Introduction to Soils and Soil Surveys

This 3-day course was designed to introduce no-soil scientist employees to basic soil properties, interpretations and the soil mapping process.  The latest sessions were held in Jefferson City, Missouri, May 2 - 4, 2006 and at the Plant Materials Center in Elsberry, Missouri, May 16-18, 2006.

The following was presented:

• CARES Website

• Conservation Planning, Application and Soil Information

• Geomorphology - Landforms - Hillslope profile

• Introduction to Soil Surveys:  How soil surveys are made, classification system, series, map units and inclusions (minor components), map scale.

• Major Land Resource Soil Survey Offices:  What they do---Phase 1,2,3

• NASIS Soil Interpretation Tables and e-FOTG:  How specific ratings are made and how soil properties are used, how planning values are derived and how interpretations are developed from soil properties

• Organic Matter and Soil Quality:  Why No-Till?, soil carbon, soil microbes and plant nutrient cycling.

• Published Soil Surveys:  General sections, map units, series, tables, etc.

• Soil Data "Thundersheets" and Brief Soil Description

• Soil Data Viewer

• Soil Forming Factors:  Soil Genesis-examples of how factors impact soil development

• Soil Morphology - Basic Concepts:  horizons, soil profile, concept of individual soils, texture, CEC, shrink-swell, organic matter

• Soil Morphology:  Soil color, mottles, internal drainage, special horizons, perched vs. apparent water tables, permeability vs. drainage, structure, soil depth, coarse fragments

• Water Movement in Northwest Missouri Soils:  capillary and gravitational water

PowerPoint Presentations are available by request.

Contact:
USDA-NRCS
Resource Inventory and Assessment Staff
Parkade Center, Suite 250
Columbia, MO  65203
Phone:  (573) 876-0907

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