Part 2: Evaluating the Soil on Your Homestead

To complete your soil evaluation, you will need a copy of your county’s soil survey report. This report is available at most county Soil Conservation District (SCD), Cooperative Extension System (CES), or Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices.

NOTE: If you would like assistance in this part, ask you local CES, NRCS, or SCD personnel for help. It is important that this portion of the evaluation be done.

Step 1: Identify the soils.

  • Locate your homestead on the aerial photo in the county soil survey.
  • Note the soil mapping unit indicated on the photo, identify the unit name, and find the information on that unit in the written section of the report.
  • Transform the soil mapping unit boundary lines from the soil survey to the homestead diagram on page 12.

Step 2: Rank the soil unit(s)

  • Using the information found from Step 1, rank your soil using the "Soil Characteristics" section on the next 3 pages. If there is more than one soil mapping unit on your property, rank each one individually and enter the score in the spaces provided.

Please Select Your County:

For the following characteristics, consult the tables for each soil mapping unit and the soil mapping unit or soil series text in your county soil survey. Help on where to locate information is found in the help box on the left side.
 

Scores

Your Score

1. Texture of soil loam, silt loam, sandy clay loam, silt surface layer (A Horizon)

 loam, silt loam, sandy clay loam, silt clay, sandy clay, silty clay, clay loam, silty clay loam loamy fine sand, loamy very fine sand, fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, organic materials (all "0" horizons), and gravelly loam   Help
Soil 1

 

Soil 2

 

Soil 3

 

2. Texture of subsoil clay, sandy clay, silty clay, silt layer (B Horizon) or 2 feet below the A sandy clay loam, loam, silt loam, clay Horizon

 clay, sandy clay, silty clay, silt sandy clay loam, loam, silt loam, clay loam, silty clay loam loamy fine sand, loamy very fine sand fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, organic materials (all "0" horizons), and gravelly loam   Help
Soil 1

 

Soil 2

 

Soil 3

 

3. ph of soil surface (A Horizon)

 pH is 6.6 or greater or described as neutral, mildly alkaline, moderately alkaline, or strongly alkaline pH is less than 6.6; described as slightly acid, moderately acid, or strongly acid Help
Soil 1

 

 

  

Soil 2

 

 

  

Soil 3

 

 

  

4. Thickness of the A and B Horizons

 60 inches or greater 40-59 inches 30-39 inches less than 30 inches   Help
Soil 1

 

Soil 2

 

Soil 3

 

5. Soil drainage classification

 well drained well to moderately well drained moderately well drained somewhat poorly, poorly, and very poorly drained; somewhat excessively and excessively drained   Help
Soil 1

 

Soil 2

 

Soil 3

 

6. Permeability of subsoil (B horizon)            

a. If bedrock is found within 20 to 40 inches of the surface, use the following to assign a rank:

 bedrock at 21–40 inches bedrock within 20 inches       Help
Soil 1

 

 

  

Soil 2

 

    

Soil 3

 

    

 

b. If there is no bedrock near the surface, rank the permeability of the subsoil horizon using the following descriptions.

 very slow, slow, and moderately slow moderate moderately rapid rapid to very rapid   Help
Soil 1

 

Soil 2

 

Soil 3

 

7. Organic matter content %) (Ap horizon or 0-6"depth from surface)

 high (4-10%) medium (2-4%) moderately low (1-2%) low (0.5-1%) very low (less than 0.5%) Help
Soil 1

Soil 2

Soil 3