Land-Capability Classes 



We may group the soils of the State into various classes according to ways 

 in which they may be used safely. Some land may be suited to cropping; 

 other land may be best used for forestry or for wildlife and recreation. 

 It may be safe to farm some cropland intensively; other areas, although 

 productive, may have certain limitations, such as steepness of slope or an 

 erodible type of soil, which require the use of special conservation prac- 

 tices if the land is to be properly used. One of the major uses of the soil 

 survey data is to provide a physical inventory of the land which can be 

 interpreted into land capability classes that form the basis of a sound soil 

 and water conservation program. 



The following is a national classification system established by the 

 Soil Conservation Service to show the relation of capability groups of soils 

 to safe land use. It is the same classification that is used on the soil maps 

 that serve as a basis for planning individual farms. (Figure 9.) 



Class I. Land suitable for all uses. Very intensive cultivation 



requires only good soil management practices. The 

 soils are deep and productive. The land is nearly 

 level and there is little or no erosion. 



CI 



ass 



II. Suitable for all uses, but intensive cultivation re- 

 quires simple conservation practices. Gently sloping 

 land needs contouring and strip cropping. Moist land 

 needs improved drainage. The soils are deep and pro- 

 ductive but need liming, manuring, and fertilizing. 



1% 





Soil Conservation Service 



A simple conservation iiractice for Class II type of land is contour tillage. 



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