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Sori] Science 
A knowledge of soils is essential to all phases of 
multiple-use planning and management of National - 
Forest lands. Emphasis is placed on obtaining and 
evaluating that soil information which relates directly 
to forest development projects and resource manage- 
ment. Soil resource inventories provide basic soil infor- 
mation for multiplanning purposes. Some of the soil 
inventories are conducted as a part of the National 
Cooperative Soil Survey. Soil management service, 
which is the application of technical soils knowledge 
to resource development in timber, range, wildlife, 
recreation, and watershed management, is now an 
important part of the Forest Service work program. 
The soil scientist: 
—Conducts soil inventories on forest lands. Deter- 
mines the distribution of areas having like char- 
acteristics of soils and related features including 
the parent material on underlying bedrock, land- 
form, drainage patterns, and vegetation (or 
vegetation potentials) and maps the soil area 
boundaries on aerial photographs. Makes de- 
tailed field descriptions of each soil type and 
selects profile samples, as needed, for laboratory 
determinations. Classifies the soils and evaluates 
various soil-water, soil-stability, and soil-vegeta- 
tion relationships. Determines the significance to 
resource management of basic differences of soil 
capability and response potentials. Identifies 
problem areas that may require more intensive 
investigations. 
Provides consultant soil management services for 
many forest resource uses and developments. Partici- 
pates in special teams organized to make recommen- 
dations regarding resource management problems. 
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS 
Soil scientists in the Forest Service have various edu- 
cational backgrounds. Although they have primarily 
soil science degrees, some may have degrees in for- 
estry, agronomy, range management, or geology. How- 
ever, they must have at least 30 semester hours, or 
equivalent, in biological, physical, and earth sciences 
with a minimum of 15 semester hours in soils. 
F-517157 
Soil scientist testing soil (Monongahela National Forest, West 
Virginia) 
Soil scientist examines the soil, measuring its potential in terms of pro- 
ductivity for resources. He can then advise the District Ranger what 
trees will grow well and how many board feet the site will produce; 
how water will behave when it rains on this terrain and how much will 
be stored in the soil; what wildlife food plants will grow here, and if 
the land can be used for forage; about erosion hazards; and what are 
its engineering properties. 
: F-521726 
