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Soils

What is a Soil Survey?

Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Scientists develop and maintain the Soil Survey. In New Jersey, Soil Surveys provide soil descriptions, interpretations and maps for each county. Information about soil characteristics and capabilities in their county assist communities, landowners and government in land-use planning. Educators use soil surveys for soil science instruction.

Web Soil Survey

The Web Soil Survey is updated and maintained online as the single authoritative source of soil survey information. This is the "official" Soil Survey.

Historical Soil Survey publications are available in PDF. These publications are for reference only. The official Soil Survey information is available in the Web Soil Survey.

Help for finding the report you need from Web Soil Survey: (developed by NJ Soils Staff)
Web Soil Survey - Soil Properties (41 KB)

Web Soil Survey - Soil Report (48 KB)

Web Soil Survey - Suitabilities and Limitations (59 KB)

Web Soil Survey - How to Use It 2726 KB) - from national Web Soil Survey

Soil Data Mart

Soil Data Mart - SSURGO (Soil Survey Geographic Database) spatial data and tabular data are available for download for use in GIS (Geographic Information Systems). Interpretation reports can be viewed online. Soil Data Mart users who register at the website will be advised by email when updated SSURGO data becomes available.

Help with Soil Survey Products - New
These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

Web Soil Survey Quick Guide

Soil Data Mart Quick Guide

Soil Data Viewer Quick Guide

Soils in New Jersey

Correlation Documents for New Jersey Soils - These documents correlate the historical published soil survey book symbols and soil names to the current soil series names and symbols. No new map units have been added to this list since 1990. These files are in Adobe Acrobat.
Key to Glauconitic Soils in Coastal Plains of New Jersey - List of soils formed in a parent material that contains glauconite mapped in New Jersey by drainage class and depth to solum.
Hydric Soils List for New Jersey
Important Farmland Soils Data for New Jersey
State Soil of New Jersey - Downer - New Jersey's State Soil - A state soil is represented by a soil series that has special significance to a particular state. Each state in the United States has selected a state soil. The state soil of New Jersey is Downer Soil, first established in Gloucester County in 1960.
Geologic Map of New Jersey (NJ Geologic Survey)

More About Soil Survey Products
Publications Available
Helpful Links, including Universities, Professional Societies and more resources
National Soil Information System (NASIS)

Links for Teachers and Students
National NRCS Soils Page - Welcome to the NRCS Soils web site. "Helping People Understand Soils"
National Soil Survey Page

MLRA Offices Serving New Jersey

NRCS Contact for National Cooperative Soil Survey in New Jersey

Ronnie L. Taylor, State Soil Scientist

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Last Modified: December 29, 2008