Web Soil Survey

  1. HTTP://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm
  2. Launch the Web Soil Survey and navigate to your selected area of interest (AOI). Your AOI should be, if possible, a region that is familiar to you.
  3. Define your AOI using the rectangle or polygon function. In order to capture the relationship of surrounding soils on the landscape, the area of your AOI should be at least 160 acres but not much more, a quarter section.
  4. Make a map of the soil series (map units) by selecting the Soil Map tab. Click on the Add to Shopping Cart button in the upper right corner.
  5. Generate a Soil Taxonomy Classification map, navigating in the following manner: Soil Data Explorer/Suitabilities and Limitations for Use/Land Classification/Soil Taxonomy Classification, then click on the View Rating button. Add this map to the shopping cart.
  6. Parent Material Name map: Soil Data Explorer/Soil Properties and Qualities/Soil Qualities and Features/Parent Material Name. View rating, then add to the shopping cart.
  7. Organic Matter map: Soil Data Explorer/Soil Properties and Qualities/Soil Physical Properties/Organic Matter. Set the Depth Range from a Top Depth of 0 to a bottom depth of 6 and click the Inches radio button. Then, view rating, and add to the shopping cart.
  8. Click on the Shopping Cart tab, then the Check Out button. The site will either generate the report on the spot (with a popup window), or email you a link.
  9. Select a soil series from your map and find the Official Soil Series Description (OSD), linked in the Soil Report Resources area, using the best name match. Copy this data to a Word document
  10. Find information on field and horticulture, range, forestry, and livestock use in the online County Soil Surveys, linked in the Soil Report Resources area. Add thi