Description: This Feature Class is compiled from the National Soil Information System (NASIS) Data Set, prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
These are the locations of the soil observations (pedons) that were described by soil scientists in the making of the soil survey. These also contain the Typical Pedon, and the Soil Laboratory Pedon locations (if present)
A pedon is typically the smallest element of a soil landscape that can be observed and described. . Its depth limit is the somewhat arbitrary boundary between soil and “not soil” (e.g., bedrock). Its lateral dimensions must be large enough to permit a study of any horizons present—in general, an area from 1 to 10 square meters (10 to 100 square feet), depending on the variability of the soil, composes a pedon.
Description: The general soil map shows broad areas that have a distinctive pattern of soils, relief, and drainage. Each map unit on the general soil map is a unique natural landscape. Typically, it consists of one or more major soils or miscellaneous areas and some minor soils or miscellaneous areas. It is named for the major soils or miscellaneous areas. The components of one map unit can occur in another but in a different pattern. The general soil map can be used to compare the suitability of large areas for general land uses. Areas of suitable soils can be identified on the map. Likewise, areas where the soils are not suitable can be identified. Because of its small scale, the map is not suitable for planning the management of a specific small area or for selecting a site for a road or building or other structure. The soils in any one map unit differ from place to place in slope, depth, drainage, and other characteristics that affect management.