Soils and Soil Quality 



This page, like the others in the technical section is intended for use as a resource. At a minimum it will contain links to applicable sites. Feedback or suggestions would be welcome. 


Soil is one of our basic resources. It has been said that life on earth depends on an average 7 inch layer of top soil and the fact that it rains. History has many examples of civilizations which depleted their natural resources and collapsed as a result. Ag Info Bulletin 91, entitled CONQUEST OF THE LAND THROUGH 7,000 YEARS is a real eye-opener on the subject. Recent archaeological studies of Easter Island provide a relatively recent, small-scale example as well. 



Your local Conservation District Office or USDA Service Center should have soil surveys available for your area. Some other good sources of soils information are available at the following sites:

NRCS Soil Quality Institute
NRCS Soils Website
NRCS Soil Quality Information Sheets  (avail. at Soil Quality Institute site & Soil Survey Center as well)
NRCS ITC SQA Home Page
USDA-NRCS National Soil Survey Center
USDA NRCS WEB SOIL SURVEY
About NASIS - USDA National Soil Information System
OSU Extension Service Small Farms Soil Management page


We are always on the lookout for good information sources. If you have a good source you would like to share, or have comments please {drop us a note}.
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