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Basic Soil Survey: Field and Lab (000012)

Overview

This course equips the new soil scientists with concepts and techniques to carry out field soil surveys in accordance with NRCS policy and technical guidelines. Geomorphic and stratigraphic principles are applied to help define soil-landscape relationships. Soils are examined and described in contexts of (1) transects to verify map unit composition, (2) typifying pedons and (3) sampling for laboratory analyses. Descriptions and lab data are used to classify soils according to the Keys to Soil Taxonomy. Soil interpretations are discussed. Participants send a sample and description to the laboratory prior to the course; during the course participants review their data and run field kit analyses for comparison with laboratory data.

Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • apply geomorphic and stratigraphic principles to delineate soils on the landscape
  • describe soils in conformity with NRCS guidelines
  • use field descriptions and laboratory data to classify soils according to the Keys to Soil Taxonomy
  • gather transect data to verify map unit composition
  • select pedons to be typifying pedons for the series in the area or to sample for characterization and analysis

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of Soil Taxonomy

Duration

2 weeks

Target Audience

Soil Scientists with less than two years of field experience may attend

NEDC Contact

Tony Lovell

Technical Specialist

Marc Crouch

Enrollment 

Go to AgLearn to request enrollment in Basic Soil Survey: Field and Lab (000012). Once you complete your activity in CAMS use your browser, back button to return to this page.