ENVIROTHON SOILS STATION INTENT AND PURPOSE (you might want to sit up close for these) The intent is to show soil formation, properties, management and WSS.

SOIL FORMATION LANDFORM – gullies, hills, mtns, CLIMATE – freezing, thawing ORGANICS – life cycles PARENT MATERIAL – mineral sources TIME – long time, eons, mega yrs. Each has an integral part in forming soil

Biologial Diversity is Essential Each critter and plant of the ecosystem has it’s purpose.

Diversity in different Ecosystems Each ecosystem has it’s own ecological components due to environment.

Where are the most fertile soils? Darker green = higher production, lighter colors = less production National Geographic, September 2008

ARABLE PART of the EARTH The skin on a 32nd of an apple=percent of Earth which is arable.

This will vary a little.

With a little luck there will a productive top soil supported by B and C layers.

PARTICLE SIZE These are the various sizes of soil particles by comparison of diameter.

Soil Color The Munsel Soil Color system-used to help classify soils and show properties

Soil texture classes are established on the basis of percent sand, silt and clay

This serves as a method to determine estimates of sand, silt and clay.

STRUCTURE Structure is the arrangement of soil particles in various shapes

Web Soil Survey Web Soil Survey is the official home of NRCS soils information

Here is how a soil polygon looks like on the land itself.

Within the survey report is a description of the map unit that corresponds to each polygon on the map.

There are also descriptions for the individual soils in the classification of soils section of the manuscript. Here you get detailed narrative soil descriptions and the range of soil properties for that soil.

And the report includes interpretive information for each soil map unit for various land uses.

Soil Survey Program Web Soil Survey The newer source of information is WEB SOIL SURVEY, just ask Mr. Google for the URL

Soil Survey Program Web Soil Survey Requires only a computer with (fast) internet connection to use No signups/passwords/email addresses required Maps made without specialized software, instantly Robust analysis capabilities without specialized software Very useful for soils information for a specific area which has been mapped.

Soil Survey Program Web Soil Survey-Data Availability 94% of the country has been mapped 96% of private land has been mapped Utah has about 3 million acres of private land left to be surveyed Note that in Utah, most of the state is mapped.

Soil Survey Program Web Soil Survey Low Tech.--------------------Most People----------------------High Tech. Made to be fairly user friendly but don’t be alarmed if it’s a little unfriendly here and there.

Soil Survey Program Web Soil Survey EASY TO USE . . . just 3 steps: 1) Define 2) View/Explore 3) Check Out http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/ Go in, give it a try, feel free to call us. It’s a good teaching tool once you get the hang of it.

Area of Interest

EXAMPLE SOIL MAP Select an area of interest less than 10,000 acres in size and click the soil map tab.

Building Materials Map

Building Materials Ratings Note that the I button can be used to see that the small polygon upper left is KD.

Eight Capability Classes Classes I thru IV = Agriculture; Classes V thru VIII = Non Agriculture (normally)

WHY ALL THE FUSS? Soils information serves to contribute to management practices which are helping with conservation measures around the globe. No farms no food.

Sustainable Agriculture and Erosion Factors that affect erosion Slope Texture Cover Climate (rain and runoff) Temperatures Wind Types of Erosion – Splash Zone Rill erosion Gully erosion Wind erosion Sheet erosion Streambank erosion

Sustainable Agriculture and Erosion Control Contour Planting: plant crops around the curve of a hill rather than up and down the hill. Terraces: wide ridges that go around a hill to prevent water from rushing down the hill too fast. Forest and Grass Areas: keep steep hillsides in trees or grass rather than clear for cropland. Grassed Waterways: plant grass and don’t plow low areas in a field where water usually runs. Examples of erosion control.

Sustainable Agriculture and Erosion Control Windbreak: rows of trees planted to slow down the wind and prevent soils from blowing Cover Crop: a crop planted between harvests reduces soil erosion and replenishes the soil with nutrients and organic matter Conservation Tillage Crop Rotation: rotate the type of crop planted so that the nutrients are not depleted http://www.dubuqueswcd.org/page5.html These are just a few more conservation practices used to help control erosion plus a web site for more.

QUESTIONS Ray.grow@ut.usda.gov 801 524-4253