Technical References

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PDF files require Acrobat Reader, DOC file requires Microsoft Word, and XLS files require Microsoft Excel.

Policy and Procedure

• Technical Soil Services Handbook - operational and procedural policy and guidance for technical soil services within NRCS.
• National Soil Survey Handbook -  policy,  definitions, and procedures for conducting soil survey.
• Soil Survey Manual - major principles and practices for soil surveys.
• Soil Change Guide - Procedures for Soil Survey and Resource Inventory - designed for soil survey, vegetation, and ecological site or unit inventory work in order to help soil scientists and other inventory specialists collect interpretable data about soil change.
• Land-Capability Classification (Ag Handbook 210; 1961) (PDF; 782 KB) - Since soil surveys are based on all of the characteristics of soils that influence their use and management, interpretations are needed for each of the many uses. Among these interpretations the Land Capability Classification is one of the most important. It groups soils into capability units, subclasses, and classes. This grouping serves as an introduction of the soil map to farmers, other land users, land use planners, people in agribusiness, elected officials and others. The grouping explains the limitations and hazards for a specific agricultural use.
• Technical Notes - specific technical subjects for soil scientists.
• National Instructions - specific project guidance to offices involved.
   

Classification

• Soil Classification - major references including taxonomy, keys, series, maps, forum, committees, and work groups.
• The Twelve Orders of Soil Taxonomy poster
   

Soil Geography

• Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin (Ag Handbook 296) - This publication describes 28 land resource regions and the physiography, geology, climate, water resources, soils, biological resources, and kinds of land use in 278 major land resource areas in the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin.
   

Field Guides

• Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils  - standards for observing and recording soil and site characteristics.
• Field Indicators of Hydric Soils, version 7.0 (PDF; 5.3 MB)
  • A Guide to Hydric Soils in the Mid-Atlantic Region, version 2.0 (PDF; 6.04 MB)
• Job Aids - something that can be used on the job to improve performance.
   

Soil Survey Office Laboratory References

• Soil Survey Field and Laboratory Methods Manual, version 1.0 (2-3-11; PDF; 8.5 MB)
  • Addenda
    • 3.3 Bulk Density (4-7-11; PDF; 114 KB)
    • 4.6 Electrical Conductivity and Soluble Salts (4-7-11; PDF; 169 KB)
  • Particle-size analysis by hydrometer data entry forms (1-31-11; XLS; 386 KB)
• Soil Survey Office Laboratory Safety Guide, version 1.0 (6-10-09; PDF; 453 KB)
  • Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and recommended chemical disposal procedure (10-23-09; PDF; 3.2 MB)

Laboratory Methods and Information

• Lab Methods Manual - soil laboratory methodology and reference for the laboratory analyst.
• Soil Survey Laboratory Information Manual - Companion reference to the Laboratory Methods Manual, SSIR No. 42. Sampling methodology, descriptions of KSSL data sheets, and other information to help users of lab data.
• Testing Methods for Phosphorus and Organic Matter
• KSSL Sample Submission (ZIP; 664 KB) - Worksheets and documentation necessary for KSSL sample submission.
   

Geomorphic Description System

These documents provide a descriptive method and a technical guide for applying and understanding geomorphic and geologic concepts and terms for soil inventory in the USA National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) Program.

• Geomorphic Description System, version 4.11 (PDF; 606 KB)
• Glossary of Landform and Geologic Terms (Part 629 of the National Soil Survey Handbook)  (DOC; 1.1 MB)

Installing Monitoring Wells in Soils

This document provides general guidance on how to install and use piezometers and water-table wells to investigate soil water regimes under conditions commonly encountered in Soil Survey and hydropedology studies.

• Installing Monitoring Wells in Soils, version 1.0 (PDF; 1.9 MB)

The file below is a bibliography of publications from Wet Soils Monitoring Projects across the United States.

• Bibliography (PDF; 70 KB)

Forms

• Pedon Description Form (XLS; 35 KB)
• SOI036 (PDF; 59 KB)
• SOI232c (PDF; 175 KB)
• SOI232f (PDF; 118 KB)
• SOI232g (PDF; 116 KB)

National Soil Information System (NASIS)

• NASIS Tools
• NASIS Metadata
   

Land Use (Title 310)

• National Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA) Handbook (PDF; 11.0 MB) – This handbook explains the preparation and use of the LESA system. It was developed to meet the requirements of the Farmland Protection Policy Act. The Land Evaluation (LE) part of LESA is combined with the site assessment (SA) part of LESA to determine the total value for a specific site for agriculture. The higher the total value of LESA, the higher the capabilities of that site for agricultural.  The LESA system can help units of government meet the following two overall objectives: (1) facilitate identification and protection of important agricultural land, and (2) assist in implementing farmland protection policies. LESA utilizes soil survey information and interpretations, and planning concepts and principles. It can be used to facilitate decision making by State and local planners, landholders, developers, and governing officials.
   
  • Land Evaluation (LE) part of LESA (PDF; 802 KB)
  • Site Assessment (SA) part of LESA (PDF; 1.18 MB)
     
• Red Tart Cherry Site Inventory for Grand Traverse County, Michigan (PDF; 9.63 MB) – This document explains how the local Land Evaluation (LE) committee established the soil, topography, and climate requirements to designate Unique Farmland and the LE numerical values for local Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA). It includes discussion of facilities to process the cherries for market. The 7CFR657.5(b) defines the prerequisites for designating soil map units as unique farmland.
   

Other References

• National Agronomy Manual -- Contains policy for agronomy activities and provides technical procedures for uniform implementation of agronomy tools and applications.
• National Commodity Crop Productivity Index (NCCPI) User Guide (PDF; 4.3 MB) -- Describes the methodology and logic of the NCCPI model.
  • NCCPI maps (hosted by the Geospatial Research Unit)
• National Range and Pasture Handbook -- Procedures for the inventory, analysis, treatment, and management of grazing land resources.
• National Forestry Manual -- Describes forestry policy within the NRCS.
• National Forestry Handbook -- Contains methodology and procedures relative to forestry technology.
• National Engineering Handbook, Chapter 7 - Hydrologic Soil Groups (PDF)
• Farm Management Practices for Reclaimed Cropland (PDF; 903 KB) -- Familiarizes the shareholders, farmers, and landowners of reclaimed mined lands with the different aspects of farming these newly formed crop capable soils.
• Citizen Guide to Land Reclamation (PDF; 3.9 MB) -- Explores legal mandates of coal mining and reclamation laws; public participation opportunities and limitations; technical aspects of soil properties; soil handling, storage, and replacement methodologies; and post-mining land use options.
  Microsoft Access -- Guide to MS-Access for soil scientists.
• Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)

Last Modified: 08/17/2012