Soil survey

Definition of soil survey

A soil survey is the systematic examination, description, classification and mapping of soils in an area.
Soil survey is also known as the inventory of soil resources for different uses.

In the Soil Survey Manual soil survey is defined as follows:

“A soil survey describes the characteristics of the soils in a given area, classifies the soils according to a
standard system of classification, plots the boundaries of the soils on a map, and makes predictions
about the behavior of soils.

The information collected in a soil survey helps in the development of land-use plans and evaluates and
predicts the effects of land use on the environment.

Soil Survey reports are intended to be a primary source of basic soil information having a wide range of
applications including agriculture, environmental, forestry, wildlife, and engineering, to name a few. Soil
surveys identify the soils in an area, classify, describe them and notes the capabilities of the land.

Objectives/purposes of soil survey

The overall objective of soil survey is to collect and/or generate data/information of soils and their
genesis, distribution, behavior and use potentials.

Soil Survey involves determination of soil types of an area in the field and showing their
distribution in maps. Soil survey work thus includes the following functions:

1. traversing an area and estimating the types of soils on the basis of a field legend,
2. study of soil morphology in the field,
3. collection of soil samples for laboratory analyses,
4. characterization of soils on the basis of morphological and laboratory properties,
5. classifying and correlating soils according to the international soil classification systems,
6. mapping the soil units with a suitable scale, and
7. preparing the soil survey report with interpretation.

The following are the main objectives of soil survey:

(1) To describe and classify soils giving uniform system of classification with uniform
nomenclature in order to correlate the soils of different area.
(2) To show distribution of different soils in the field (soil mapping).
(3) To provide data for making interpretations as to the adaptability of particular soils for
agricultural purpose and also for many other purposes (as in soil management).
Types of Soil Survey
Depending upon the objective, method, type of base map available and the intensity of observations,
four types of soil survey are recognized which are given below:
(i) Detailed soil survey
(ii) Reconnaissance soils survey
(iii) Detailed-reconnaissance soil survey
(iv) Semi-detailed soil survey

(i) Detailed Soil Survey

In detailed soil survey boundaries of soil units are delineated from observations by actual traverses
throughout the course of the boundary. Soils are examined in detail and the close intervals in an area to
detect differences that can be significant in their use and management.
Detailed soil surveys are conducted to furnish information required for a proper assessment of soil
properties, terrain features, erosional aspects and other related factors that can help in working out the
use capability and the management practices for soil conservation and better production of crops and
maintenance of soil fertility.
(ii) Reconnaissance Soil Survey:
This type of soil survey is undertaken to prepare resource inventory of large areas. It identifies broadly
the kinds of soils and their extent of distribution. It enables to assess broad potentialities of soils and
recognition of areas of promise that are suitable for intensive and modern agriculture and those
requiring priority for amelioration.
(iii) Detailed-Reconnaissance Soil Survey:
It is a combination of reconnaissance and detailed soil surveys and is undertaken for understanding
distribution of basic soil classes of series and their phases.
(iv) Semi-Detailed Soil Survey:
This kind of soil survey comprises very detailed study of some selected strips cutting across many aerial-
photo-interpretation (API) units for developing correlation between API units and soils. This type of soil
survey provides adequate information about various kinds of soils, including problematic soils.
Recently there are two other types of soil survey have been recognized.

Techniques of soil survey

There are usually three techniques as follows:
(i) General-Purpose API Survey:

Used for low-intensity surveys in which mapped boundaries (soils or land resources) at low intensities of
field observations to characterize physiographic units.

(ii) General-purpose free survey:

For medium-intensity surveys using API, but also with a relatively high intensity of field observations.

(iii) Special Purpose Grid Survey:

In this method, individual soil properties are recorded on a grid pattern and may be mapped
parametrically. Observation points may commonly be located on an elongated grid sited to cross the
‘grain’ of the land.

Planning of soil survey work

Soil survey operation includes defined set of activities, such as pre field work, field work, laboratory
work, cartographic work, report writing and publication of report. To complete the work successfully a
good plan is necessary. It is also a team work. A team composed of man with different expertise. The
assignment of different member of the party should be followed rightly so that they can accomplish the
job perfectly.

A. Pre – field activities

1. Name location and area of survey area.

2. Determination of kind of survey and purpose.

3. Collection of general information of the area.

4. Collection of base materials.

5. Fixation of date for pre – field activities.

6. Delineation of survey area boundary in the base material.

7. Interpretation of aerial photograph and preparation of photo interpretation map.

8. Delineation of traverse line a sampling area.

9. Fixation of number of ground checking.

10. Preparation of a preliminary legend for soil identification in the field.

11. Information to the local administration authorities for their cooperation.

12. Budget estimation for the work

B. Field activities

1. Date of initiation for field work.

2. Arrangement of field instrument and accessories for field work.

3. Selection of field camp and food arrangement.

4. Number of field observation as per requirement of the kind of survey.

 5. Map preparation as per the kind of survey and development of final field soil legend on
preliminary soil legend.

6. Collection of soil samples for coo relation purpose.

7. Collection of sample horizon wise from bench mark profile for laboratory analysis.

8. Collection of top samples for analysis for fertility purpose.

C. Laboratory activities

1. Soil sample transfer to the laboratory personal.

2. Soil sample preparation for analysis.

3. Selection of parameter to be analysis.

4. Soil sample analysis and report preparation.

5. Report submission to the team leader.

D. Cartographic work:

1. Completion of cartographic work.

2. Submission of field soil map to cartographic or GIS section for the preparation of final soil map
as per specification.

3.Preparation of different maps as per requirement.

4. Submission of different maps to team requirement.

E. Report preparation and publication

1. Preparation of report as per requirement.

2. Typing or composing of reports.

3. Editing of reports.

4. Final publication of reports.

F. Budget or estimated cost for the survey work

1. Man per days work for different activities.

2. Salaries and traveling cost of personnel.

3. Cost of transport and fuel.

4. Cost of instruments and accessories used in the field.

5. Cost of stationeries and equipment.

6. Cost of laboratory analysis.

7. Cost of cartographic, typing and printing material.

8. Cost of base materials.

9. Cost of report writing.