Scientific Methodology of the National Cooperative Soil Survey

2015 ◽  
pp. 39-48
Author(s):  
Stephen L. Hartung ◽  
Steven A. Scheinost ◽  
Robert J. Ahrens
Keyword(s):  
Soil Survey ◽  
Scientific Methodology ◽  
National Cooperative

scholarly journals Long-Term Ecosystem Nutrient Pool Status for Aspen Forest Harvest Simulations on Glacial Till and Sandy Outwash Soils

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1556
Author(s):  
Robert P. Richard ◽  
Evan S. Kane ◽  
Dustin R. Bronson ◽  
Randall K. Kolka
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Retention ◽  
Nutrient Budget ◽  
Glacial Till ◽  
Soil Survey ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Nutrient Pools ◽  
Nutrient Pool ◽  
Rotation Length ◽  
National Cooperative

Sandy outwash and glacial till soils compose large amounts of public forestland due to historically poor agricultural yields. The outwash soils have low fertility, poor nutrient retention and are restricted from whole-tree harvesting (WTH) in some states, whereas the glacial till has medium nutrient retention and fertility, and is unrestricted from WTH. To assess the long-term sustainability of harvesting, a nutrient budget was constructed from field measurements, the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) database, and literature values for stem-only harvesting (SOH) and WTH at a 45-year rotation length and 11 rotations were simulated. The budgets showed that SOH and WTH recovery years, or the time necessary for the inputs to match outputs through leaching and one harvest, exceeded common rotation lengths for both soil types under all weathering scenarios, and the average WTH reduced the total available rotations by one harvest. The large variation in soil nutrient pools and harvest removals complicated the ability to identify the difference between SOH and WTH early in the model, but differences became apparent with sequential harvests. The recovery years were 2–20 times the 45-year rotation length under all weathering rates. Taken together, models in this study bridge the gap between short- and long-term studies and bring into question the sustainability of WTH and SOH practices on nutrient-poor soils.

scholarly journals Effect of Climate Change in the Stream Flow, Crop Yields and NP Levels at White Oak Bayou Watershed Using SWAT simulation: A Case Study

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Alminda Magbalot-Fernandez ◽  
Qianwen He ◽  
Frank Molkenthin
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Climate Change Scenario ◽  
Soil Survey ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Change Scenario ◽  
White Oak ◽  
Average Plant ◽  
National Cooperative

Projected changes in temperature due to global climate change may have serious impacts on hydrologic processes, water resources availability, irrigation water demand, and thereby affecting the agricultural production and productivity. Therefore, understanding the impacts of climate change on crop production and water resources is of utmost importance for developing possible adaptation strategies. The White Oak Bayou, one of the several waterways that give Houston, Texas, United States its popular nickname "The Bayou City" was selected in this case study. SWAT model is process based and can simulate the hydrological cycle, crop yield, soil erosion and nutrient transport. It is operated with an interface in ArcView GIS using raster or vector datasets including the digital elevation model (DEM), soil properties, vegetation, LULC, and meteorological observations observed which were derived from the Consortium for Geospatial Information, National Cooperative Soil Survey, National Land Cover Database 2006, NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis and USGS website in 2005-2008. The climate change scenario was based on the projected increase in temperature by the IPCC by 2100. This case study showed a decrease in streamflow from observed actual scenario (2005-2008) to projected increase of 4°C temperature in future climate change scenario by 2100. The evapotranspiration increased but there was a decrease in surface runoff and percolation. Moreover, there were greater average plant biomass and more average plant yields. Hence, the nitrogen and phosphorus uptake and removed in yield increased. Thus, the total nitrogen decreased while the total phosphorus is zero indicating loss of the Phosphorus content in the soil. Yet, this case study needs to be validated and calibrated with actual data to support the projected outcome.

Soil Surveys and Archaeology

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vance T. Holliday
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
The United States ◽  
Soil Survey ◽  
State Agencies ◽  
Soil Maps ◽  
National Cooperative ◽  
Local Agencies ◽  
Soil Surveys

Soil survey and mapping is one of the most fundamental and best-known applications of pedology. The preparation of soil maps began in the 19th century (Yaalon, 1997), but systematic county-based soil surveys began in the 20th century in the United States (Simonson, 1987, p. 3). The production of soil maps based on systematic soil surveys has been one of the primary driving forces in pedologic research in both academic and governmental settings in the United States and worldwide through much of the 20th century (Simonson, 1987, 1997; Yaalon and Berkowicz, 1997). For example, soil survey and mapping has been a primary function of the USDA since 1899 (Simonson, 1987, p. 3; Soil Survey Division Staff, 1993, p. 11). Soil maps have been prepared for a variety of uses at scales ranging from a few hectares to those of continental and global magnitude. Published soil surveys contain a wealth of data on landscapes as well as soils, but are generally an underused (and likely misunderstood) resource in geoarchaeology, probably because of their agricultural and land-use orientation. This chapter presents a discussion of what soil surveys are (and are not) and potential as well as realized applications in archaeology. Much of the discussion focuses on the county soil surveys published by the USDA because they are so widely available, although applications of other kinds and scales of soil maps that have been applied in archaeology or that have archaeological applications also are discussed. Many countries in the world have national soil surveys whose primary mission is the mapping and inventorying of the nation’s soil resource. In the United States, soil survey is a cooperative venture of federal agencies, state agencies (including the Agricultural Experiment Stations), and local agencies, coordinated by the National Cooperative Soil Survey (Soil Survey Division Staff, 1993, p. 11). The principal federal agency involved in soil survey is the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS; formerly the Soil Conservation Service, SCS) of the USDA. The mapping of soils by the NRCS/USDA is probably the agency’s best-known activity. Its many published county soil surveys are its most widely known and widely used product.

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