Soil and It’s Importance Provides basic life needs Food and Shelter Very limited resource

Main Ideas in Land Evaluation 1. Texture 2. Depth 3. Slope 4. Erosion

1. Texture Affects almost all properties of the soil The amount of sand, silt and clay in a soil Sand=largest, then silt, then clay Determine by ribboning the soil

1. Texture Sand is looser and gritty Silt feels floury Clay is sticky

1. How to determine Texture COURSE=NO BALL MODERATLY COURSE= 1” and gritty MEDIUM = 1” and smooth MODERATELY FINE = 1-2” FINE = 2”

Depth Total thickness of material available for plant growth Plants obtain water, nutrients and support from the root zone Total Depth is determined from the point where the roots stop

Depth DEEP=40” MODERATLEY DEEP = 20-40” SHALLOW = 10-20” VERY SHALLOW = -10”

Slope Slope refers to the steepness of the land surface Affects soil use and management As slope increases agriculture suitability decreases

How to measure Slope Measured in percent Rise or fall over 100 feet

How to measure Slope NEARLY LEVEL = 0-1% GENTLY SLOPING = 1-3% MODERATELY SLOPING = 3-5% STRONGLY SLOPING = 5-8% STEEP = 8-15% VERY STEEP = +15%

Erosion Causes loss of soil by water and wind If one knows history of land can then do something to prevent more losses

Erosion Calculation One will be given original topsoil To find current topsoil drag knife through top layer until it stops. This is the topsoil

Erosion Calculation Divide the current topsoil by the original to give you what percent is left Then subtract that from 100% and that gives you amount of erosion.

Erosion Levels NONE TO SLIGHT = 0-25% MODERATE = 25-75% SEVERE = 75%+ with crossable gullies VERY SEVERE = 75%+ with uncrossable gullies