South
Florida
Beef -
Forage
Program
"Article of the Month"
May 2000
How Well Do You Know Your Soils?
Travis Seawright, - Manatee County Extension Agent
It has been said that Cattlemen and Cattle women must
become grass/Forage producers and to become a forage producer a cattleman/cattle
woman must know the types and capabilities of their soils. Soils have always
been our basic resource. They will continue to be the most important resource
affecting our individual production commodity.
Soils differ one from another. Because of the differences, land capabilities
vary from place to place. A knowledge of soil characteristics will help determine
the capability of the land, the proper use of the land, and the conservation
practices necessary.
These differences in soil characteristics can be described in rather definite terms.
Once we have learned the proper terms, we can discuss soil differences with anyone
who speaks the same language.
We will need to know about soil TEXTURE, ORGANIC MATTER, THICKNESS OF ROOTING ZONE,
PERMEABILITY, DRAINAGE, SLOPE, EROSION, and the relationship each has with production
of different varieties of forages. Soils with certain combinations of these
characteristics can be grouped into soil "TYPES". Similar types of soil
may be suited to similar agricultural uses. We arrange these groups in land
capability classes. Understanding capability classification makes it easier
to plan for conservation, farming, ranching, or grove management. Similarly,
soils with certain characteristics may be found to have predictable degrees of
"LIMITATION" for various uses in forage production. (*)
One of the best tools in analyzing your production capabilities is the
county soil survey that has been taken in every county in Florida. Most
of the survey have been updated over the years and can be obtained from your
county Extension office or the USDA- Natural Resource Conservation Service
(NRCS) office.
This soil survey contains information that can be used in land-planning.
It contains predictions of soil behavior for selected land uses. The survey also
highlights limitations and hazards in herent in the soil, improvements needed to
overcome the limitations, and the impact of selected land uses on the environment.
The soil survey is designed for many different users. Ranchers, farmers,
foresters, and agronomists can use it to evaluate the potential of the soil
and the management needed for maximum production. Planners, community officials,
engineers, developers, builders and home buyers can use the survey to plan land
use, select sites for construction , and identify special practices needed to
insure proper performance. Conservationists, teachers, students, and specialists
in recreation, wildlife management, waste disposal, and pollution control can use the
survey to help them understand, protect, and enchantment the environment.
Great differences in soil properties can occur within short distances. Some
soils are seasonally wet or subject to flooding. Some are shallow to bedrock or
spodic horizons. Some are to unstable to be used in a foundation for buildings or
roads. Other soils that are high dry sandy soils may only be suited to certain
forage varties with deep rooting systems or to only native ranges.
These and many other soil properties that affect land use are described in the soil
survey. Broad areas of soils are shown on the general soils map. The location of
each soil is shown on the detailed soil map. Each soil in the survey area is described,
information on specific uses is given.
Help in using this publication and additional information are available at
the Extension Service and the NRCS offices.
(*) References
Brown R.B., Herbert, J.H. Jr., and Hanlon, E.A. Jr.:
Land Judging and Homesite Evaluation in Florida. Ext. Publication Circular 242G
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