The agriculture map above shows the varying potential of a specific area
for agricultural production. It indicates the classes and subclasses according
to the Soil Capability Classification of Agriculture, which is based on
characteristics of the soil as determined by soil surveys. The mineral
soils are grouped into 7 classes and 13 subclasses according to the potential
of each soil for the production of field crops. Organic soils are not a
part of the classification and are shown as a single separate unit (0).
These agricultural capability maps can be used at the regional level
for making decisions on land improvement and farm consolidation, for developing
land-use plans, and for preparing equitable land assessments.
Some of the important factors on which agricultural classification is
based are: 1) The soils will be well managed and cropped, under a largely
mechanized system. 2) Land requiring improvements, including clearing,
that can be made economically by the farmer, is classed according to its
limitations or hazards in use after the improvements have been made. Land
requiring improvements beyond the means of the farmer is classed according
to its present condition. 3) The following are not considered: distances
to marker, kind of roads, location , size of farms, type of ownership,
cultural patters, skill or resources of individual operations, and hazard
of crop damage by storms. 4) The classification does not include capability
of soils for trees, tree fruits, small fruits, ornamental plants, recreation,
or wildlife. 5) The classes are based on the intensity, rather than kinds,
of their limitations for agriculture. Each class includes many kinds of
soil, and many of the soils in any class require unique management and
treatment. 6) Land given a capability classification of 6 or 7 will never
warrant irrigation since the benefits derived from irrigation would be
negligible. For this reason, capability Classes 6 and 7 will always appear
in the non-irrigated portion (Classes A to C) of a land unit classification.
