Interpreting Soils Maps

A knowledge of the nature andaracteristics of soils on a farm is basic to farm planning so as to properly match crops and soils and minimize the effect of soil variation on crop production and economic return. This information also provides a realistic basis for estimating crop yields on a field-by-field basis, a planning step necessary in estimating anticipated costs and returns. Detailed soils maps which have been prepared by soil scientists identify the various soil series which occur on the landscape, and show the slope of the landscape on which they occur, as well as the amount of topsoil (degree of erosion) present. Soil survey reports containing these maps also include detailed descriptions of soil profiles, which can be used as a basis for determining crop production capability for the different soil mapping units