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TSS PERSPECTIVETSS PERSPECTIVEModule 2 –Section 1Module 2 –Section 1

Developing interpretation Developing interpretation criteriacriteria

NASISNASISSOIL SURVEY SOIL SURVEY

INTERPRETATIONSINTERPRETATIONS

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ObjectivesObjectives Differentiate between Soil Properties Differentiate between Soil Properties

and Soil Interpretationsand Soil Interpretations Identify the 8 step process in Identify the 8 step process in

interpretation creationinterpretation creation Understand how to compile the list of Understand how to compile the list of

soil properties for specific soil properties for specific interpretations and identify their interpretations and identify their inter-relationshipsinter-relationships

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Define Property:Define Property:

aa :: a quality or trait belonging and a quality or trait belonging and especially peculiar to an individual or especially peculiar to an individual or thingthing

bb :: an effect that an object has on an effect that an object has on another object or on the senses another object or on the senses

cc :: an attribute common to all an attribute common to all members of a class members of a class

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Define Interpretation:Define Interpretation:

11 :: to explain or tell the meaning of to explain or tell the meaning of :: present in understandable termspresent in understandable terms

22 :: to conceive in the light of individual to conceive in the light of individual belief, judgment, or circumstance belief, judgment, or circumstance

33 :: to represent by means of art to represent by means of art :: bring bring to realization by performance or to realization by performance or direction <direction <interprets interprets a role>a role>

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Interpretations NSSH 617.00Interpretations NSSH 617.00(a(a) Definition) Definition Soil survey interpretations Soil survey interpretations predict soil predict soil

behaviorbehavior for specified soil uses and under for specified soil uses and under specified soil management practices. specified soil management practices.

They help to implement laws, programs, and They help to implement laws, programs, and regulations at local, State, and National levels. regulations at local, State, and National levels.

They assist the planning of broad categories of They assist the planning of broad categories of land use, such as cropland, rangeland, land use, such as cropland, rangeland, pastureland, forestland, or urban development. pastureland, forestland, or urban development.

They are also used to assist in pre- and post-They are also used to assist in pre- and post-planning activities for national emergencies.planning activities for national emergencies.

Soil survey interpretations also help to plan Soil survey interpretations also help to plan specific management practices that are applied specific management practices that are applied to soils, such as irrigation of cropland or to soils, such as irrigation of cropland or equipment use.equipment use.

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Properties ??Properties ??

What soil properties do you extract from a pedon

description??

Pedon Description

Properties

Interpretations

Lab Data

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Interpretations NSSH 617.00Interpretations NSSH 617.00 (e) Basis for features

Laboratory and field measurements, models and inferences from soil properties, morphology, and geomorphic characteristics provide the values used for estimating soil properties. Sources of laboratory data commonly are the Soil Survey Laboratory, Agricultural Experiment Station laboratories, and State Highway Department testing laboratories. Pedon descriptions record field measurements, field observations, and descriptions of soil morphology. Develop lab sampling plans to fill data gaps. Changes to soil features in the database change soil interpretive results. Soil scientists prepare entries and change entries with interdisciplinary assistance of engineers, agronomists, foresters, biologists, resource conservationists, range conservationists, and others.

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ExamplesExamples

Interpretations ??Interpretations ??

Properties ??Properties ??

Texture ?

Sand, silt and clay

K factor ?

Silt, VF Sand, Sand > 0.1mm, OM, Structure, Permeability

Septic tankAdsorption fields?

PermeabilityS, Si, Cwater tablerocksflooding, etc.

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Objectives of Objectives of NASIS INTERPRETATIONSNASIS INTERPRETATIONS

Develop a soil survey Develop a soil survey interpretation system that is:interpretation system that is:

ConstantConstant NaturalNatural DefensibleDefensible

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Objective of Objective of NASIS INTERPRETATIONSNASIS INTERPRETATIONS

ConstantConstant - - Large shifts in Large shifts in interpretative results do not occur interpretative results do not occur among soils which are similar and among soils which are similar and have insignificant differences in have insignificant differences in physical, chemical, or climatic soil physical, chemical, or climatic soil properties.properties.

NaturalNatural DefensibleDefensible

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Objective of Objective of NASIS INTERPRETATIONSNASIS INTERPRETATIONS

ConstantConstant NaturalNatural - - Represents the natural Represents the natural

gradation of a soil’s physical, gradation of a soil’s physical, chemical, and climatic chemical, and climatic characteristics across landscapes characteristics across landscapes and broad geographical areas.and broad geographical areas.

DefensibleDefensible

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Objective of Objective of NASIS INTERPRETATIONSNASIS INTERPRETATIONS

ConstantConstant NaturalNatural DefensibleDefensible - - Requires few or no Requires few or no

exceptions to the basic interpretive exceptions to the basic interpretive evaluations and rules to correctly evaluations and rules to correctly array soil interpretive rating values array soil interpretive rating values across large geographical areas.across large geographical areas.

No Overrides

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Writing Soil Interpretation Writing Soil Interpretation Criteria (617.09)Criteria (617.09)

Developing interpretations criteria Developing interpretations criteria involves the user.involves the user. Interdisciplinary involvementInterdisciplinary involvement is required in developing criteria for interpretations in order is required in developing criteria for interpretations in order to assure that the needs of potential users are addressed. to assure that the needs of potential users are addressed. Also consider the clarity, accuracy, and the ability of the Also consider the clarity, accuracy, and the ability of the criteria to be easily created and modified. Local, state, criteria to be easily created and modified. Local, state, regional, and national offices develop criteria to represent regional, and national offices develop criteria to represent user needs. They follow a consistent procedure and firmly user needs. They follow a consistent procedure and firmly establish principles for documentation. Consider the ease of establish principles for documentation. Consider the ease of development and the stability of the interpretation. Use the development and the stability of the interpretation. Use the expert judgment of specialists and the scientific literature expert judgment of specialists and the scientific literature as resources. as resources. People who work with the intended People who work with the intended use and application know more than what can be use and application know more than what can be speculated by those people with less experience.speculated by those people with less experience.

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Writing Soil Interpretation Writing Soil Interpretation Criteria (617.09) Criteria (617.09)

Step 1. Define the Activity Step 1. Define the Activity

Step 2. Separate Aspects Step 2. Separate Aspects

Step 3. Identify Site Features Step 3. Identify Site Features

Step 4. List Soil Properties Step 4. List Soil Properties

Step 5. Select the Number of Separations Step 5. Select the Number of Separations

Step 6. Document AssumptionsStep 6. Document Assumptions

Step 7. Develop the Criteria Table Step 7. Develop the Criteria Table

Step 8. Application, Presentation, and Testing Step 8. Application, Presentation, and Testing

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617.09 a. Define the Activity617.09 a. Define the Activity

describe the activity or use; describe the activity or use; identify the purposes of the activity or use; identify the purposes of the activity or use; define the desired performance of the define the desired performance of the

activity or use; activity or use; specify the soil depths that are affected; specify the soil depths that are affected; identify the type of equipment for identify the type of equipment for

installation; installation; define the needed map and interpretation define the needed map and interpretation

reliability and uniformity. reliability and uniformity.

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Interpretation Design Interpretation Design ChoicesChoices

ClassClass – The rule is designed to result in – The rule is designed to result in the soil being interpreted as a member of the soil being interpreted as a member of a discrete class. a discrete class.

LimitationLimitation – The rule is designed in a – The rule is designed in a manner such that the higher the value, manner such that the higher the value, the more limited the soil is for the stated the more limited the soil is for the stated use.use.

SuitabilitySuitability – The rule is designed in a – The rule is designed in a manner such that the higher the value, manner such that the higher the value, the better suited the soil is for the stated the better suited the soil is for the stated use. use.

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Define the ActivityDefine the Activity

Development of the Interpretive StatementDevelopment of the Interpretive Statement Either Positive (Suitability)Either Positive (Suitability)

“a site is suitable (has no limitations) for picnic areas if it is not too wet or not too steep.”

Or Negative (Limitation)Or Negative (Limitation)

“a site has limitations for picnic areas if it is too wet or too steep.”

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Step 1. Define the ActivityStep 1. Define the Activity

Regardless of the perspective you choose, the statement must contain the three elements of

land use, limiting features (soil features

affecting use), and the relationship (or logical connection)

between the limiting features.

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617.09 b. Separate Aspects617.09 b. Separate Aspects

Separate different aspects of the activity Separate different aspects of the activity for separate interpretations. Aspects of for separate interpretations. Aspects of interpretations are interpretations are planning elements planning elements that require different criteriathat require different criteria, , such as such as installation, performance, maintenance, installation, performance, maintenance, and effect.and effect. Each aspect is a unique Each aspect is a unique interpretation that has separate criteria interpretation that has separate criteria and users. Mention other aspects that and users. Mention other aspects that may need interpretation but are not may need interpretation but are not addressed. addressed.

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617.09 c. Identify Site 617.09 c. Identify Site FeaturesFeatures

Identify significant site features for the interpretation and any assumptions about them. Site features are not soil properties, but are features such as climate factors, landscape stability hazard, vegetation, and surface characteristics. Identify and record the implied affect of site features on each aspect of the interpretation. Although site features are not soil properties, they are commonly recorded on soil databases and are valuable for developing interpretations because they are geographically specific to soils.

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Developing Soil Interpretation Developing Soil Interpretation Criteria (617.09) Criteria (617.09)

Step 1. Define the Activity Step 1. Define the Activity Step 2. Separate Aspects Step 2. Separate Aspects Step 3. Identify Site Features Step 3. Identify Site Features

Step 4. List Soil Properties Step 4. List Soil Properties Step 5. Select the Number of Separations Step 5. Select the Number of Separations Step 6. Document AssumptionsStep 6. Document AssumptionsStep 7. Develop the Criteria Table Step 7. Develop the Criteria Table Step 8. Application, Presentation, and Step 8. Application, Presentation, and

Testing Testing

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617.09 d. List Soil Properties617.09 d. List Soil Properties

Identify and list the specific soil Identify and list the specific soil properties that are significant to the properties that are significant to the interpretation. interpretation. Use only basic Use only basic propertiesproperties, qualities, or observed , qualities, or observed properties and properties and do not make do not make interpretations from previous interpretations from previous interpretations or models.interpretations or models.

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617.09 e. Select the Number of 617.09 e. Select the Number of SeparationsSeparations

Select the number of interpretative separations (groups), and define the intent of the separation or classification. Each separation should have a purpose, which normally represents a significant management grouping and a need for separate treatment. Commonly used terms in separations are Not Limited (slight) , Somewhat Limited (moderate), and Very Limited (severe) for limitations or good, fair, and poor for suitability's. User needs dictate the number of separations. The levels of user needs may vary. Some users do not use groupings (class).

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617.09 f. Document 617.09 f. Document AssumptionsAssumptions

Document assumptions about the Document assumptions about the significance of the property and significance of the property and established values for separating established values for separating criteria. criteria. 1. Record the significance of the property 1. Record the significance of the property

2. Indicate why the feature is important and 2. Indicate why the feature is important and why the specific break was chosen why the specific break was chosen

3. Establish values that are significant to the 3. Establish values that are significant to the interpretation and not to the mapping interpretation and not to the mapping

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617.09 g. Develop the Criteria 617.09 g. Develop the Criteria TableTable

Assign feature and impact terms, and Assign feature and impact terms, and develop the criteria table. The following develop the criteria table. The following categories of column headings are categories of column headings are recommended for use in the criteria table:recommended for use in the criteria table: FactorFactor - - this is the soil property; this is the soil property; Degree of Limitation -Degree of Limitation - such as Very Limited such as Very Limited

(severe), Moderately Limited (moderate), Not (severe), Moderately Limited (moderate), Not Limited (slight), etc.; Limited (slight), etc.;

Feature -Feature - the term to be displayed for soil the term to be displayed for soil property; and property; and

Impact -Impact - the dominant impact that the soil the dominant impact that the soil property has on the practice being rated. property has on the practice being rated.

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617.09 h. Application, 617.09 h. Application, Presentation, and TestingPresentation, and Testing

Database needs Database needs Temporal considerations for Temporal considerations for

application application Reliability Reliability Testing Testing Date the interpretation and Date the interpretation and

criteriacriteria

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Documenting Soil Documenting Soil Interpretation Criteria (617.10) Interpretation Criteria (617.10)

It is important to document information used during development and maintenance of soil interpretations. Soil interpretation users should be able to locate information and references used to develop the interpretation’s rules and criteria. Information regarding the interpretation’s ratings and the person who developed the soil interpretation are helpful in testing or validating interpretations and for determining the geographic extent of intended use of the interpretation. The standard procedure to document soil interpretations is within the National Soil Information System. This assures critical information accompanies products delivered through the Soil Data mart and Web Soil Survey.

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ExerciseExercise

The city of Springfield, MO is building a new park. They come to you requesting the interpretation for a Picnic Area.

What aspects, site features and soil properties are needed to make an area a good location for a picnic area?

NEXT

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Example: Writing Soil Example: Writing Soil Interpretation Criteria (617.09) Interpretation Criteria (617.09)

Step 1. Define the Activity Step 1. Define the Activity (includes the interpretive (includes the interpretive

statement)statement)

Step 2. Separate Aspects Step 2. Separate Aspects

Step 3. Identify Site Features Step 3. Identify Site Features

Step 4. List Soil Properties Step 4. List Soil Properties

NEXT

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Step 1. Define the ActivityStep 1. Define the Activity

The city of Springdale is looking at new park and recreational areas. They wish to design criteria that will identify sites suitable for picnic areas. It is desirable for the sites to be dry and as level as possible to assure walking comfort and suitable sites for tables and benches. Deep soils are preferred to maintain suitable grass cover to overcome excessive compaction due to traffic. Picnic areas will use concrete tables and benches and small loaders will be used during placement. These sites may also be suitable for hiking areas and playgrounds. The areas will encompass a minimum of 5 acres, however some may be as small as 1 acre. The interpretation will be used by the county for broad land use identification of areas suitable for picnic areas.

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Interpretive StatementsInterpretive Statements

Remember, the interpretive Remember, the interpretive statement says something about the statement says something about the land useland use, , limiting featureslimiting features, and the , and the relationship among the limiting relationship among the limiting featuresfeatures. For your picnic area . For your picnic area example:example:

A soil has limitations for picnic areas if A soil has limitations for picnic areas if it is “too wet” or “too steep”.it is “too wet” or “too steep”.

NEXT

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Step 2. Separate AspectsStep 2. Separate Aspects

Suitable areas may be in locations that may Suitable areas may be in locations that may require some leveling of the site during the require some leveling of the site during the installation process. Sites that are too steep installation process. Sites that are too steep will require use of earth moving machinery. will require use of earth moving machinery. All sites will need to be crowned in order to All sites will need to be crowned in order to provide suitable runoff for long term provide suitable runoff for long term maintenance. If the seasonal water table is maintenance. If the seasonal water table is too wet then during the installation process too wet then during the installation process suitable drain lines should be located to suitable drain lines should be located to lower the water table for picnic uses during lower the water table for picnic uses during wetter seasons of the year. wetter seasons of the year.

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Step 2. Separate AspectsStep 2. Separate Aspects

What is considered What is considered “Too wet” ? or “Too steep” ? for the “Too wet” ? or “Too steep” ? for the installation, performance, installation, performance, maintenance and effect of this picnic maintenance and effect of this picnic area interpretation?area interpretation?

NEXT

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Step 3. Identify Site FeaturesStep 3. Identify Site Features

Picnic areas will be influenced by the Picnic areas will be influenced by the geographical location, the rainfall geographical location, the rainfall totals, the amount of surface stones totals, the amount of surface stones and steep slopes. This issues will and steep slopes. This issues will need to be addressed once the sites need to be addressed once the sites are selected.are selected.

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Step 4. List Soil PropertiesStep 4. List Soil Properties

The soil properties impacting the site The soil properties impacting the site selection for picnic areas will include selection for picnic areas will include those influencing water infiltration, those influencing water infiltration, soil water movement, properties that soil water movement, properties that affect trafficability and vegetation affect trafficability and vegetation growth. growth.

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Step 4. Picnic Area Soil Step 4. Picnic Area Soil PropertiesProperties

Organic matterOrganic matter

FloodingFlooding

StonesStones

PermeabilityPermeability

PondingPonding

SalinitySalinity

SandSand

BedrockBedrock

Depth to PanDepth to Pan

SlopeSlope

Gravel contentGravel content

SodiumSodium

AcidityAcidity

Clay contentClay content

Water TableWater Table

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Step 5. Select the Number of Step 5. Select the Number of SeparationsSeparations

As a picnic area interpretation As a picnic area interpretation designed for broad land use designed for broad land use planning, it is decided to create three planning, it is decided to create three separations to be named “Not separations to be named “Not Limited”, “Somewhat Limited”, and Limited”, “Somewhat Limited”, and “Very Limited”. “Very Limited”.

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Evaluating Soil PropertiesEvaluating Soil Properties

Soils are too steep if the slope exceed 15 percent.Soils are too steep if the slope exceed 15 percent. Soils are not too steep if the slope is less that 5 Soils are not too steep if the slope is less that 5

percent.percent. Soils between 5 and 15 percent will be evaluated Soils between 5 and 15 percent will be evaluated

using a sigmoid curve using a sigmoid curve Soils with a water table from the surface to 50 cm Soils with a water table from the surface to 50 cm

are too wetare too wet Soils with a water table greater than 200 cm from Soils with a water table greater than 200 cm from

the surface are not too wetthe surface are not too wet Soils with a water table between the ranges will Soils with a water table between the ranges will

be evaluated using a sigmoid curvebe evaluated using a sigmoid curve

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Step 6. Document Step 6. Document AssumptionsAssumptions

Document assumptions about the significance of Document assumptions about the significance of the property and established values for the property and established values for separating criteria. separating criteria. (a) A record of the significance of the water table and the (a) A record of the significance of the water table and the

slope propertiesslope properties(b) Indicate why the feature is important and why the (b) Indicate why the feature is important and why the

specific break was chosen – specific break was chosen – Why was 200 cm chosen? Why was 200 cm chosen? Why was 15 percent chosen?Why was 15 percent chosen?

(c) Establish values that are significant to the (c) Establish values that are significant to the interpretation and not to the mappinginterpretation and not to the mappingDon’t use standard slope groups – look for the actual Don’t use standard slope groups – look for the actual slope issues in the design slope issues in the design

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Step 7. Develop the Criteria Step 7. Develop the Criteria TableTable

Assign feature and impact terms, and Assign feature and impact terms, and develop the criteria table. The develop the criteria table. The following categories of column following categories of column headings are recommended for use in headings are recommended for use in the criteria table: the criteria table: Factor (this is the soil property); Factor (this is the soil property); Degree of Limitation (such as Not Limited, Degree of Limitation (such as Not Limited,

Somewhat Limited, Very Limited); Somewhat Limited, Very Limited); Feature (the term to be displayed for soil Feature (the term to be displayed for soil

property); and property); and Impact (the dominant impact that the soil Impact (the dominant impact that the soil

property has on the practice being rated). property has on the practice being rated).

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Evaluating Soil PropertiesEvaluating Soil Properties

PropertyProperty LimitsLimits RestrictioRestrictionnNot

LimitedSomewhat Limited

Very Limited

FloodingFlooding NoneNone OthersOthers Freq, V. Freq, V. FreqFreq

FloodingFlooding

Water Water TableTable

>200>200 50-20050-200 <50<50 Too WetToo Wet

TextureTexture S, LS, S, LS, C, C, SiCLSiCL

KsatKsat

SlopeSlope <8<8 8-158-15 >15>15 Too SteepToo Steep

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TSS InterpretationsTSS Interpretations

This completes section 1 of the Soil This completes section 1 of the Soil Interpretations for Technical Soil Interpretations for Technical Soil ScientistsScientists

Sections 2 and 3 are nextSections 2 and 3 are next