Cultivated
Class I --- Soils in Class I are suited for cultivation over a long period of time and have no limitations that restrict their use. They are deep, nearly level, well to moderately-well drained, and subject to no more than slight erosion.
Class II --- Soils in Class II are suited for cultivation over a long period of time, but they have some hazards and limitations such as gentle slope, slight erosion, or moderate wetness that reduce the choice of plants or require moderate conservation practices that are easy to apply.
Soil Factor | Best Land Class | |
Texture (1): | Coarse textured Moderately coarse, medium Moderately line and fine | III I I |
Depth (2): | Deep or moderately deep Shallow Very shallow | I III VII |
Slope (3): | Nearly level (0 to 1%) Gently sloping (1% to 3%) Moderately sloping (3% to 5%) Strongly sloping (5% to 8%) Steep and very steep (8% to 15%+) | I II III IV VI |
Erosion (4): | None to slight erosion Moderate Severe or very severe | I II VI |
Permeability (5): | Rapid Moderate and slow Very slow | III I II |
Runoff (6): | Rapid Moderate and slow Very slow | III I II |
Class III --- Soils in Class III are good for cultivated crops, but have severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants and/or require special conservation practices that are more difficult to apply. Terracing and other water control measures will be needed.
Class IV --- Soils in Class IV can be cultivated, but they have very severe limitations that restrict the choice of plants, require very careful management, special conservation, or both. They are sloping, moderately eroded soils with poor characteristics. Cultivated areas should be strip tilled, terraced, and farmed on the contour. They are best suited for pasture and hay meadows.
Non-Cultivated
Class V --- Soils in Class V have little or no erosion hazards, but have other limitations that make them unsuitable for cultivation. Limitations are impractical and very expensive to remove and limits their use to pasture, range, woodland, or wildlife food and cover. Limitations include very poor surface and internal drainage or frequent flooding. (Frequent flooding will be shown with Òother factorsÓ when it occurs.)
Class VI --- Soils in Class VI have severe limitations such as steep slopes, severe erosion, shallowness, and rockiness that make them generally unsuited for cultivation and limits their use to pasture or range, woodland, or wildlife food and cover.
Class VII --- Soils in Class VII have many very severe limitations similar to Class VI that make them unsuited for cultivation and that restrict their use to grazing, woodland, or wildlife.
Class VIII --- Soils and land forms in Class VIII have limitations that preclude their use for crop, pasture, or timber production and restrict their use to wildlife, recreation, or aesthetics. This land has little or no economic value.