somewhat poorly drained d) Very poorly drained Answer Key to Agricultural Related Questions with location in the Franklin County, Ohio Soil Survey. 1. b) 36,442 acres - From table 4 on page 123. 2. a) 135 bushels - From table 5 on page 126. 3. b) Moderately deep - Milton series page 97. Also first sentence of MoB and MoC2 map unit descriptions on pages 48 and 49. 4. c) High - 4th paragraph of Pewamo silty clay loam (Pm) map unit on page 53. 5. d) IVe - Next to last line of MmC3 map unit description on page 47. 6. b) Poorly Suited - 1st line of 6th paragraph of MmC3 map unit description on page 47. 7. a) 21 inches - Second paragraph of Mh map unit description on page 43. 8. c) Moderately Slow - 4th paragraph of MkB, M1B2 and M1C2 map unit descriptions on pages 43, 44 and 45. Also second line of 1st paragraph of Miamian series on page 97. 9. c) Ockley, Sleeth and Westland - Third paragraph of E1B map unit on page 32. 10. d) Very Poorly Drained Second line of Pm map unit description on page 53. Also, 1st line of Pewamo series description on page 100. Rural Soil Judging Contest - Explanation on Soil Drainage and Land Use During the last year or two, there has been a little gray area that has been exposed and some confusion has ensued on how subsurface drainage can improve the intensity of cropping (land use). I believe everyone understands that subsurface drainage improves air and water movement, and thus land use can be intensified. The question is: How do we deal with situations where you have multiple limitations, and subsurface drainage is used to improve air and water movement? 351 P a g e
Answer: The reality is, subsurface drainage improves air and water movement, and when you can use subsurface drainage you will. In the event you have multiple limitations including natural soil drainage, and you select subsurface drainage, you have corrected the air and water movement and you can intensify the land use to the next most limiting soil condition. A couple of items to consider: 1 Subsurface drainage can only be used on soils with slopes of 0 to 6 percent slopes. Therefore, if you have an 8 percent slope, you will not be able to use subsurface drainage to improve air and water movement. 2 The only time this scenario will be applicable is when you have a natural drainage class of poorly drained and very poorly drained. If you have a somewhat poorly drained soil, and you have another limitation, you can t correct the air and water movement to a point where it will overcome another limitation. Examples: Example 1 Let s say you have a soil that is, 2 gently sloping, 8 none to slight erosion, 14 loamy, 18 deep, and 24 poorly or very poorly drained. Land capability class would be, 28 IIIW. Land use would be, 35 This land can be row cropped moderately intensively. longer be a concern. However, we can t improve the cropping intensity to 34 because we still have a slope limitation. Example 2 Let s say you have a soil that is, 1 nearly level, 8 none to slight erosion, 14 loamy, 19 moderately deep, and 24 poorly or very poorly drained. Land capability class would be, 28 IIIW. Land use would be, 35 This land can be row cropped moderately intensively. longer be a concern. However, we can t improve the cropping intensity to 34 because we still have a soil depth limitation. Example 3 Let s say you have a soil that is, 3 sloping, 9 moderate erosion, 14 loamy, 19 352 P a g e
moderately deep, and 24 poorly or very poorly drained. Land capability class would be, 28 IIIW, or IIIE. Land use would be, 36 This land can be row cropped moderately. In this example subsurface drainage will NOT be selected because we are on a slope that is greater than 6 percent. Therefore, you can t move up the land use class. You also have a slope issue that is the same limitation class as the drainage. Example 4 Let s say you have a soil that is, 2 gently sloping, 8 none to slight erosion, 14 loamy, 18 deep, and 23 somewhat poorly drained. Land capability class would be, 27 IIW, or IIE Land use would be, 35 This land can be row cropped moderately intensively. longer be a concern. However, we can t improve the cropping intensity to 34 because we still have a slope limitation. Example 5 Let s say you have a soil that is, 1 nearly level, 8 none to slight erosion, 14 loamy, 18 deep, and 23 somewhat poorly drained. Land capability class would be, 27 IIW Land use would be, 34 This land can be row cropped intensively. longer be a concern. You can improve land use to 34 because there are no other soil limitations. The question above does not apply to this scenario because there are no other soil limitations other than the drainage problem. Example 6 Let s say you have a soil that is, 1 nearly level, 8 none to slight erosion, 14 loamy, 18 deep, and 24 poorly or very poorly drained. Land capability class would be, 28 IIIW Land use would be, 34 This land can be row cropped intensively. longer be a concern. You can improve land use to 34 because there are no other soil limitations. The question above does not apply to this scenario because there are no other soil limitations other than the drainage problem. 353 P a g e
Closing comments: The questionable scenarios will only be applicable to soils that are poorly and very poorly drained, with another soil limitation that is not any worse than a yellow designation, (2- gently sloping, 9- moderate erosion, 15-clayey, 16- sandy, and 19- moderately deep). Ultimately we need to acknowledge that subsurface drainage will improve air and water movement, and thus we can utilize the land up to its next limitation. If a situation arises at any contest, the rules explained above will be used to identify the correct answer. If you have any questions, please call Matt Deaton at 614-562-5659 and I will gladly answer any question you have concerning this issue. I will also go over any questions regarding this issue prior to the start of the State contest on October 9. If you wish to email, my email is matt.deaton@dnr.state.oh.us To answer the question of Whom may participate at the national soils invitational in Oklahoma Here is the answer! Ohio s rural placing teams 1, 2 and 3 to nationals to judge in Land category and may also judge Homesite category if they want. (this is the same pit during the same time frame just fill out 2 different answer sheets). Ohio s urban placing teams 1, 2, 3 and 4 to nationals. 1 and 2 may judge both Land and Homesite if they want to do both or they can do one or the other. 3 and 4 can only judge Homesite. At the present time a student may go to the nationals more than once ONLY to judge Homesite. This is only if they were not 1 st or 2 nd place in the contest before. A member CANNOT judge Land more than once ever. 354 P a g e
RURAL SOILS JUDGING CONTEST ANSWER FORM PIT # NAME SCHOOL # Please circle the correct answer: PART 1- LAND DESCRIPTION SLOPE IS: (Choose one) (10 POINTS POSSIBLE) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 EROSION OR DEPTH OF TOPSOIL IS: (Choose one) (10 POINTS POSSIBLE) 8 9 10 11 12 13 TEXTURE OF SURFACE SOIL IS: (Choose one) (10 POINTS POSSIBLE) 14 15 16 17 DEPTH OF SOIL IS: (Choose one) (10 POINTS) 18 19 20 21 NATURAL DRAINAGE CLASS OF SOIL IS: (Choose one) (10 POINTS POSSIBLE) 22 23 24 25 PART 2- LAND CAPABILITY: LAND CLASS FOR THE AREA: (Choose one) (10 POINTS POSSIBLE) 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 PART 3- LAND USE SELECT THE MOST INTENSIVE CROPPING SYSTEM OR USE: (Choose one) (20 POINTS POSSIBLE) 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 PART 4- RECOMMENDED CONSERVATION PRACTICES SELECT ONLY THOSE PRACTICES WHICH APPLY TO THE SITE BEING JUDGED AS THROUGH EXISTING IMPROVEMENTS WERE NOT PRESENT: (Choose all that apply- Defect Score- 48 points possible) 4 42 43 1 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 355 P a g e